September 19, 2025 • 26 mins
We explore essential back-to-school strategies for parents navigating the transition from summer to the academic year, with practical tips for creating successful homework routines and balancing academics with extracurricular activities.
• Create a dedicated homework space free from distractions with good lighting
• Consider adding ambient elements like fish tanks, instrumental music, or essential oils to enhance focus
• Determine the optimal time for homework based on your child's schedule and energy levels
• Make yourself available during homework time to answer questions or provide guidance
• Don't hesitate to reach out to teachers when your child doesn't understand an assignment
• Always prioritize academics over athletics, even when sports are important
• Establish consequences for missed assignments, including limiting electronics until work is complete
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the
Gag is Hot.
I am your girl, charli Chanté.
Thank you for joining me onanother episode.
And if you're listening to this, like I always say, it must be
Friday, because new episodes arereleased on Fridays and if you
have not already, please makesure you subscribe.
You download, you subscribe andyou hit that notification bell.
(00:21):
So every time a new episode isreleased, you are one of the
first to get it.
Make sure you're telling yourfriends, you're telling your
family, because over here we gotgood information that you can
use each and every day.
And, like I always say, grabyour drinks, grab your snack or
whatever it is you do when youlisten to this, and we're going
to go ahead and jump in and getstarted.
(00:42):
We're going to go ahead andjump in and get started.
Now, y'all know we well into theschool year.
We're going to start talkingabout some things of how do we
get through the school year.
Kids are still in that mindframe of summer, which is okay,
because summer go, you get intoa routine.
It takes 21 days to form ahabit.
They'd be out of school for twomonths.
(01:03):
So, whatever they was doingover the summer, they have
mastered the art of this.
So we got to break them out ofthat cycle.
So today I'm going to give yousome tips and tricks that I
utilize that helps new face getthrough the school year.
I've also done this with MarcoPolo, so some of these are tried
(01:23):
and true.
Okay, I feel like my lightingis bad today, I don't know, but
we're going to go ahead, we'regoing to make it, we're going to
make it work, we're going tomake it do what it do.
So the first week of school hasalready come and gone and let
me tell you have I laughed alittle bit?
Yes, I have, because I said I'dbe in my head, I'd be like if
(01:48):
you were to listen to myepisodes on that back to school
prep, like in June, end of June,july.
Some of this could have beenavoided.
I had a situation Well, not Ihad a situation, but I seen a
situation where a couple of kidsshowed up to play sports and
they couldn't play sportsbecause they didn't have their
physical.
It was outdated.
And then they went and rushedand got it done, but it had not
(02:11):
been approved.
So for like a week they wereunable to participate.
I told you, I think back in oneof the episodes about sports
physicals and making sure youget them done on time.
Sports physicals and makingsure you're getting them done on
time because once the schoolyear starts you get it done.
The approval authority isalready moved on to the next
sport, different things likethat.
You can't rush those peoplewhen it comes to getting that
(02:34):
paperwork done.
I have told y'all that againand again.
And just make sure you get thepaperwork done on time, even
before it's due.
I know sometimes you gotta waitfor insurance because they
won't.
They'll only cover it for a 365year and not per se a calendar
year.
So just make sure that you'regetting that done.
(02:54):
And I also seen a situationwhere a kid was not picked up
from after school care and theycouldn't get a hold of whoever
was supposed to pick this childup because the number was not
correct.
Then they had to call somebodyelse and then that person was
like well, I'm still at work.
I don't know if I can get there.
Let me try to reach out to theperson that's supposed to pick
(03:15):
him up so that we can get thistaken care of.
I also thought about makingsure your contact information is
up to date in the event thatyour child gets sick or they
don't get picked up, need to beable to get in contact with you.
These things are important.
I talked about these things amonth before school started, so
(03:38):
I'll link those down.
If you're watching on YouTube,I'll link those down in the
description box so that you canhave access to those, so you can
go back and watch those, sothat you get your tips and
tricks.
Pass those on and then you'llbe ready for next year.
All right, so now that we gotthat out the way, I just wanted
to tell y'all about that becauseI seen it and I was like, oh my
god, like I literally have awhole series of episodes
(04:02):
dedicated to back to school prep.
You know and dang, I did it inJuly this year.
Do I need to do it in June toallow time for the episodes to
circulate, like goodness.
But one of the first things thatI want to talk about today when
it comes to academic strategiesis picking a good time to do
(04:25):
homework, because it's just likewith anything else, you've got
to have that good time to dostuff because, like you think,
oh, we can do it at this time orwe can do it at this time.
Make sure that you are pickinga good time to do homework
because you want to make surethat your child's in the right
mental space, they're not sleepy, they're not drowsy.
(04:45):
So you know, determine whatyour after-school routine is,
because sometimes after-schoolkids go to after-school care and
I do know that in after-schoolcare they do allow them time for
homework.
But you know kids want day withtheir friends and you know they
just want to get to the planeand the plane outside and
different stuff like that.
But you know, like I said, someprograms they allow the
(05:08):
homework.
Well, not they allow, but theydo have the opportunity for kids
to do their homework.
But in the event that yourchild doesn't do their homework
at afterschool care, determinewhen you get home what's the
appropriate time.
