POWER HOUR Top 10 Reasons to do Homework

1. POWER HOUR Top 10 Reasons to do Homework

2. POWER HOUR #10I have a “special room” with supplies and books • Develop a creative program name • Create a separate room that feels special • Provide pencils, pens, crayons, dictionary and books • Make the room colorful and display with kids pictures and successes

3. POWER HOUR # 9I have afun place to be with my friends • Set up room with tables and chairs so friends can work on homework together • Display pictures of friends working together • Reinforce attendance by greeting kids at door with hugs and “high fives”

4. POWER HOUR # 8 I love the homework “room” • Decorate the room with tools that assist homework • maps of the U.S. and the world • colorful and bright seasonal displays • “Recognition” wall • Establish a non-threatening environment

5. POWER HOUR # 7 Create excitement and competition with “points” • Develop a point system to reward homework completion and good behavior • Deduct points for losing homework papers, borrowing supplies or poor behavior • Include an element of “surprise” and make it “double or triple point day”

6. POWER HOUR # 6 I like Fridays • Provide special activities and incentives on this day • Show a DVD and treat the kids to popcorn or ice cream sundaes • Ask their opinion of what “they” would like to do on the “free” day • Kids in homework “stick together” and feel special

7. POWER HOUR # 5 I “LOVE” Mrs. Wilson • Perfect opportunity to recruit community volunteers, high school students completing community service • a supportive adult and role model • develop a relationship and “connect” with a child • allows set times for volunteer assistance • opportunity for a teen employment program • create a “secure” environment

8. POWER HOUR # 4 I can’t wait to go shopping • Create a POWER STORE for kids to shop with their points • Think like a kid, buy “stuff” they can purchase w/points • Be creative and secure “big” items so kids can work hard and bank their points for the really “big” purchase • BMX bikes • Computers • IPODs • Donation opportunity • Great opportunity for community support to provide “prizes” for homework completion

9. POWER HOUR # 3 My grades are improving • Perfect opportunity to design homework club to support school standards • Work with school principal to understand curriculum pacing calendar • Align and reinforce regular school day instruction through creative ways of presenting information • Get homework assignments in advance and have copies when kids lose their assignment • Find out when big assignments (research papers, etc.) are given out • Learn to speak the schools language: STAR, ADA, etc. • Coordinate student tracking with school to determine measurable outcomes

10. POWER HOUR # 2 I love the Boys & Girls Club • Homework is “voluntary” for one hour and then they can enjoy enrichment activities for the second hour • Other enrichment programming includes embedded learning • Scavenger hunt for geometric figures • Fractions through cooking lessons • History through fine arts interpretation of historical event

11. POWER HOUR # 1 POWER HOUR IS FUN • The homework room is a fun place to be • I really like my homework volunteers and Club staff; they make me laugh and they really understand me • My parents are happy that my grades have improved • I get my homework done and I have FUN

12. Isabelle Rodriguez Executive Director Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe P.O. Box 1617 Kings Beach, CA 96143 (530) 546-4324 irodriguez@bgcnlt.or