[2024-01-16] Tips for making homework fun

I've taken on a tutoring role and had my first session today with a bright, respectful 5th grader. We spent most of the time exploring his likes, challenges and favourite activities, through a series of questions I had prepared in advance:
  • What's your favourite thing about school?
  • What's tricky or hard about school?
  • What's your favourite thing to do to have fun?
  • What is one goal you have for yourself?
He was remarkably articulate and forthcoming in answering my questions.

I was fascinated by what he had to say, from his interests, to his teachers to his favourite pastimes. He said he loved to play chess, a game I played a lot as a kid. I looked for a chess board, only to confirm that I didn't have one. (I'll get one for our next session.) So we played an online version of chess. We also played an online basketball game that was designed to teach multiplication. And we read a short book together.

Mostly, though, we talked. I listened and asked questions. It was easy to be genuinely captivated by what he had to say.

He seemed to enjoy the session and expressed interest in doing it again. I assured him that I would make it fun, and I promised that we would play chess together.

This evening, I went searching for tips on how to make learning fun. I read several excellent articles:
  2. 12 Ways to Make Homework Fun for Students of All Ages by the Boys and Girls Club of the Wausau Area in the US
  3. Tips for Making Homework More Fun by Kids Spot in the US
  4. Top 10 Homework Tips by Nemours Kids Health in the US

Here are my favourite tips from these resources:
  1. Create a dedicated space for homework. Find a place with minimal distractions and foot traffic. Equip it with everything your child will need to complete their homework so they don't need to interrupt their work to go looking for school supplies.
  2. Make homework time part of a routine. Kids benefit from structure, so identify a consistent time when your child will do their homework. "A routine doesn’t have to be boring. Get your child involved in this new daily ritual by having them set up snacks or pick out music to play quietly in the background," advises Kids Spot.
  3. Give them a snack. "A hungry child is an unfocused, unmotivated and unhappy child," notes Third Space Learning.
  4. Work together. "Adults often work best in the company of others, and the same can be said of kids, so why not sit with your child while they’re studying and get on with some of your own work or life admin?" asks Third Space Learning. The Boys and Girls Club further suggests: "Doing 'adult' homework creates a sense of companionship without being too overbearing—and it can help kids learn that work is a part of life, not just a part of school."
  5. Turn homework into a game. "Kids are more likely to remember information they learned while enjoying the process," says Kids Spot.
  6. Use rewards and incentives. Examples are stickers for younger kids, time on a phone, tablet or game for older kids, or a physical activity for kids of all ages.
  7. Try different learning apps. "Support the subjects your kid studies in school with apps that make learning about it more fun," counsels the Boys and Girls Club. They recommend Dragonbox for math and Duolingo for languages.
  8. Encourage curiosity and questions. "Learning really begins when kids start asking questions," says Central Public School. "Who, what, where, when and why are magical words of discovery that make learning more interesting and fun."
  9. Go outside. If the weather permits, allow your child to work outside in a comfortable study space. They can take breaks to engage in physical activity, such as throwing a Frisbee. "The fresh air can help kids with their concentration if they’ve been stuck in a classroom all day, and studies also show that being outside, closer to nature, can increase productivity," says Third Space Learning.
  10. Be positive. Give lots of praise for both success and effort to stay on track. Recognize, too, that praise goes beyond the homework session. "Post an aced test or art project on the refrigerator," says Nemours Kids Health. "Mention academic achievements to relatives."
  11. Set a good example. "Do your kids ever see you diligently balancing your budget or reading a book?" asks Nemours Kids Health. "Kids are more likely to follow their parents' examples than their advice."
  12. Practise every day. "Repetition reinforces learning," says Central Public School. "That's why it's helpful to have kids practice reading, writing and math with you every day... even if the teacher didn't assign any."

In downloading apps to help with math, I was surprised at how advanced grade 5 math is. Do they really start doing long division at that age? Is long division even taught in schools anymore?

Clearly, I have a lot to learn. You can help by sharing your resources, tips and suggestions for tutoring and making homework fun.