I know when a lot of kids getpicked up it's time to go to
practice or they have somethingelse.
They don't go directly home.
So make sure you determine thatwith new phase Um I have like a
(05:34):
split homework schedule due tohim having um swim practice
after school.
So when he gets out of school,um only onays, because here they
have early release on Mondays,so on Mondays he's able to do
his homework before he goes toswim, because he gets out of
school at 2.30.
Swim is not until 4.30.
(05:55):
So he has about an hour and ahalf after he gets off the bus
to do his homework.
Tuesday through Friday,depending on which practice we
go to, because if it's stormywe'll go to the later practice
so he may get time after schoolTuesday through Thursday,
tuesday through Friday to dohomework, but if not, we
(06:19):
typically do that after swim.
That's what works best for us.
So when he does it for afterschool, I try to offer a snack,
because just depend and thentake a look at what your child's
breakfast lunch schedule is,just to see what time they've
last ate I always offer a newface up a snack.
One thing he does is he bringsa granola bar and an apple or
(06:42):
apple slices with him in hislunchbox and then on his way
home from school he'll eat hisgranola bar and an apple or
apple slices with him in hislunchbox and then on his way
home from school he'll eat hisgranola bar and his apple on the
bus.
This is also beneficial for himdoing homework, but it's also
beneficial for when he goes toswim practice as well.
He has a little extra energywith him.
Once you create what time is agood time for your child to do
(07:04):
your homework, create adedicated homework space.
This is very, very importantwith New Face.
New Face gets distracted easy.
So I let him at the beginningof the year I do this every year
.
I always let the scheduleevolve in the workspace evolve
into itself.
(07:24):
Let the schedule evolve and theworkspace evolve into itself.
Now I let him start doing hishomework in his room.
But I noticed when I let him dohis homework in his room he
gets distracted.
The homework doesn'tnecessarily get done.
So what I've done is we have aspare room, not a bedroom, but a
spare flex room downstairs.
He's allowed to go in there,kind of set the scene.
There's a fish tank in there sothat can be kind of quiet and
(07:49):
allow him to kind of focus morein different things like that.
It's in the front of the house,it's away from a lot of the
noise.
It is about the front door, butwe don't have people coming in
and out, so that's not a bigdistraction.
He also can sit at the kitchentable.
We move the place, mats andeverything that's on the table
so that he can have all thespace he needs.
(08:09):
There's a light overhead thatway, if he's doing his homework
later in the evening and it'sdark outside, he can flip the
light on.
He also has the opportunity todo it sitting at the counter.
I don't think he personallylikes sitting downstairs to do
his homework, because he's morevisible to me and then I can see
(08:30):
him more, I can hear him more.
Listen, I'm just trying to helpyou get good grades, trying to
help you just make it.
So if you're visible to meit'll be like oh, mom's watching
me, so let me kind of stay ontrack.
Now, that's not to say thatonce he starts doing his
homework, I'm like don't youmake a peep, like he'll stop,
(08:51):
he'll ask me questions.
I don't make him sit there andjust dredge and just do homework
, homework, homework.
We stop, we talk, he have aconversation.
When his brother comes in, hestops.
He has a conversation with hisbrother, he talks and then it's
back to his homework.
So when you're creating thishomework space, make sure, like
(09:13):
I said, his has one of hisspaces has a fish tank in it.
I know a lot of kids like musicwhen they do their homework, so
music is a good option, not loud, just something low.
You can do instrumentals.
I find channels on YouTube thatsay, like study music, it gives
a nice good flow.
I also use them when I amworking.
(09:34):
It's just a little something tohelp keep the concentration up
and, you know, just help keepthem mellow.
And if you want to take it astep further which what I have,
um, in my workspace is I doessential oils and a diffuser,
um, find you a nice scent,calming scent, like a lavender
or bergamot or orange or lemon,just something.
(09:59):
They have different blends,they have like focus blends,
just something that'll awakenthe senses, keep the senses, you
know, up tip top shape, butit's not something that's going
to relax you too much to thepoint where you are going to
fall asleep.
Sorry y'all, I got to give me adrink of water.
Y'all hear I sound a littlehoarse.
(10:20):
Tell you what these allergiesin Florida.
They real, they real crazy.
So I wake up in the morningsometimes I be sounding like he
man, but as the day progressesit gets better.
All right, and so this next tipI feel like is the most
(10:41):
important, and I think sometimes, as parents, we get lost in the
sauce, and I was like this fora while.
When New Face would do hishomework, I would be like OK,
he's doing his homework, this ismy time to shine, this is my
time to have me some free time,have me some quiet time because
he's doing his homework and he'snot going to disturb me.
My time because he's doing hishomework and he's not going to
(11:07):
disturb me.
I realized that although he isdoing homework in this time,
although I can have free time,quiet time, I also make myself
available to assist with anyhomework questions.
Now, these questions may notalways be homework per se
(11:28):
related.
New Face may have the conceptand he may be like so, mom, what
do you think about this?
Or when you were in school, howdid you guys learn about this
topic?
I always make myself available.
So when we come home, I makemyself available for the first
hour.
(11:48):
This time it allows me to beright there if he has any
questions.
And then, if we go beyond thehour, I'm still available.
