In theory, "homework club" seems like a splendid idea. Teachers volunteer ten afternoons a year to supervise an after school study hall for any student on the team who wants to come. As a result, every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday we can offer all the supplies and know-how it takes to assist any willing scholar in getting a good head start on homework.
They key word, however, is "willing." After a full day of schooling, it's tough for most kids to sit for another hour. Even the snack we provide can't get rid of the ants in their pants. Because many parents insist that their kids attend, half of these jittery kids are not there by choice anyhow.
As such, homework club can become an epic struggle. Take today, for example, when the three boys I was sitting with completed a combined total of 5 questions in the hour we had. You can be sure I used all the tricks and tools I had to get that much from them, but the time of day and the number of kids in the room was too distracting for them, and in the end we were all frustrated.
It wasn't without its lighter side, though. "Look!" one of the boys told me. "I finished all this!" He brandished a work sheet under my nose.
"When did you do that?" I asked him.
"Now!" he answered triumphantly. "And you said I wasn't working."
"Well," I said taking a closer look, "it seems like you kind of rushed through this."
"Nah uh," he said with a pout. "I read every one of those."
"Really? Then how come you answered True or False to all these questions? Your choices were A, B, and C!"
He gave me a big shrug and an embarrassed grin. "Oops."
They key word, however, is "willing." After a full day of schooling, it's tough for most kids to sit for another hour. Even the snack we provide can't get rid of the ants in their pants. Because many parents insist that their kids attend, half of these jittery kids are not there by choice anyhow.
As such, homework club can become an epic struggle. Take today, for example, when the three boys I was sitting with completed a combined total of 5 questions in the hour we had. You can be sure I used all the tricks and tools I had to get that much from them, but the time of day and the number of kids in the room was too distracting for them, and in the end we were all frustrated.
It wasn't without its lighter side, though. "Look!" one of the boys told me. "I finished all this!" He brandished a work sheet under my nose.
"When did you do that?" I asked him.
"Now!" he answered triumphantly. "And you said I wasn't working."
"Well," I said taking a closer look, "it seems like you kind of rushed through this."
"Nah uh," he said with a pout. "I read every one of those."
"Really? Then how come you answered True or False to all these questions? Your choices were A, B, and C!"
He gave me a big shrug and an embarrassed grin. "Oops."
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