When a student struggles with learning and attention, school can feel overwhelming. Luckily, there is a fairly widespread understanding of these challenges among educators today. There are also some things you can do as a parent to make school a better experience for your kid—particularly when it comes to homework.
One strategy for making school and work more manageable is submitting requests for accommodations. While it may feel daunting to simply ask your child's teacher to give them less work, there are some formal steps you can take. These steps can help tailor your child's educational experience to his/her needs and skill level.
Request for Educational Accommodations: IEPs and SDIs
One way to make a formal, official request for accommodations for your child is by having them evaluated for a learning disability. Once your child has been tested and the results have come back, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) may be developed. An IEP is essentially a blueprint for your child's learning experience at school so you can be certain their needs are being met. Part of an IEP is Specifically Designed Instruction, or an SDI. An SDI outlines the teaching strategies that a teacher will use to instruct your child.
How to Ask for Homework Accommodations with an IEP
When your child's IEP is developed, you may want to speak to the school about their experience with homework. If your child struggles significantly to get their work done after school, homework accommodations may be offered. Teachers may accommodate homework load by limiting the time students should spend on the work. Alternatively, they may give a reduced or lighter version of work. Or, they may simply choose not to give grades on homework (simply using it as practice for tests).
If the teacher is unsure about giving an accommodation, keep accurate records of how long your child spends on homework daily. After several weeks, you should have a log showing that the amount of time is excessive. Teachers may then take steps to help reduce the amount of time that your child spends on completing homework.
If your child is struggling with their workload, contact Brain Balance Achievement Centers. We can help address the underlying causes of your child’s challenges and help get them back on track so they can succeed at school and at home.
For over a decade, we’ve helped over 30,000 children improve the critical skills needed to create a brighter path for their future. Contact us online to learn more about how the Brain Balance Program can help. You can also view the research and results of the program on the website.