But I have transitioned todoing you know, things for me,
the things that I do to unwind.
When I come home from work, Itake a shower, getting my
(12:09):
clothes ready for the next day,but I'm still available.
So if he has a question, youknow he can still come to me.
I'll stop what I'm doing andI'll go assist him with his
homework.
Assist him with his homeworkNow.
If you have trouble or you areunable to assist your child with
your homework, parents I cannotstress this enough Please,
(12:30):
please, please, please, reachout to the teacher.
As someone who used to work ineducation, we will never, ever,
I will never, ever, or I neverdid get upset at a parent that
goes hey, little Johnny didn'tunderstand.
I attempted to help, I don'tunderstand.
Can you assist little Johnnyand can you assist me as well?
(12:52):
When parents did this, I wouldemail back.
I would tell them you know,this is how we do it, you know.
And then when that child comesto class, I would show that
child how to do it as well.
And I would never take offpoints if a child turned in
their work late because theirparent has emailed me and said
(13:12):
they don't understand.
I have several times, especiallywith math.
Now, some math I understand,like sixth, seventh, eighth
grade math, like up to middleschool math.
I'm pretty good at it when itcomes to high school, like this
calculus and trig and all ofthat I've taken those classes
for college but they were not mybest subject.
(13:34):
So I you know I couldn't helpwith some of that stuff and so I
would email the teacher from myCanvas account.
I'd be like hey, miss Susie Q,you know New Face is working on
this and I didn't quiteunderstand.
You know, are you able toassist?
This is the problem that wewere having trouble with.
(13:55):
You know, we understood X, y, zproblem, but this one we're not
quite understanding.
Never had an issue with ateacher going.
Thank you for reaching out.
You know I'll I'll pull newface to the side.
We'll work with a little bit sowe can get the concept.
New faces thing is with math.
New face is very, very smartand from middle school all the
(14:18):
way up, I would even say inelementary Newface has done good
at math.
But he has not done good atmath at the same time.
Newface's problem is he can domath in his head, and I'm
talking big numbers.
He can do things in his headand he cannot write it down.
Teachers today want to see howyou come up with the answers.
(14:39):
His big issue where he getspoints deducted is because he
does not show his work.
Teachers have even said I'veasked him a question.
He's given me the correctanswer off the top of his head.
But I need to see that work out.
So when he gets points deductedin math, it's not because he
can't do the work, it's becausehe does not show his work.
So for over the years, that'sone of the things that we have
(14:59):
strategically worked on.
For over the years, that's oneof the things that we have
strategically worked on.
We have strategically worked onhim writing it out, step by
step, so that you can show theteacher yeah, I know this stuff,
you know.
But let me write it out so thatI can get full credit for these
assignments.
But parents, never be afraid toreach out to your teachers, your
(15:22):
kids' teachers, to ask for helpor for understanding on an
assignment.
Like I said, it'll go a longway.
Like New Face missed anassignment a couple of weeks ago
because he said he didn't knowand I said remember, use Canvas,
email your teacher.
So he ended up doing that, heended up taking, he ended up
(15:42):
turning into work late and sheended up giving him full credit
for it because he had reachedout to ask for help.
It's just as simple as that.
There's never anything to beashamed of.
Teachers are there to help.
And I told New Face, I said look, I said as a teacher, like last
year, he went to Saturdayschool for different subjects,
(16:04):
just all around history, math,not because he needed help, but
just so he can get that littlebit better understanding.
Because kids don't always getthe best understanding in class.
There may be distractions fromthe other kids or, you know,
they may have fire drills ordifferent stuff like that
assembly, so they may not alwaysget that focus.
And I told him, I said yourteachers are going to see that
(16:28):
you're coming and you're puttingforth the effort in their
classes.
And I said that makes adifference to us.
And so at the end of the year Ithink he had like an 88 in a
class and a teacher rounded itup.
He ended up getting an A in theclass.
I said because that teacher knewthat you were putting forth
effort to get better in thatclass.
I'm not saying that you knowevery teacher is going to do
(16:49):
that and I'm not saying haveyour child do that to play the
system.
But if a child is getting upfor six Saturdays in a row to
come to ask questions, to getbetter understanding, get test
taking tips and different stufflike that.
If I see that there are two now, if he had an 81, no, I'm not
(17:10):
going to round you up to a 90,but he had like an 88.6 or
something.
He ran at him a point and ahalf.
A point and a half is not goingto kill anybody.
I'm not saying a child shouldgo from a C to an A, but he was
merely that close.
But that teacher had seen himcoming week after week after
week to get that extraunderstanding and went ahead and
boosted him up because he didnot have to.
Now, in another scenario it mayhave been another student in
(17:32):
that situation and he may nothave rounded them up.
That's at that teacher'sdiscretion.
You can say that the teacher waswrong.
I mean, you know, to each hisown, you know, but it's all in.
When in doubt reach out to theteacher, the teacher is going to
always understand that whatthey are there for, they have 24
to 48 hours.
They have 24 hours to respondto your message.
(17:54):
So you know that you're goingto get a reply.
You know.
Don't message them at midnight,you know, and, like I would say
, I've had teachers message meback at seven or eight o'clock
at night and it's like oh, thankyou for reaching out.
