What Students Can Expect From Tutoring

What Students Can Expect From TutoringTampa, Florida tutoring is a great way to learn new things and to pursue your dreams. Tampa is known for being a lively city that has plenty of opportunities for education. The location is ideal for learning, because of the many universities and colleges in the area. There are several colleges and universities all over the city, which have tutoring programs for their students.Many of these schools offer on-campus facilities, such as libraries, recreation centers, and computers. Many have small study groups that can meet for study time. This helps students learn through conversation and interaction with other students. These groups help build their social skills as well as their abilities to communicate with others. They also develop their ability to handle stressful situations.Students that take the tutoring course may be required to take the SAT, or College Entrance Test. It takes about one and a half hours for the whole process. This may includ e taking the paper test, taking practice tests, taking quizzes, and preparing for the official test. A student can take part in the tutoring program by making an appointment to come in and meet with the tutor.Tutoring is an ideal way to learn new skills, including academic ones. Taking these classes not only gives a student the chance to make friends and learn more about themselves, but it also gives them the opportunity to interact with other students and possibly gain new friends. Those students that choose to be tutored will find it to be a fun and exciting experience.Learning with friends and other peers is a wonderful experience. It also helps with communication and motivation, which are especially important when it comes to being successful in life. Students that learn through tutoring programs will be encouraged to discuss their difficulties with their instructor, and will often come up with solutions. All students need someone to talk to and they need someone to look up to. They also need someone to relate to and someone who can make them feel like they are better than the rest of the world. Many will feel this when they are in a tutoring situation.An important aspect of college graduation is to be well prepared. If you don't know how to do things, how will you know how to show up for class? Having an advisor to help with that can help the student in many ways. They can answer all of the questions that a student may have. They can give them useful tips, and they can provide guidance that they can use in their everyday lives.Tutoring in this area can help a student see and learn more about the community. Their experience will be invaluable, as they will receive feedback on their performance and the lessons they are receiving. These are very valuable resources, and students should seek out tutors when they have questions or concerns. This way, they will gain valuable knowledge and find answers to their questions. It can be beneficial for them to sit in o n the actual class, as well, so they can get a real feel for the classroom environment.

How to Tutor Online via Webcam

How to Tutor Online via Webcam How Do You Prepare a Remote Academic Support Tutorial? ChaptersBuying The Right Equipment for Your TutorialsWhich Programs Should You Use for Remote Academic Support Tutorials?Test Your Student’s Connection Before Working with ThemTailor Your Tutorials to Your Student’s LevelThe Advantages of Remote Academic Support TutorialsSince a lot of parents struggle to find a tutor in their local area, many are finding webcam tutors.Did you know that you can offer webcam tutorials on Superprof?All you have to do is say on your profile that you offer webcam tutorials and students from around the country will see it.Without leaving your home, you can supplement your income as a tutor or provide tuition as a way to earn some money while studying for your undergraduate degree.In this article, you’ll find out how to become a remote academic support tutor!using new technology can build your confidence and gently ease you into the 21st century.Say goodbye to taking the bus. (Source: Free-Photos)More and more academic establishments are looking for teachers with IT skills. If you become a state teacher later on in your career, you’ll need to know how to use modern technology.So why not by tutoring online in your favourite subject?If you're a qualified educator and have the availability and expertise, why not consider becoming a tutor either as an online instructor or by offering one to one private tutorials online?

