The 10ticks New Look Student Area

Here at 10ticks we are very excited to announce the release of the new look student area! The new look is aimed at older students who are looking for something a bit more grown up. The feedback we have received so far has been great so thanks to everyone who contributed on that.

It would be great to get even more feedback though so take a look at the video below and tell us what you think :)

Thanks,

The 10ticks team

Top tips for getting your child to do their homework

We often get parents asking us how they should use the 10ticks Online Learning System. Below is a guide on how to formulate a structured homework routine that is effective but also easy to implement. Using 10ticks alongside this routine will be great for your child’s maths and will really help them excel. Enjoy the article J

It is often a struggle to get kids to do their homework and can often lead to a shouting match and become a daily frustration. However it doesn't have to be like this. In this article the aim is to outline some ways you can help motivate your child to do their homework on a daily basis. Not only will it make your life as the parent easier, because you won’t have to be constantly nagging, but it will also help get your child to the top of the class and really help them reach their full potential.

There are some key areas that can make a big difference to get your child to do their homework. These are simple and not that hard to implement. You just need to be consistent and establish a routine. The first place to start is by setting how long homework should take. Eventually you will want your child to be working from 1 to 2 hours a night on homework by the time they reach secondary school. But to start with you will want to build them up, so 30 minutes to an hour is a good place to start. Once you have set this time it is important to be strict with it. This includes not going over that limit even if you know your child has just been staring at the work sullenly for a big chunk of that time. The reason for this is because even if they haven’t done the work, children will need a rest and it is important they feel they are not doing school work all the time, as they will become even more reluctant to do homework in the future. Also some children that lack confidence and are sensitive will become perfectionists and will actually try and spend longer on their homework if allowed. This is not good for them as all children need down time.

Another really important rule is to eliminate distractions. This means you as the parent have to make sure before your child starts that all distractions are removed. This includes screens that are on, toys and even pets. They all need to be out of sight so your child can really focus.

After school your child will have had a long day and need to reenergise and refresh. So it is important that they get something to eat, preferably a healthy snack, and have a chance to play and get some exercise. Ideally you want them outside getting some fresh air and exercise. So playing football or going on the trampoline or something similar would be ideal, this will reenergise them and get them ready to start work again.

Break up homework into three stages. First spend up to five minutes going over what your child has to do. This will make it clear for them, and for you, what they are doing and it will make it easier to get started. The second stage is to let your child do the homework without any help. This is important as homework should be on-going training in self-reliance. It is important to let them make their own mistakes, so don’t frown or give any indication that it is the wrong or right answer. The third stage is where you can comment on the work. It is important to first point out the things they have done well and for both of you to point out 1 or 2 mistakes or improvements that can be made. It is important not to point out too many mistakes even if there are a lot, because your child will become demotivated and will be less willing to do homework next time.

Don’t overdo it Let your child take breaks every 15 – 30 minutes. This will allow your child to absorb what they have learnt and come back refreshed for the next task.

Do the hardest task first. This is when the brain is at its freshest and will take in a lot more information. It will also stop the nagging feeling that there is still worse to come. If you get the worst over and done with first, it will only get easier from then on in.

During holidays, especially the summer, children can actually go backwards. This is often referred to as the summer slide. So make sure your child is still doing work regularly. This will stop the backwards slide and put them in good stead when it comes to the new school year. In the 6 weeks off in the summer a child can actually go backwards by a few months or more, so it is important to do regular work in the holidays.

Positive reinforcement is a much better way of motivating your child then just telling them off. So even if it is a struggle when it comes to homework pick up on the good things when possible. Even the most reluctant child will occasionally be proactive and may get out their workbook without being asked. It is really important to recognise this and praise it.

Another way to motivate your child is to give little rewards and encouragement such as a hug or a thumbs up or even a high five. Give these when they have made small steps in the right direction, even when the result is still not quite what you want.

With these homework tips you will hopefully see your child’s attitude towards homework change, making your life easier and helping them reach their full potential.

Thank you for reading,

The 10ticks team
www.10ticks.co.uk

Need maths help 10ticks has the awnser

For all your Maths Help needs check out 10ticks. In this short video we show how 10ticks can benefit your child.