You know, here's this, you know.
Tell him to come see me when hegets to class tomorrow.
Just as simple as that.
(18:14):
And please let it tell yourchildren that it is OK to go to
the teacher to ask for help.
The kids might pick and pokeand point, but it doesn't matter
.
Your kids are there to learn.
The teachers are there to helpthem learn, regardless of who is
looking at them.
Always, when in doubt, ask forhelp, because from being in a
classroom, I know that the onesthat are poking and prodding are
(18:37):
the ones who are barely passinga class.
But that's neither here northere.
This one is a very, very bigone and I I could actually
dedicate a whole episode to this, but y'all would have came for
me big time and I I'm gonnaalways stress this.
(18:59):
I'm gonna always stress thisacademics come before athletics.
Let me say it again for thepeople in the back Academics
always comes before athletics.
(19:21):
And if you don't think athleticsis important, I need you to
take a look at the newrecruiting for these kids.
They are looking for studentswho are academically well as
well, not saying that your childshould have straight A's, but
your child can't come up inthere with like a 2.0, 2.1.
We've been looking at collegesand different stuff like that,
especially when it comes to swimprograms and stuff like that.
(19:42):
I can't remember what swimprogram it was, but it said and
it was like a prestigious, itwas like a good, really good,
like D1 college, and it saidthat student athletes have to
maintain a 1.5 GPA.
I'm sorry, what A 1.5?
That is totally unacceptable.
That's like on the low end of aC, if I'm not mistaken.
(20:05):
That is terrible.
Only in each board, I think,only less than one percent of
people make it right.
So why are we not telling kidshey, even though you're good at
sports, make sure you focus onyour academics as well, because
(20:25):
when sports is no longer there,you're always going to have your
degree to fall back on.
And you can see numerous ofpeople who've gone to the NBA,
have gone to the NFL, have goneback to school and finished
their degree.
There's nothing wrong with that, because sports is talent-based
and Lord forbid you get aninjury or something like that.
You want to make sure you havesomething to fall back on.
(20:47):
So I will always stressacademics over athletes and if I
feel like Newface needs sometime or I feel like the amount
of homework he has is too greatfor that day, we're not going to
practice.
Because what good is going topractice when you're not
learning?
There are too many stories outthere where athletes have just
(21:10):
been getting passed over yearafter year after year because
they're an athlete and they goto certain teachers and these
teachers pass them.
So then when they become in theleague and stuff like that,
they're getting taken advantageof because they can't read good,
they can't add good, they don'tknow how to advocate for
themselves.
You see it time and time again.
That is not okay.
(21:30):
Parents, please do not putathletics over academics.
It never works out.
It does not work out.
Do not set these kids up forfailure.
Encourage them to get theireducation over their athletics.
(21:51):
Not saying your child is notgood, but if they cannot read,
write and do the basic things,what good are they going to be
in their adult life?
It's not going to be good.
It's not going to be good.
So make sure, parents, that youare stressing the importance of
(22:14):
academics over athletics.
Academics going to trumpathletics every time.
Okay, in this household.
It is so for this week's.
You can't make this up.
Yeah, new faces on semipunishment already because he is
, you know, he's in high schoolbut he's duly enrolled and he's
(22:38):
duly enrolled through his highschool.
And the dean of the Collegiateacademy called me the other day
y'all.
She was like how you doing?
I said I know it ain't good ifyou calling.
She said I never thought I'dsee the day that I would have to
call you because our boy is onpoint.
(22:58):
I said I know, and this goesback to when I was speaking
about reaching out to yourteachers.
If you don't understand, hedidn't turn in two assignments
and I asked him about it.
He said, mom, I didn'tunderstand.
And I said go ahead, reach outto the teacher.
You know, still make an effortto try to turn in those
assignments.
(23:18):
And I told her I said thank youfor calling me, I appreciate it
.
And I told her I said thank youfor calling me, I appreciate it
.
So he reached out to theteacher, teacher explained it to
him and he was able to submitit and he got credit for it.
And so I feel like he's he'sstill getting in his algorithm
(23:39):
of being back to school.
So we have limited electronicsnow, just not as a punishment
but as a less keeping on focus,so he doesn't get to take his
phone to school, because I doknow that he'd be on that phone
all the time at school.
He's like well, mom, he waslike I need my phone so for my
(23:59):
authentication when I log intothe computer.
I said I suggest you get a book, a password book.
I said because you're nottaking this school, just phone
the school for a good littleminute.
We have phones in school and wesurvive.
Ok, get your password book,write it down.
And so the other day I said hey,I said that class that you was
(24:20):
telling me you needed your phonefor to get the authentication.
I said you still been able todo work in that class.
He was like yes, ma'am.
I said oh, okay.
I said so you're telling methat you can do work in this
class without your cell phone?
He was like yes, ma'am.
Oh, okay, cool, I knew it,cause I said every kid don't
have no cell phone.
So I know these teachers ain'tcreating work for kids with just
(24:43):
cell phones.
I know that's not happening.
So that is my.
You can't make this up, so Idon't even know when he come off
punishment.
I say he'll come off punishmentwhen I feel he ready to come
off punishment.
You know that's just what it is.