Lets Count Advantages of Online Tutoring

Let‘s Count Advantages of Online Tutoring 0SHARESShare Don’t count the chickens before they hatch, it is said. You can count the advantages of online tutoring, before entering its portal. Let’s find out how e- tutoring is focused towards student motivation and high end learning products. Learner friendly:  You avail a basket of benefits like time management, choice of subject, selection of tutor, independent study, self orientation and stress free education in online learning. E- Trained tutors: It is a community of savvy tutors, who are up with modern trends in approaching the student fraternity. You get to know online tutors chat with you, interact and try their hard to bridge the gaps in your studies and provide what you demand in your homework help, assignment work or test papers. Sit before your computer and register on the website desirable for you and feel the difference. The comfort zone of learning: No travel expense and these are pocket friendly offers. Even free tutors online are there for your convenient learning at home with your interactive tools. Get ready to enjoy the fun of learning with video text chats, Skype interaction, fun exercises, visual images and other tech aids. It is all at your doorstep with the personal support of a tutor who enters your heart through his PC and takes you to a different educational set up. Know your pus and minus:  Online tutoring websites monitor your progress    and learning pace with their guidelines for their tutors. You feel their ardent support for your learning needs, tailoring to     your demands and expectations in every phase of learning. Achieve higher scores and better grades by entering the right tutoring site online and prove your excellence in your school and college degrees. [starbox id=admin]

The Cornell University College Experience

The Cornell University College Experience The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences, as well. Steve earned his Bachelors degree in Economics from Cornell University in 2011. He currently tutors many subjects in New York City, specializing inSAT prep tutoring, GRE prep tutoring, and Algebra tutoring. See what he had to say about his time at Cornell University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Steve: Cornell Universitys campus is stunningly beautiful throughout the seasons. It is located near the Finger Lakes in upstate New York, so the atmosphere is generally very rural and safe. Downtown Ithaca is within walking distance, right next to campus. It can get a bit snowy and chilly during the winter, but I love the cold, so it fit me very well. On campus, there are a variety of places for all students, whether you want to find a quiet place to study or an open field to throw a football around with friends. The architecture is a mix between old and new; there are modern buildings, as well as older, Gothic-style halls. To get around campus, most people walk. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get from one end of the campus to the other end, but most of your classes will probably be located close together. Because of how big the campus is, other transportation options include riding a bike, driving a car, or taking a bus. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Steve: Most professors, advisers, and teaching assistants are very approachable, in spite of their impressive backgrounds. You will occasionally get one or two professors throughout your entire Cornell University career who are a bit grumpy, but overall, office hours are generally flexible, and there are so many people who are willing to help you. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Steve: Dorm life can be very different depending on which hall you live in. Each hall has its own layoutand thus tends toward different social structures. For example, there is townhouse living, where four people share a townhouse together. Compare that to my first year at Clara Dickson Hall, where it was a very typical boys hallway, girls hallway, and a common lounge in the middle of each floor. Most rooms tend to be pretty spaciousI had a single with a walk-in closet, and I still had plenty of room left for everything else. Dining at Cornell University is amazing. There are a variety of meal plans to choose from, and the food is fantastically delectable. In addition to various ethnic food options, such as dim sum on Saturdays, they also have regular themed-food nights, where chefs prepare food from a particular culture or in relation to the theme of the night. If you get a chance, please visit the Cornell Dairy Bar and try out their ice cream. It is to die for! As far as social life goes, the student population is hugely diverse, so you will meet all sorts of people from all over the world. I was not part of any fraternity while I was there, but I think something like 30% of the campus is associated with Greek life, if you are interested in joining. I do not think finding a healthy social life will be any problem at all. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Steve: My impression was that all majors/programs were all highly supported through campus funding and allocation of resources. I believe Cornell University has an impressive College of Engineering, as well as a highly prominent Hotel Administration major, if you are looking for specific highlighted programs. I studied Economics because I was interested in how people make decisions. You will find that many restaurants often ask people to order dessert before they receive their meal because people tend to order more when they are hungry. It may sound like common sense, but this is part of behavioral economics, and I was fascinated to study those types of decision-making options. I thought the university did a great job of supporting my area of study because I had a lot of access to professors and graduate students for help. I had also switched to Economics from Math during my junior year, and I thought the whole process was very smooth and friendly. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Steve: It was extremely easy for me to make friends as a freshman. There are plenty of events to socialize at, and if you cannot attend those, there are lots of opportunities during class to meet other people. I did not join Greek life, but I do not think it had a dominating role as far as I can remember. They would pass out flyers for certain events and/or fundraisers, and I went to a few parties myself, but Greek life never seemed to overshadow campus life. I think everyone is able to find their own social circle that they feel comfortable with without feeling pressure to join any particular groups. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Steve: The Career Center helps you work on your resume and really works with you to build your profile. It is a free walk-in service, and they constantly send you emails about job openings in your preferred field(s). There is also a career fair that many high-profile companies send representatives to in order to recruit students. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Steve: The libraries are gorgeous and easily available. Certain parts of the libraries can get crowded sometimes, especially during prelims or finals time (we call midterms at Cornell University prelims). But there are over ten spacious libraries on campus dedicated to various departments. The student union is located at Willard Straight Hall, but I do not think many students go there to study, especially since there are three libraries within a two-minute walk. Dorm lounges are definitely another option, and there are rules during prelims and finals time to be quiet and to respect other peoples studying time in public areas. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Steve: There is a small downtown area right at the south exit of campus which we call Collegetown. That area has a lot of bars, restaurants, cafs, etc. that fit your general needs. For even more fun activities, restaurants, or other nightlife events, there is a local Commons in downtown Ithaca that is within walking distance, but most people take the bus. It is an excellent local food and shopping area that hosts cool annual events like the Apple Harvest Festival. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Steve: The student body is around 3,500 students per year, for around 14,000 total undergraduates. The university total for students, including graduates and professionals, is around 21,000. Do not be too intimidated by those numbers. Most of my classes, other than the introductory courses in lecture halls, were between 10 and 30 people. Depending on your major, you might have other fluctuations in class sizes. Generally, I was not happy with the large lecture classes (100+ students), although one of my favorite classes was Psychology 101, which had a class size of 1,000+ students. Yes, a thousand plus. I definitely enjoyed the smaller seminars a lot more, as you could actively participate in discussions and actually get to know the professor and your classmates better. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Steve: I think Psychology 101 with Professor Maas was definitely the most memorable experience for me. I took that class as a freshman, and despite the over 1,000 students that were in Bailey Hall taking that class with me, Professor Maas was able to deliver entertaining yet informative lectures that I still remember to this day. I was skeptical at first, due to the sheer amount of students that were sitting in his lectures, but somehow, he made it work. Sadly, Professor Maas has retired and no longer teaches that class, but I hope you will find your own memorable experience at Cornell University! Check out Steves tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

10 Great Movies About Musicians (and Their Formulas for Success)

