THE SEVEN HIDDEN VALUES OF HOMEWORK RESPONSIBILITY: The ability to assume ownership of that which rightly belongs to you;

to fulfill your obligations, to not hesitate to pick up the ball when it bounces into your court; to hold yourself fully accountable for both your mistakes as well as your successes. Homework is a responsibility that rightfully belongs to the child, not the parents. When parents get too involved, they set the process on its head. The lessons get done, but the R !" lesson doesn#t get learned. AUTONOMY: To be self-governing; to stand on your own two feet. Homework is the first time someone other than a parent has assigned tasks on a consistent basis. $t breaks new ground. The child is now accountable outside the family. The manner in which this golden opportunity is managed will either enhance or obstruct the child#s gradual emancipation. PERSEVERANCE: To confront challenge with determination; to strive in spite of difficulties; to complete what you set out to accomplish. $f the "ittle Train That %ould had had a mother train pushing from behind, there would have been no point to the story. "ikewise, there#s no point to a child doing homework if every time they become frustrated, parents absorb that frustration and make it better. $t#s a sad fact when most of our parents act as if one of their primary tasks is that of protecting their children from frustration. "ittle do they reali&e that more often than not, making a child#s life easier in the present will only make it harder in the future. TIME MANAGEMENT: The ability to organize time in an effective, productive manner; to complete tasks on schedule without compromising quality. $t is most unfortunate that most parents tell children when to start homework, but not when it is to be finished. This sets the stage for a nightly homework marathon. $nstead of learning to manage time, he learns to waste it. INITIATIVE: To be self-motivated and assertive; to be decisive in defining and pursing personal goals. $t boils down like this' Who decides when it is time for the child to begin his homework( $nitiative is like a muscle ) e*ercise it, it strengthens. $f, on the other hand, other people are assuming initiative for the child, the child will never develop the strength to e*ercise it on his own. SELF-RELIANCE: To have trust and self-confidence in your abilities. +anaged properly, homework empowers, affirms, enlarges, fulfills, actuali&es, and enables the child#s capacity for competence. +ismanaged, it diminishes, deflates, and disables. !nd there is no in between. RESOURCEFULNESS: The capacity to find, invent, or adapt creative means of solving problems. This is the business, the very stuff of being human, isn#t it( Homework provides the ,but not the only- form. the child provides the substance.

- taken from nding the !omework !assle "page #$%, by &ohn '( )osemond "$**+%(