We have come to the end of ourepisode and please make sure
that you are liking, sharing andsubscribing these episodes.
(25:05):
Make sure you're hitting thatnotification bell on your
podcasting app and on YouTube aswell, so that when an episode
is released, you are one of thefirst to get it.
Episodes are released at 5 amon Friday mornings, so when you
wake up and you go to work andyou go to take your kids to
school on Friday, the episode isthere so that you can listen to
.
I greatly appreciate it.
I am your girl, charla Chante.
(25:26):
This is the Gag is Pod.
Bye, guys.
Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the
Gag is Hot.
I am your girl, charli Chanté.
Thank you for joining me onanother episode.
And if you're listening to this, like I always say, it must be
Friday, because new episodes arereleased on Fridays and if you
have not already, please makesure you subscribe.
You download, you subscribe andyou hit that notification bell.
(00:21):
So every time a new episode isreleased, you are one of the
first to get it.
Make sure you're telling yourfriends, you're telling your
family, because over here we gotgood information that you can
use each and every day.
And, like I always say, grabyour drinks, grab your snack or
whatever it is you do when youlisten to this, and we're going
to go ahead and jump in and getstarted.
(00:42):
We're going to go ahead andjump in and get started.
Now, y'all know we well into theschool year.
We're going to start talkingabout some things of how do we
get through the school year.
Kids are still in that mindframe of summer, which is okay,
because summer go, you get intoa routine.
It takes 21 days to form ahabit.
They'd be out of school for twomonths.
(01:03):
So, whatever they was doingover the summer, they have
mastered the art of this.
So we got to break them out ofthat cycle.
So today I'm going to give yousome tips and tricks that I
utilize that helps new face getthrough the school year.
I've also done this with MarcoPolo, so some of these are tried
(01:23):
and true.
Okay, I feel like my lightingis bad today, I don't know, but
we're going to go ahead, we'regoing to make it, we're going to
make it work, we're going tomake it do what it do.
So the first week of school hasalready come and gone and let
me tell you have I laughed alittle bit?
Yes, I have, because I said I'dbe in my head, I'd be like if
(01:48):
you were to listen to myepisodes on that back to school
prep, like in June, end of June,july.
Some of this could have beenavoided.
I had a situation Well, not Ihad a situation, but I seen a
situation where a couple of kidsshowed up to play sports and
they couldn't play sportsbecause they didn't have their
physical.
It was outdated.
And then they went and rushedand got it done, but it had not
(02:11):
been approved.
So for like a week they wereunable to participate.
I told you, I think back in oneof the episodes about sports
physicals and making sure youget them done on time.
Sports physicals and makingsure you're getting them done on
time because once the schoolyear starts you get it done.
The approval authority isalready moved on to the next
sport, different things likethat.
You can't rush those peoplewhen it comes to getting that
(02:34):
paperwork done.
I have told y'all that againand again.
And just make sure you get thepaperwork done on time, even
before it's due.
I know sometimes you gotta waitfor insurance because they
won't.
They'll only cover it for a 365year and not per se a calendar
year.
So just make sure that you'regetting that done.
(02:54):
And I also seen a situationwhere a kid was not picked up
from after school care and theycouldn't get a hold of whoever
was supposed to pick this childup because the number was not
correct.
Then they had to call somebodyelse and then that person was
like well, I'm still at work.
I don't know if I can get there.
Let me try to reach out to theperson that's supposed to pick
(03:15):
him up so that we can get thistaken care of.
I also thought about makingsure your contact information is
up to date in the event thatyour child gets sick or they
don't get picked up, need to beable to get in contact with you.
These things are important.
I talked about these things amonth before school started, so
(03:38):
I'll link those down.
If you're watching on YouTube,I'll link those down in the
description box so that you canhave access to those, so you can
go back and watch those, sothat you get your tips and
tricks.
Pass those on and then you'llbe ready for next year.
All right, so now that we gotthat out the way, I just wanted
to tell y'all about that becauseI seen it and I was like, oh my
god, like I literally have awhole series of episodes
(04:02):
dedicated to back to school prep.
You know and dang, I did it inJuly this year.
Do I need to do it in June toallow time for the episodes to
circulate, like goodness.
But one of the first things thatI want to talk about today when
it comes to academic strategiesis picking a good time to do
(04:25):
homework, because it's just likewith anything else, you've got
to have that good time to dostuff because, like you think,
oh, we can do it at this time orwe can do it at this time.
Make sure that you are pickinga good time to do homework
because you want to make surethat your child's in the right
mental space, they're not sleepy, they're not drowsy.
(04:45):
So you know, determine whatyour after-school routine is,
because sometimes after-schoolkids go to after-school care and
I do know that in after-schoolcare they do allow them time for
homework.
But you know kids want day withtheir friends and you know they
just want to get to the planeand the plane outside and
different stuff like that.
But you know, like I said, someprograms they allow the
(05:08):
homework.
Well, not they allow, but theydo have the opportunity for kids
to do their homework.
But in the event that yourchild doesn't do their homework
at afterschool care, determinewhen you get home what's the
appropriate time.
I know when a lot of kids getpicked up it's time to go to
practice or they have somethingelse.
They don't go directly home.
