Let’s face it: homework can be almost as frustrating (沮丧) for parents as it is for kids. Getting kids to do their homework can be a challenge, and when they do sit down to study, a lot of other problems can appear.
Doing homework may not be as fun as playing video games or chatting with friends, but it shouldn’t be something that kids hate. Your children’s assignments (任务) should help them build a skill or learn something new.
You can help by being a homework monitor, stepping in to answer questions or offer encouragement. This gives you a chance to see what they are learning and how well they understand the material. It helps you understand their learning style and shows you care about their education.
Many kids refuse to study by asking why they have to learn things they’ll never use in real life. If your son or daughter shows little interest in their assignments, you can make them seem more important by pointing out ways you use them in daily life.
If parents feel that their kids are overloaded (超负荷), they can talk about it with the teachers. If you think it takes your child too long to finish homework, try to make a decision whether the problem lies in having too much work or managing time poorly.
If your child complains of boredom while doing homework, give him or her the following suggestions:
Get help from friends: if your children are bored with an assignment, let them call a friend for help or invite a friend over to work on it with them.
Add physical activity: set mini-goals for homework and allow time for relaxing, jumping around, or a snack after each goal is completed. For a kid who can’t sit still, find active ways to study.
Turn the tables: let your children teach you a lesson. Let them give you a test on the things they have just learned.

Swimming and English Learning
Can you swim? Do you like swimming? Yes? Well, how can you learn to swim? I think the best way is to go into the water and learn. I’m afraid you’ll never learn to swim just by reading books about swimming or looking at others swimming. It’s the same with the English study. We must practice, practice and practice.
Listening and speaking are very important for beginners. The children in English-speaking countries first listen to others. Then they try to imitate and speak. We can listen to English programs on radio. You may just understand a few words. It doesn’t matter. Just be relaxed, try to catch every word.
Somebody may be a good listener. But he dare not speak. He’s afraid of making mistakes. You know we sometimes make mistakes when we speak Chinese. Don’t be afraid. We must be brave（勇敢）. If you really want to learn English well, you must try to speak with everyone so long as he knows English. Whether you know him or not is not important when there’s nobody to talk with, you can talk to yourself in English. It’s interesting and also a good way to practice your spoken English. Remember, the more you speak, the fewer mistakes you’ll make.
Reading and writing are more important for senior school students. First we must choose the books we’re interested in. A lot of reading will improve your language sense. This is the most important.
Keep writing English diaries. We can also write English articles. You may even post them to English magazines. Don’t be afraid of failure. Failure is the mother of success.
Easier said than done. Well, let’s do more practice from now on. I’m sure you’ll learn English well in this way.
(   ) 6. You can learn to swim by_______.
A. reading books about it  B. looking at others swimming
C. having lessons on it    D. going into the river and learning
(   ) 7. We should learn English by _______.
A. listening and speaking       B. reading and writing
C. A and B                  D. swimming
(   ) 8. What will you do with mistakes when you speak?
A. Don’t make mistakes.          B. Study hard
C. Try not to speak English        D. Don’t be afraid.
(   )9. What’s more important for senior school students?
A. listening    B. speaking    C. reading and writing   D. learning
(   ) 10. We can listen to English ______, according to the passage.
A. by train     B. on the radio   C. every minute   D. now and then

Swimming and English Learning

Can you swim? Do you like swimming? Yes? Well, how can you learn to swim? I think the best way is to go into the water and learn. I’m afraid you’ll never learn to swim just by reading books about swimming or looking at others swimming. It’s the same with the English study. We must practice, practice and practice.

Listening and speaking are very important for beginners. The children in English-speaking countries first listen to others. Then they try to imitate and speak. We can listen to English programs on radio. You may just understand a few words. It doesn’t matter. Just be relaxed, try to catch every word.

Somebody may be a good listener. But he dare not speak. He’s afraid of making mistakes. You know we sometimes make mistakes when we speak Chinese. Don’t be afraid. We must be brave. If you really want to learn English well, you must try to speak with everyone so long as he knows English. Whether you know him or not is not important when there’s nobody to talk with, you can talk to yourself in English. It’s interesting and also a good way to practice your spoken English. Remember, the more you speak, the fewer mistakes you’ll make.

Reading and writing are more important for senior school students. First we must choose the books we’re interested in. A lot of reading will improve your language sense. This is the most important.

Keep writing English diaries. We can also write English articles. You may even post them to English magazines. Don’t be afraid of failure. Failure is the mother of success.

Easier said than done. Well, let’s do more practice from now on. I’m sure you’ll learn English well in this way.

1.You can learn to swim by_______.

2.We should learn English by _______.

3. What will you do with mistakes when you speak?

4. What’s more important for senior school students?

5. We can listen to English ______, according to the passage.