Homework with a Learning Disabled Child

Raise your hand if you like to do homework.  Hmmm, I wonder how many people raised their hands.  And that's probably for the "average" person.  Now imagine that you have a learning disability and the homework that takes your friends 30-45 minutes to do takes you 2-4 hours to do.  This is what it is like for many children with learning disabilities, including my Madison.  Then add 45 minutes of reading on top of that.  Sound like much time to be a kid?


On an average day, Madison gets home around 2:15.   She comes in the door, puts down her bookbag, takes out her binder, gets a snack and sits down to begin her homework.  She has a reading and math pack for the week, as well as spelling, vocabulary and usually either a story from her reading book to study for a test on Friday, or a novel to study.  The reading pack consists of worksheets that include passages that she has to read and then answer questions, vocabulary, grammar, etc.   Reading the passages and worksheets takes her twice as long as most children.  When she needs to write answers down, we have to go through her answers together,( not for the content, but for the spelling) edit, and then she has to correct it.  Although she loves math, it can be time consuming and difficult for her as well for the same reasons.  For these reasons I have to be by Madison's side for the duration of her homework.  By the time we finish her homework it is dinnertime...anywhere between 5:00 and 6:30.  And let me assure you that she is not the child that keeps getting up, doesn't focus and fidgets.  She is determined to get it done because she wants to be finished.  That's not to say that some afternoons are not interrupted with tears because she is frustrated that it takes her so long and she has so much to do.




Now, also imagine working this hard as you watch your brother that is 2 years younger than you complete his homework in 5 minutes, read a 200 page book in an hour, recite his multiplication and division facts faster than you and never have to work at any of it.  The stress that she feels must be so much greater than I can even imagine.  So it is my job to whatever I can to help her to the best of my ability.  I am my child's best advocate.  When it comes to homework, I have asked the teacher if we can skip a couple of problems per page.  I read her math, science and social studies to her, and some nights, I even read most of her novel chapter to her.  As parents, we have to decide what is best for our children.  Three or more hours of homework is not what is best for a fourth grader.  We have to look at our child as a whole and nurture their entire being.


I would like to share some homework tips for working with Learning Disabled children (or any children for that matter):
*Choose your space-homework space needs to be a space free of distractions.  It is beneficial to use the same space each day.  A sense of routine is key for LD kids, so the same space and time of day is a good habit.
*Homework helper attitude-This can be difficult for any of us.  There are many days I feel the frustration setting in and I have to tell myself to be patient.  The person who is helping with the homework needs to be patient.  Our mood and attitude can directly affect our children's concentration and ability to do their best work.
*Establish environment-make sure siblings know that homework time is a quiet time.  Reduce distractions.
*Use your judgement-if your child is struggling to answer a question or her homework has been taking too long, use your judgement and help her solve a problem or read the assignment to her. 
*Be positive-words hurt.  Encourage your child when they are doing something right and work together when they get an answer wrong.  But watch your rhetoric.


One last thing...Here is an article I came across for Teachers.  It is Homework Guidelines for Special Needs Students.  Homework should also follow your child's IEP.  Like I said before, it is our job as parents to be sure that our children's needs are being met.  We are our children's best advocates.