So make sure you determine thatwith new phase Um I have like a
(05:34):
split homework schedule due tohim having um swim practice
after school.
So when he gets out of school,um only onays, because here they
have early release on Mondays,so on Mondays he's able to do
his homework before he goes toswim, because he gets out of
school at 2.30.
Swim is not until 4.30.
(05:55):
So he has about an hour and ahalf after he gets off the bus
to do his homework.
Tuesday through Friday,depending on which practice we
go to, because if it's stormywe'll go to the later practice
so he may get time after schoolTuesday through Thursday,
tuesday through Friday to dohomework, but if not, we
(06:19):
typically do that after swim.
That's what works best for us.
So when he does it for afterschool, I try to offer a snack,
because just depend and thentake a look at what your child's
breakfast lunch schedule is,just to see what time they've
last ate I always offer a newface up a snack.
One thing he does is he bringsa granola bar and an apple or
(06:42):
apple slices with him in hislunchbox and then on his way
home from school he'll eat hisgranola bar and an apple or
apple slices with him in hislunchbox and then on his way
home from school he'll eat hisgranola bar and his apple on the
bus.
This is also beneficial for himdoing homework, but it's also
beneficial for when he goes toswim practice as well.
He has a little extra energywith him.
Once you create what time is agood time for your child to do
(07:04):
your homework, create adedicated homework space.
This is very, very importantwith New Face.
New Face gets distracted easy.
So I let him at the beginningof the year I do this every year
.
I always let the scheduleevolve in the workspace evolve
into itself.
(07:24):
Let the schedule evolve and theworkspace evolve into itself.
Now I let him start doing hishomework in his room.
But I noticed when I let him dohis homework in his room he
gets distracted.
The homework doesn'tnecessarily get done.
So what I've done is we have aspare room, not a bedroom, but a
spare flex room downstairs.
He's allowed to go in there,kind of set the scene.
There's a fish tank in there sothat can be kind of quiet and
(07:49):
allow him to kind of focus morein different things like that.
It's in the front of the house,it's away from a lot of the
noise.
It is about the front door, butwe don't have people coming in
and out, so that's not a bigdistraction.
He also can sit at the kitchentable.
We move the place, mats andeverything that's on the table
so that he can have all thespace he needs.
(08:09):
There's a light overhead thatway, if he's doing his homework
later in the evening and it'sdark outside, he can flip the
light on.
He also has the opportunity todo it sitting at the counter.
I don't think he personallylikes sitting downstairs to do
his homework, because he's morevisible to me and then I can see
(08:30):
him more, I can hear him more.
Listen, I'm just trying to helpyou get good grades, trying to
help you just make it.
So if you're visible to meit'll be like oh, mom's watching
me, so let me kind of stay ontrack.
Now, that's not to say thatonce he starts doing his
homework, I'm like don't youmake a peep, like he'll stop,
(08:51):
he'll ask me questions.
I don't make him sit there andjust dredge and just do homework
, homework, homework.
We stop, we talk, he have aconversation.
When his brother comes in, hestops.
He has a conversation with hisbrother, he talks and then it's
back to his homework.
So when you're creating thishomework space, make sure, like
(09:13):
I said, his has one of hisspaces has a fish tank in it.
I know a lot of kids like musicwhen they do their homework, so
music is a good option, not loud, just something low.
You can do instrumentals.
I find channels on YouTube thatsay, like study music, it gives
a nice good flow.
I also use them when I amworking.
(09:34):
It's just a little something tohelp keep the concentration up
and, you know, just help keepthem mellow.
And if you want to take it astep further which what I have,
um, in my workspace is I doessential oils and a diffuser,
um, find you a nice scent,calming scent, like a lavender
or bergamot or orange or lemon,just something.
(09:59):
They have different blends,they have like focus blends,
just something that'll awakenthe senses, keep the senses, you
know, up tip top shape, butit's not something that's going
to relax you too much to thepoint where you are going to
fall asleep.
Sorry y'all, I got to give me adrink of water.
Y'all hear I sound a littlehoarse.
(10:20):
Tell you what these allergiesin Florida.
They real, they real crazy.
So I wake up in the morningsometimes I be sounding like he
man, but as the day progressesit gets better.
All right, and so this next tipI feel like is the most
(10:41):
important, and I think sometimes, as parents, we get lost in the
sauce, and I was like this fora while.
When New Face would do hishomework, I would be like OK,
he's doing his homework, this ismy time to shine, this is my
time to have me some free time,have me some quiet time because
he's doing his homework and he'snot going to disturb me.
My time because he's doing hishomework and he's not going to
(11:07):
disturb me.
I realized that although he isdoing homework in this time,
although I can have free time,quiet time, I also make myself
available to assist with anyhomework questions.
Now, these questions may notalways be homework per se
(11:28):
related.
New Face may have the conceptand he may be like so, mom, what
do you think about this?
Or when you were in school, howdid you guys learn about this
topic?
I always make myself available.
So when we come home, I makemyself available for the first
hour.
(11:48):
This time it allows me to beright there if he has any
questions.
And then, if we go beyond thehour, I'm still available.
But I have transitioned todoing you know, things for me,
the things that I do to unwind.
