Set up a homework station. This should be in a location that is free of distractions, such as an office, the kitchen table, a nook or a corner of your child's bedroom. Remove any distracting devices, such as musical devices, her cell phone or television if you notice your child not focusing. The homework station should include a desk or other desktop, paper, writing utensils, a calculator and any other necessary supplies.
Establish a routine. Have a specified period of time that your child will use to complete her homework each day. This can be right after school, before dinner or after dinner. Some children need time to transition between school mode and home mode, so keep this in mind when determining the best time for homework.
Set up a backup plan in case a situation arises in which your child will not be at home during the homework hour. Have a clear understanding that he has to complete his homework prior to going to a friend's house or to an activity.
Communicate clear expectations with your child. Discuss how long you expect your child to study each day, grades she should make and any consequences for not doing her work or performing poorly. Reward her work ethic with positive encouragement and recognition.
Teach your child how to schedule her assignments. Tell her to write her assignments on a dry-erase board or on a calendar. This will help keep you involved in the process, remind her of her upcoming assignments and prevent you from badgering her about her work. Check in occasionally to ensure she is prioritizing her time and making adequate progress.
Help your child with homework if necessary. Ask him if he needs help before you jump in. Talk to him about the steps of the process he already understands before you help. Communicate that you will help explain how to do the work, but you won't give him any answers.
Review your child's work when he is finished. If he is older, teach him to review his own work by using the computer or a reference book. Have him redo any questions that he got wrong, and have him show his work by calculating the total or by writing down the page number where he found the answer.