10 Great Movies About Musicians (and Their Formulas for Success) Mac There are a ton of movies about musicians out there but what can you learn from them? In this article, music teacher Willy M.  takes you through 10 movies about musicians and reveals their unique tricks  that made them successful “Art is the closest we can come to understanding how a stranger really feels. Roger Ebert When it comes to movies about musicians, we generally see the same pattern in each  story: an unknown artist struggles with their personal demons as they  try to make a name  for themselves, and  they ultimately reach stardom at the expense of their relationships or mental health. While most of these movies fit a cookie-cutter pattern, they also showcase the unique skills and tactics that each artist uses to become successful. Below is a list of 10 movies about musicians that include a brief summary of each  film, as well as each artists special formula for rising to the top. These  movies were selected based on Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score, meaning we picked the top 10 movies based on tens of thousands of audience votes. Are you ready to take an inside look? Lets check them out! Walk the Line (2005) “Walk the Line” is the story of Johnny Cashs rise to fame. It gives a glimpse of both the triumphs and heartaches that come from striving for fame. Johnny had a troubled relationship with his father, and playing music was his way of finding solace. Unfortunately, he turned to drugs for the same reason. The movie demonstrates how Johnny went from one failed relationship to another, eventually conquering his addiction to drugs, and ultimately finding a way to use his music to inspire and bless people (namely  prisoners)  who related to him. Click here to watch the trailer As demonstrated in the film, Johnny Cash learned how to make the I, IV, V pattern work for him. His simple chord structure, under well-crafted melodies, put his songs in the minds of listeners for generations to come. While Johnny Cash songs arent  structurally complex, the melodies are catchy and reminiscent of older folk idioms that continue to inspire and challenge players today. Ray (2004) Many  movies  discuss the dangers of using drugs to fuel creativity, and “Ray” is no exception. Jamie Foxx portrays the late, great Ray Charles in this biopic about his life. In the movie, we see  Rays  rise to fame and his struggle (and ultimate victory) over a heroin addiction. Click here to watch the trailer Foxx’s portrayal of Ray Charles is one of the most accurate depictions of a popular musician moviegoers will see. We see a great deal about the process of making a great recording, and how producing a good record  is often a team effort. Ray has a great band, awesome producers (like the legendary Ahmet Ertegun), and great backup singers (though theyre often at the center of many of his issues). Rays success  shows us that its important to work well with others, and that serving the music should come before serving yourself. Love and Mercy (2014) “Love and Mercy” describes the life of Beach Boy bass player, songwriter, producer, and vocalist, Brian Wilson. The movie shows Brian slowly descend into madness during the recording of the “SMiLE” album. He spent years in a drug-induced fog, until the controversial Dr. Eugene Landy helped “rescue” him from his addictions. But it really took Brian’s love for his wife, Melinda, to rescue him from the clutches of the overbearing Dr. Landy. Click here to watch the trailer Surprise, surprise! This is a film that, yet again, shows the dangers of using drugs to self-medicate, and how they quickened  Wilson’s mental descent. But this film also demonstrates true musical genius when it comes to the amazing melodies and harmonies that Wilson chooses to explore in his music. The true nature of great melodies is demonstrated in the scenes that show Wilson composing. The movie also shows how  some  of Brians melodies are almost lost by the verbal abuse from his  demanding father, Murray. Yet, the powerful melodies endure and inspire us today, which goes to show you that a great melody is practically immortal! Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980) “Coal Miner’s Daughter” tells the story of country singer, Loretta Lynn, and her rise to stardom from the absolute depths of poverty. Her musical endeavors are supported by  her husband,  her  children, and her  manager, Norm Burley. Burley is shown throughout the movie tirelessly  working to promote Lynn’s music. Click here to watch the trailer One of the key takeaways from this movie, aside from the tremendous amount of hard work that Loretta puts into her act, is the amount of effort her family and manager put into it as well. What we see as a successful “solo” act is actually the result of many people working together to bring her music to the world. This is another important lesson that young musicians should know: No matter how good you are as a musician, you cant get anywhere without the support of quality people. This movie teaches us that  when you get to the top, be careful not to step on the people who helped you make it. Amazing Grace (2006) This movie is about the events that led to  the classic Christian  hymn, “Amazing Grace,” and the ending of slavery in England. The movie depicts the work of William Wilberforce, an attorney who strove to end the slave trade in England. One of Wilberforce’s friends and supporters is John Newton, former slave-trader turned churchman. Newton inspires Wilberforce with courage and spiritual strength to stand up against an age-old tradition (slavery) that both men see as pure evil. Newton describes the events that caused him to have a religious conversion, which he sees as giving him a second chance in life. These events inspire the words to the beloved  hymn, Amazing