When I come home from work, Itake a shower, getting my
(12:09):
clothes ready for the next day,but I'm still available.
So if he has a question, youknow he can still come to me.
I'll stop what I'm doing andI'll go assist him with his
homework.
Assist him with his homeworkNow.
If you have trouble or you areunable to assist your child with
your homework, parents I cannotstress this enough Please,
(12:30):
please, please, please, reachout to the teacher.
As someone who used to work ineducation, we will never, ever,
I will never, ever, or I neverdid get upset at a parent that
goes hey, little Johnny didn'tunderstand.
I attempted to help, I don'tunderstand.
Can you assist little Johnnyand can you assist me as well?
(12:52):
When parents did this, I wouldemail back.
I would tell them you know,this is how we do it, you know.
And then when that child comesto class, I would show that
child how to do it as well.
And I would never take offpoints if a child turned in
their work late because theirparent has emailed me and said
(13:12):
they don't understand.
I have several times, especiallywith math.
Now, some math I understand,like sixth, seventh, eighth
grade math, like up to middleschool math.
I'm pretty good at it when itcomes to high school, like this
calculus and trig and all ofthat I've taken those classes
for college but they were not mybest subject.
(13:34):
So I you know I couldn't helpwith some of that stuff and so I
would email the teacher from myCanvas account.
I'd be like hey, miss Susie Q,you know New Face is working on
this and I didn't quiteunderstand.
You know, are you able toassist?
This is the problem that wewere having trouble with.
(13:55):
You know, we understood X, y, zproblem, but this one we're not
quite understanding.
Never had an issue with ateacher going.
Thank you for reaching out.
You know I'll I'll pull newface to the side.
We'll work with a little bit sowe can get the concept.
New faces thing is with math.
New face is very, very smartand from middle school all the
(14:18):
way up, I would even say inelementary Newface has done good
at math.
But he has not done good atmath at the same time.
Newface's problem is he can domath in his head, and I'm
talking big numbers.
He can do things in his headand he cannot write it down.
Teachers today want to see howyou come up with the answers.
(14:39):
His big issue where he getspoints deducted is because he
does not show his work.
Teachers have even said I'veasked him a question.
He's given me the correctanswer off the top of his head.
But I need to see that work out.
So when he gets points deductedin math, it's not because he
can't do the work, it's becausehe does not show his work.
So for over the years, that'sone of the things that we have
(14:59):
strategically worked on.
For over the years, that's oneof the things that we have
strategically worked on.
We have strategically worked onhim writing it out, step by
step, so that you can show theteacher yeah, I know this stuff,
you know.
But let me write it out so thatI can get full credit for these
assignments.
But parents, never be afraid toreach out to your teachers, your
(15:22):
kids' teachers, to ask for helpor for understanding on an
assignment.
Like I said, it'll go a longway.
Like New Face missed anassignment a couple of weeks ago
because he said he didn't knowand I said remember, use Canvas,
email your teacher.
So he ended up doing that, heended up taking, he ended up
(15:42):
turning into work late and sheended up giving him full credit
for it because he had reachedout to ask for help.
It's just as simple as that.
There's never anything to beashamed of.
Teachers are there to help.
And I told New Face, I said look, I said as a teacher, like last
year, he went to Saturdayschool for different subjects,
(16:04):
just all around history, math,not because he needed help, but
just so he can get that littlebit better understanding.
Because kids don't always getthe best understanding in class.
There may be distractions fromthe other kids or, you know,
they may have fire drills ordifferent stuff like that
assembly, so they may not alwaysget that focus.
And I told him, I said yourteachers are going to see that
(16:28):
you're coming and you're puttingforth the effort in their
classes.
And I said that makes adifference to us.
And so at the end of the year Ithink he had like an 88 in a
class and a teacher rounded itup.
He ended up getting an A in theclass.
I said because that teacher knewthat you were putting forth
effort to get better in thatclass.
I'm not saying that you knowevery teacher is going to do
(16:49):
that and I'm not saying haveyour child do that to play the
system.
But if a child is getting upfor six Saturdays in a row to
come to ask questions, to getbetter understanding, get test
taking tips and different stufflike that.
If I see that there are two now, if he had an 81, no, I'm not
(17:10):
going to round you up to a 90,but he had like an 88.6 or
something.
He ran at him a point and ahalf.
A point and a half is not goingto kill anybody.
I'm not saying a child shouldgo from a C to an A, but he was
merely that close.
But that teacher had seen himcoming week after week after
week to get that extraunderstanding and went ahead and
boosted him up because he didnot have to.
Now, in another scenario it mayhave been another student in
(17:32):
that situation and he may nothave rounded them up.
That's at that teacher'sdiscretion.
You can say that the teacher waswrong.
I mean, you know, to each hisown, you know, but it's all in.
When in doubt reach out to theteacher, the teacher is going to
always understand that whatthey are there for, they have 24
to 48 hours.
They have 24 hours to respondto your message.
(17:54):
So you know that you're goingto get a reply.
You know.
Don't message them at midnight,you know, and, like I would say
, I've had teachers message meback at seven or eight o'clock
at night and it's like oh, thankyou for reaching out.
You know, here's this, you know.
Tell him to come see me when hegets to class tomorrow.
