Have any of you experienced what Sponge Bob said?
The first time I saw the GIF of Sponge Bob saying, “I’ll have you know that I finished my homework and I only cried 37 times” I laughed. It was a nervous laugh. It was a nervous laugh because I knew for many younger students it is true. I knew this as an educator and as a parent. They may not have cried 37 times, but they probably cried more than once. Older students probably did not cry at all doing homework. They probably just didn't do it.
Younger students often have the support of an adult sitting with them as they do homework, either at home or in an after school program. It is a long, challenging period for both the adult and the child at the end of a long day. It can be a frustrating time for the adult. Sometimes children will cry or act out. One of my children pretended to have a heart attack when he was in 1st Grade. We were struggling through math homework when his 'heart attack' hit him. He laid on the kitchen floor and didn't move. I had never seen the child so still. His recovery was quick when I told him we were done with homework for the night. (I wrote a note to the teacher letting her know where he struggled.)
Older students probably don’t cry at all during homework time. They’ve learned how to navigate the rough waters of homework after years of painful experiences. Older students probably lie to their parents swearing their homework is done, or none was assigned, or they did it in school. For that one moment, when their parents believe them because it was not worth the fight that has worn them down over the years, older students feel a fleeting moment of relief. Tonight there would be no struggle to remember, recall, plan out, organize, or struggle through text, multi-step equations, and long writing assignments. But that moment of relief is fleeting. When the teacher asks for the completed homework assignment tomorrow in class the angst, anxiety, and anger will reside within these older students yet another day. The number of missing assignments will continue to grow. The grade in that class will continue to dip. The thought of having to makeup all those missing assignments brings about the same feeling of dread as being told to climb Mt. Everest in shorts, backwards, in a blinding snowstorm and without a sherpa. It feels impossible.
Why is homework such a challenge for students with academic disabilities?
Students with a Reading Disability:
Every assignment requires reading. First students have to endure decoding words. Then they have to string them together to make a sentence. Then they have to make sure they understand the sentence they just read. Then they have to put all those sentences together, remembering what they just read. Then they must develop an understanding of what they have to answer. So much energy just went into recalling syllable sounds and digraphs that doing all that and comprehending what is being asked of them to answer is stressful and tiring. Students expand a lot of energy when they struggle with reading. They are concentrating on many things at one time. The struggle is real and exhausting.
Students who struggle to read have spent all day in school doing this. Now they are home, tired, and they must do it again. It is exhausting. After doing something hard (reading in school, in all subject areas all day) they now have to do it some more at the end of a very long day. I would want to cry, too.
Students with Organizational Skills issues & Processing issues -
After going from subject to subject all day, remembering sequential steps for math, remembering what notebook to take notes in for English class and what other notebook is for journaling, in addition to creating a timeline of historical dates and events, coming home and having to do some work for most subjects can be overwhelming. Staying organized and maintaining pace with your class is mentally tiring. When students are in school they can look at what their peer is doing to check if they are on task. At home while doing homework there is nobody to check that against. Younger student may have a parent who will contact another parent to make sure they know what the homework is. Older students are usually left on their own to make sur they have what they need.
When it comes to doing homework for students with organizational skill issues and processing issues the first step is usually the most difficult. These students may need support organizing their papers or assignments and deciding which one to do first. They may even need the direction of the assignment clarified for them, as well as a quick review of how to do the assignment.
Knowing all that . . . . .
It is important to acknowledge the feelings of frustration and exhaustion students are experiencing when it comes time to do homework. It is important to understand that student may need a mental break before sitting down to do homework that makes them engage in their area of academic weakness. When a student struggles with homework they should be commended for never giving up, or praised for having a great work ethic. Students are very aware that they struggle academically. But, do they know their tenacity to never give up and work hard are just as important? Make sure you tell them.
Wishing you love, peace, and courage,
Call or text with any questions,
Anne C.
annec@advocate4students.com
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