Grace. Click here to watch the trailer This movie teaches many great  lessons that young musicians can learn from, but one that stands out is the power of a lyric. Amazing Graces lyrics show that faith and a new start can truly cause change in both individuals  and society as a whole. John Newton was a scoundrel, but after nearly dying at sea, he became a Christian. Instead of enslaving his fellow man, he spent the rest of his life working to end slavery. His powerful testimony has been passed down in the form of a hymn  and has inspired people from all walks of life to continue to work towards helping people instead of harming them. Amazing Grace shows the value of songwriting and how a truly inspiring song can continue to impact the lives of people for hundreds of years afterwards. The Glenn Miller Story (1954) “The Glenn Miller Story” tells the story  of big band era (1930s-1940s)  band leader, Glenn Miller. Not only was Miller the leader of a famous band, most famous for the song “In the Mood,” but he also served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. His stint in the Air Corps was brief, however, when his plane disappeared  over the English Channel in 1944. Click here to watch the trailer This movie  shows a top notch musician (he played cornet, mandolin and trombone) and band leader who felt a higher calling than just entertainment. He chose to give up a lucrative career as a band leader, at the height of his fame, in order to help stand up against the tyranny of Nazi Germany. And though it ultimately cost him his life, he died for something he believed in, which is a rare thing in the music business these days. The takeaway for modern musicians:  use your music to accomplish great things, and not just to entertain for entertainments sake. La Bamba (1987) La Bamba is  the story of Ritchie Valens, one of the first Hispanic rock stars in the world. The movie follows his rise to stardom, showcasing his  rocky relationships with his family and his girlfriend, Donna. Valens career was tragically cut short because of a  plane crash that also killed another musician on our list, Buddy Holly. Click here to watch the trailer Ritchie Valens was one of the first rock musicians to combine traditional Mexican scales over top of rock rhythms and chord progressions. We see in this movie that talent took Valens a long way, along with his creation  of  a new genre  that combined traditional rock with a new style. La Bamba was a great song because it took the newly developed idiom of rock  and  slapped a folk tune and lyrics onto the new style.  His style was certainly enduring people love La Bamba even to this day! The Buddy Holly Story (1978) “The Buddy Holly Story” tells the tale of early Rock n’ Roll guitar legend, Buddy Holly, and his band, the Crickets. In their brief career, they had hit after hit of great tunes that continue to influence musicians to this day. Click here to watch the trailer Buddy Holly is one of those musicians that, even if you’ve never heard of him, you’ve been influenced by him. Even though he died in the 1950s, musicians for decades to come  were heavily influenced by his music  (e.g.  James Taylor, The Ramones, Don McLean, Tom Petty, the Cars, and many other famous musicians who were  kids in the 50s and early 60s). Buddy Holly’s music shows that a great lyric, melody, and chord progression will last forever.  Not only were his melodies  well-crafted and infectious, but his punctuated singing style was unique at the time and set him apart from other singers. Bound for Glory (1976) “Bound for Glory” describes the events surrounding the life and times of folk legend, Woody Guthrie. When the harrowing Dust Bowl hit Oklahoma in the 1930s, Guthrie left his wife to migrate to Southern California. From there, his music career began. Click here to watch the trailer Guthrie was one of the most influential figures surrounding the folk movement of the 1960s. Even if you haven’t heard of him, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, or Simon and Garfunkel; they were all heavily influenced by Woody Guthrie. Guthrie’s simple melodies, such as “This Land Is Your Land,” captured a generation of singers who loved to perform his tunes. His rambling lifestyle gave him a great amount of material to write about, as well as  reflect on a tumultuous period of American History, prior to World War II. Woody Guthrie’s life and music demonstrates the importance of the songwriter as a historical record-keeper. The Benny Goodman Story (1956) “The Benny Goodman Story” is not supposed to be the most accurate version of the big band  leader’s life, but it does capture the great music that Benny Goodman produced. The actual details seemed to have been adjusted by Goodman, who was still alive while the movie was being made (and who played most of the clarinet solos that were recorded for the movie). Most of the movie centers around his romance with his wife, Alice Hammond, sister of John Hammond, the guy who discovered Bob Dylan years later. Click here to watch the trailer This movie  is inspirational to young musicians because it shows that you should continue to strive to develop your art and bring your gift to the world, despite the  obstacles that might get in your