Dreading Homework this Fall? Brain Training can Help!

It’s Sunday night and your learner is facing down a tall stack of unfinished homework. Does this sound familiar? Homework challenges are an incredibly common experience for students of all ages—which is why you may be exploring your options for homework help. From brain training to tutoring, it helps to know what’s available and how it can make a difference.

For decades, homework has been the source of stress, tears, and difficulty for learners of every age. That can be further compounded for neurodivergent students, like those with ADHD, dyslexia, or learners on the spectrum.

When your child is having a tough time with homework, it can be hard to believe that this aspect of school can have benefits. But homework can allow students to become more independent learners. When learners build healthy studying habits—such as setting goals and planning—it can come in handy throughout their lives.

Keeping that in mind, let’s review some common struggles with homework, as well as how brain training can provide support.

Tutoring and Brain Training: Exploring Your Options

4 Common Challenges of Homework

When students don’t finish their homework, it’s not always for the same reasons. Here are some of the most common reasons students struggle to do their homework effectively:  

• Task initiation.
  Task initiation. Sometimes, getting started is the hardest part. “Task initiation” describes the executive functioning skill that allows learners to begin a new task. When students struggle with this ability, it makes it that much harder to just begin their homework.
  
• Running out of time.
  Whether it’s procrastination or lack of planning, plenty of learners find themselves running out of time at the end of the night. In these situations, students may rush through the work at the last minute, or skip it altogether.
  
• Difficulty concentrating.
  Focus is a skill, and it can be more difficult when students aren’t engaged with a particular subject. If your learner is having trouble concentrating, it can make completing their homework feel insurmountable. 

• Lack of organization.
  When students find organizing to be challenging, homework can be an uphill battle. Learners may feel overwhelmed, or may even struggle to keep track of homework tasks in the first place—causing assignments to fall by the wayside.
  

It’s important to remember that everyone struggles with homework at some point or another! That said, if your learner consistently dreads homework, or has difficulty with it, you may want to consider some form of one-on-one support.  

Do You Need Brain Training or Tutoring?

When it comes to finding the right support for your learner, you may encounter tutoring or brain training as options for homework help. But which one makes sense for your situation?

• Tutoring focuses on the subject.
  A tutor’s goal is usually to provide subject-specific support. This can sometimes be useful when a student otherwise excels academically but has one subject where they face challenges.
  
• Brain training focuses on skills.
  Instead of re-teaching concepts from class, brain training focuses on strengthening the underlying skills needed for effective studying. That includes focus, memory, reading comprehension, and more.

It’s always helpful to think about your learner and where they face challenges. When in doubt, you can always speak to LearningRx about your student and their needs!

How Brain Training Offers Homework Help

Through one-on-one brain training at LearningRx, students of all ages can practice cognitive skills and strengthen their abilities. In the process, they can build a strong foundation for learning, studying, and reading!

Through our StudyRx® program, learners can focus on improving those study skills they find most challenging. At the same time, they can learn strategies for setting goals, organization, focus, and time management. 

We tailor each program to suit the needs and goals of each specific student. Through our programs, learners can build healthier study habits while improving the way they think, focus, learn, and remember!  

Find out more about our brain training programs today! You can visit us online or contact 866-BRAIN-01 to discuss what your learner needs for homework help.