It's Okay If You're Not an Expert

No one is an expert on everything. It's okay for children to know that you don't have all the answers. A lack of expertise can also provide an ideal opportunity for you to model ways to access unknown information. When you are stuck, the two of you might reread a text, check a reference or trade book, or search the Internet. These are all important strategies for students to learn. For example, if the student is unsure how to figure something out, you might say, Hmmm, I'm not sure myself. Let's think of how to find out.

As a homework helper, it's less your job to teach or reteach than it is to activate the knowledge the child already has. Do this through direct questioning. For example, if the child needs to write an essay on the Civil War, you might ask: When was the last time you talked about the Civil War in class? What did you talk about? What did you think? Using a graphic organizer (see example below) can help the student access and organize what she knows about the subject. As the child begins to respond, probe for deeper understanding. Note what the child knows and thinks and consider how it can help her complete the assignment.

Showing the entire process is helpful. Support the student in developing the ability to:

• Organize and prioritize the work
• Articulate the task and what he doesn't understand about it
• Identify what he already knows
• Seek the information he needs
• Complete the task in a timely fashion

What Do You Do When Your Student Isn't Getting It?