way. Benny Goodman was wise in his choice of side musicians one of his sidemen was the great jazz drummer, Gene Krupa. Picking great musicians to work with will challenge any musician to strive for greatness. Honorable Mentions Here are some other movies about musicians that are worth checking out too. Click them to watch the trailers: Cadillac Records (2008) Gene Krupa Story (1959) Jersey Boys (2014) Great Balls of Fire (1989) What are your favorite movies about musicians? Comment below with your thoughts! Post Author:  Willy M. Willy M. teaches guitar, ukulele, and mandolin lessons in Winston Salem, NC. Hes the author of the Dead Mans Tuning series of mandolin songbooks, and is a former member of the American Federation of Musicians. Willy has been teaching for 20 years, and his students have ranged in age from young children to folks in their 80s.  Learn more about Willy here! Movie photos courtesy of IMDB Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Help your Child Deal with Exam Stress

Help your Child Deal with Exam Stress As the exam period approaches, parents can often notice their children getting more uptight, especially if they are sitting the all-important GCSEs, AS or A-Levels. Super-tutor Mark Maclaine provides his top tips for parents to alleviate exam stress.   1. Permission to fail When  children are stressed it is usually because they’re thinking more about the consequences of the exam than the actual exam itself. Sadly, I’m afraid just telling them not to think about the outcome will just make them think about it more! Many of the most successful and happiest students I’ve ever worked with have one thing in common. Their parents are focussed on hard work over grades. I often hear them saying things like “If you can honestly say that you have worked hard and tried your best, then we don’t care what the results are”. Giving a child permission to fail, whilst emphasising the need for putting in the work, is one of the most powerful tools parents have in helping their children. This is also powerful in tutoring. When I’m training tutors I will tell them to congratulate students not for getting a question right, but for showing their working and trying their best. This lifts the focus away from getting questions right, and helps the student learn a valuable lesson - that making mistakes is a good way to learn and hard work pays off in the end. 2. Subconscious stress Many of the students I work with who suffer from extreme exam stress are reacting to the, often unconscious, stress of their own parents. Many parents worry that if their son/daughter isn’t doing well at school then maybe the parents aren’t doing their job properly. Children are extremely good at picking up on this anxiety, no matter how well we think we are hiding it. Be honest with your children. Let them know that although you do want them to do well, you will love them no matter what. Parents often assume their children know this, but when you listen to the stressed children this is may not be the case. 3. Don’t add to the stress Find ways to reduce the amount of things children have to think about before exams, and don’t add to them by making threats. The last thing you want your child thinking about during an exam is losing the XBox, rather than  focusing  on the questions in the paper. 4. See stress as positive Help your children understand what they are likely to be feeling just before an exam. Let them know that their heart rate will often rise and they may feel jittery. This is their body getting them ready for a challenge, and with increased heart rate their brain will be receiving more oxygen - which is a good thing. Recent scientific studies have shown that reframing stress in this way leads to dramatically more positive physiological effects on the body, and can actually help performance. Blood vessels open up and instead of being a hindrance, the stress children feel can be channelled positively. 5. Listen to your child Let your child know that it’s normal to be worried, and that you yourself have been in this position too. Listening to concerns and genuinely empathising, putting yourself in the child’s position, serves to release some of the anxiety. This then allows the child to start opening up to new possibilities. Simply telling children not to stress can often make things worse as it can seem as if you are invalidating their feelings. Ask them if they think there is a lot of pressure on them, and be prepared for them to say yes. Find out what they think will happen if they fail the exam. Listen to their concerns and work together to find ways to combat this together. 6. Use tools such as tutoring and exam preparation sensibly Many children will be reassured by speaking to a tutor who has specialist knowledge of the exam they are about to sit. Just speaking to someone who can tell them exactly what challenges they are likely to face removes the fear of the unknown. But: the last thing you want to do is exhaust your child with too much preparation! A good tutor will tell you when the child is overloaded, and further lessons might actually be detrimental to performance. If you or your child would like a tutor then why not book a tutor to come to your house from the Tutorfair website.

