Egads! My Child Has Homework - Parents, Reading With Your Children Can Help

Here's the scoop. As your children progresses through the elementary and secondary grades, their homework assignments will increase. Assignments on language arts, science, and social studies, will appear nearly every night. Of course, your children will also bring home math homework assignments, as well. Math homework needs to be addressed in another article.

Now, take a deep breath, gather your wits, and relax, now learn how you can help.

1. Above all else, help your child develop organizational skills.

It's simple! The "Notebook Method" - a messy folder of papers is stressful. Buy a three-ring binder and create sections for each subject. Train your child to keep their assignments in each section.

2. Down to Business

Get comfortable, sit down with your child, and together complete assignments-be involved, even if that means you have to do the reading.*

3. How to Help

First, preview the entire text, chapters or passages assigned. Talk about the sub heading or sub-section (usually in bold letters). Discuss together what you both are going to be reading about. Also, build background knowledge before you begin reading. Parents need to share what they already know about the topic, that is, if they have any previous knowledge, while asking your their child what they already know.

Secondly, read the questions your child will need to answer prior to reading. This SETS A PURPOSE for reading! Next, if necessary, read the text aloud to your child. Make sure your child is following along with you. That is, they hear and see the words as you read. They should be engaged. Because, concurrently your child is working on his or her reading skills; those necessary to read expository materials while also increasing their site word vocabulary, i.e. the, it, was, here, almost et.cetera.

Thirdly, IMPORTANT! As you read the assignment, periodically see if any of the questions, have been answered so far. Have your child write the answer down, and then proceed reading again.

Why am I blathering on about how to read textbook passages? BECAUSE! Children are taught how to read using narrative texts, that means stories. Then, all the sudden, we present them with expository, or rather text passages the expose information. Then, we ask them to read and understand it. BLAM! They run into trouble. Don't worry they'll catch on and will succeed.

The procedure or rather, the steps I've provided here are not new. Research in reading has explored the best way to teach children how to read expository text, over and over. This is one of the many ways parents can help their children read, comprehend and complete textbook assignments.

Make the effort every night to help your children succeed in school remember, and it sounds trite, parents are their children's first teachers. Parents, don't worry, you are not cheating by reading for your children. The assignment is about what they have learned. Not whether they could read the assignment.

Before You Start Wearing Pumps

Many of us choose to go with pumps for special occasion because they make our legs look longer and toned, you feel taller, it peps your step and you feel sexy. While we hope to achieve all this we silently say a prayer because we know what putting on a pair of high heel for a night means. Aching feet at the end of the night, fortunately all is not lost. You do not have to continue in this way. I have a few secrets that will make wearing high heels a lot less painful.

Ladies, the first thing you need to know is this. The worst thing you could ever do is go out a day before you need to wear your high heels to purchase them. This is because you need to break them in before wearing them. This allows the shoes to mould to your feet and stretch them in all direction. You can break in your shoes by wearing them for a few hours at home so your feet get accustomed to the shoes. I do not recommend putting on your heels and then sitting to watch TV, read a book or take a nap, chances are you won't accomplish much. Wear them while you do chores around the house.

Next thing, make a conscious effort to wear heels at least 2-3 times per week. When you constantly wear flat shoes, your feet become accustomed to having your weight evenly distributed in the shoes. When you wear heels once in a while, the difference in weight distribution will shock your feet causing a lot of irritation. Often times we end up with pain underneath the ball of our feet or blisters along the sides of the feet and on top of the toes. Constantly wearing flats also tends to make your feet wider, therefore making it harder to walk in heels which have a narrower sole. So to make the transition between flats and heels easier try to wear heels at least 2-3 times per week, even shoes with a small heel helps.

Lastly, be sure to moisturize your feet. This helps to minimize the occurrence of blisters. Lotioning your feet allow the straps and buckle to slide back and forth easily. You can also bring a small bottle of lotion with you so you can reapply when you realize that your feet are getting irritated. Also, try to find heels made of material that this not too hard that will irritate your skin and heels that will help to support your weight.