Homework Routines That Work for Kids with ADHD

Homework Routines That Work for Kids with ADHD As a therapist I hear over and over again from parents and kids with ADHD that homework is the number one cause of frustration, stress, and arguments at home. This is true whether kids are in elementary school and have only 20 minutes of homework each night or they are in high school and have an hour or more of homework to do each day. Why? While it might seem like it should be simple enough to just sit down and do your homework, the task of doing homework actually requires many complex skills that are hard for kids with ADHD, like getting started right away, staying focused on something that is not interesting, delaying gratification (since homework comes with no immediate reward), organizing and prioritizing assignments, sitting still for an extended period of time, and blocking out distractions. On top of this, the same ADHD symptoms that make it hard to do homework interfere with learning during the school day, which means a child may not have absorbed all the academic knowledge and skills needed to complete any given assignment. When we take a step back and think about homework from this perspective, it starts to become a little clearer why kids with ADHD struggle the way that they do. The good news is that despite the complexity of the problem there are some fairly simple things parents can do to help make homework time easier. The first, which I talked about in my last post, is to create a homework station designed specifically for a child with ADHD. The second is to create a simple homework routine that lays out the steps your child needs to complete each day and rewards him or her for his or her effort. When both the homework station and homework routine are used consistently, homework time becomes infinitely easier for kids with ADHD. Steps for creating a homework routine: Time of day. Have your child do homework as soon as possible after he or she gets home from school or after-school activities. The later it gets the more fatigued kids become, and the harder it is for them to stay focused and on task during homework time. And as much as possible, have your child do his or her homework at the same time each day. If after-school schedules make this difficult, then aim to create as much consistency as possible for example, on Tuesdays and Thursdays homework time is 4:30 and on Mondays and Wednesdays homework time is 6:00. Use a timer to build in homework breaks. Many younger kids with ADHD can only stay on task for about 10 minutes, and some older kids or teens with ADHD max out at around 20 or 30 minutes. Plan for this by building 5-minute breaks into the homework routine. Have your child set a timer for the first stretch of work time (15 minutes, for example). Your childs job is to work consistently during this time. Then when the timer goes off he or she gets a 5-minute break. Make sure your child sets a timer for this break period and gets back to work for the next 15-minute segment once the break is over. Some parents worry that if their child takes a break he or she will never get back to work, but as long as you build this into your homework plan and reward your child for getting back to work quickly when the break is over, you should see that he or she actually gets more work done with breaks than he or she would with no breaks at all. Clear expectations. Provide your child with clear expectations around the behaviors you want to see during homework time. Really think through the small steps that you want him or her to take, regardless of what his or her specific homework assignments might be. Focus on things like getting started right way, continuing to work until the timer goes off, and getting back to work right away when the break is over. Try to keep your expectations limited to just 5 steps. For example: Get started on your homework right away at your homework station (with only 1 reminder from an adult). Use a timer for homework time (10 minutes) and break times (5 minutes). Get back to work right away when a break is over. Try to answer each question or problem at least once before asking for help. Keep working until your timer goes off or your homework is finished. Build in rewards. First you work then you play is a good rule of thumb for everyone to learn and follow, and this is especially true for kids with ADHD. When it comes to doing homework, you can use this rule to create natural rewards that your child can earn when he or she finishes his or her work and has met your clear expectations. Think about fun activities your child likes to do that be used to motivate him or her to get homework done quickly. These can be things like playing with favorite Legos, playing outside, getting a limited amount of screen time, building forts out of pillows and blankets, etc. If time in the evening is very limited and you feel like you wont be able to squeeze in a fun activity on some nights, then you can allow your child to earn a small reward instead (check out my post on quick and easy reward ideas for families). Sit down with your child and create a list of activities or tangible rewards they can earn for meeting homework expectations. Make a When-Then plan. Use the list of homework expectations and the list of possible rewards to create a When-Then plan. When you complete your homework and meet the expectations, Then you can choose one activity or reward from the list. Print your When-Then plan and post it on a wall near your childs homework station so he or she can see it while he or she works. If your child starts to get off track, remind him or her about the plan and give your child an opportunity to refocus on work. SAMPLE HOMEWORK WHEN-THEN PLAN WHEN I FINISH THESE STEPS: Get started on my homework right away at my homework station (with only 1 reminder from an adult) Use a timer for homework (10 minutes) and breaks (5 minutes) Restart my homework work right away when my break is over Try to answer each question or problem at least once before asking for help Keep working until my timer goes off or my homework is finished THEN I CAN CHOOSE ONE FUN ACTIVITY OR REWARD: Play with Legos Build a fort 20 minutes of Minecraft Play outside Pick out a special treat to pack for tomorrows lunch Following these 5 steps to create a homework routine for your child will go a long way in helping to make homework time less stressful for you and your child. Your child will have an easier time getting started on his or her work and staying focused until homework is finished. Plus, your child will be finishing homework more quickly, leaving more time for the fun activities and family time that everyone enjoys! ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.