Just as simple as that.
(18:14):
And please let it tell yourchildren that it is OK to go to
the teacher to ask for help.
The kids might pick and pokeand point, but it doesn't matter
.
Your kids are there to learn.
The teachers are there to helpthem learn, regardless of who is
looking at them.
Always, when in doubt, ask forhelp, because from being in a
classroom, I know that the onesthat are poking and prodding are
(18:37):
the ones who are barely passinga class.
But that's neither here northere.
This one is a very, very bigone and I I could actually
dedicate a whole episode to this, but y'all would have came for
me big time and I I'm gonnaalways stress this.
(18:59):
I'm gonna always stress thisacademics come before athletics.
Let me say it again for thepeople in the back Academics
always comes before athletics.
(19:21):
And if you don't think athleticsis important, I need you to
take a look at the newrecruiting for these kids.
They are looking for studentswho are academically well as
well, not saying that your childshould have straight A's, but
your child can't come up inthere with like a 2.0, 2.1.
We've been looking at collegesand different stuff like that,
especially when it comes to swimprograms and stuff like that.
(19:42):
I can't remember what swimprogram it was, but it said and
it was like a prestigious, itwas like a good, really good,
like D1 college, and it saidthat student athletes have to
maintain a 1.5 GPA.
I'm sorry, what A 1.5?
That is totally unacceptable.
That's like on the low end of aC, if I'm not mistaken.
(20:05):
That is terrible.
Only in each board, I think,only less than one percent of
people make it right.
So why are we not telling kidshey, even though you're good at
sports, make sure you focus onyour academics as well, because
(20:25):
when sports is no longer there,you're always going to have your
degree to fall back on.
And you can see numerous ofpeople who've gone to the NBA,
have gone to the NFL, have goneback to school and finished
their degree.
There's nothing wrong with that, because sports is talent-based
and Lord forbid you get aninjury or something like that.
You want to make sure you havesomething to fall back on.
(20:47):
So I will always stressacademics over athletes and if I
feel like Newface needs sometime or I feel like the amount
of homework he has is too greatfor that day, we're not going to
practice.
Because what good is going topractice when you're not
learning?
There are too many stories outthere where athletes have just
(21:10):
been getting passed over yearafter year after year because
they're an athlete and they goto certain teachers and these
teachers pass them.
So then when they become in theleague and stuff like that,
they're getting taken advantageof because they can't read good,
they can't add good, they don'tknow how to advocate for
themselves.
You see it time and time again.
That is not okay.
(21:30):
Parents, please do not putathletics over academics.
It never works out.
It does not work out.
Do not set these kids up forfailure.
Encourage them to get theireducation over their athletics.
(21:51):
Not saying your child is notgood, but if they cannot read,
write and do the basic things,what good are they going to be
in their adult life?
It's not going to be good.
It's not going to be good.
So make sure, parents, that youare stressing the importance of
(22:14):
academics over athletics.
Academics going to trumpathletics every time.
Okay, in this household.
It is so for this week's.
You can't make this up.
Yeah, new faces on semipunishment already because he is
, you know, he's in high schoolbut he's duly enrolled and he's
(22:38):
duly enrolled through his highschool.
And the dean of the Collegiateacademy called me the other day
y'all.
She was like how you doing?
I said I know it ain't good ifyou calling.
She said I never thought I'dsee the day that I would have to
call you because our boy is onpoint.
(22:58):
I said I know, and this goesback to when I was speaking
about reaching out to yourteachers.
If you don't understand, hedidn't turn in two assignments
and I asked him about it.
He said, mom, I didn'tunderstand.
And I said go ahead, reach outto the teacher.
You know, still make an effortto try to turn in those
assignments.
(23:18):
And I told her I said thank youfor calling me, I appreciate it
.
And I told her I said thank youfor calling me, I appreciate it
.
So he reached out to theteacher, teacher explained it to
him and he was able to submitit and he got credit for it.
And so I feel like he's he'sstill getting in his algorithm
(23:39):
of being back to school.
So we have limited electronicsnow, just not as a punishment
but as a less keeping on focus,so he doesn't get to take his
phone to school, because I doknow that he'd be on that phone
all the time at school.
He's like well, mom, he waslike I need my phone so for my
(23:59):
authentication when I log intothe computer.
I said I suggest you get a book, a password book.
I said because you're nottaking this school, just phone
the school for a good littleminute.
We have phones in school and wesurvive.
Ok, get your password book,write it down.
And so the other day I said hey,I said that class that you was
(24:20):
telling me you needed your phonefor to get the authentication.
I said you still been able todo work in that class.
He was like yes, ma'am.
I said oh, okay.
I said so you're telling methat you can do work in this
class without your cell phone?
He was like yes, ma'am.
Oh, okay, cool, I knew it,cause I said every kid don't
have no cell phone.
So I know these teachers ain'tcreating work for kids with just
(24:43):
cell phones.
I know that's not happening.
So that is my.
You can't make this up, so Idon't even know when he come off
punishment.
I say he'll come off punishmentwhen I feel he ready to come
off punishment.
You know that's just what it is.
We have come to the end of ourepisode and please make sure
that you are liking, sharing andsubscribing these episodes.
(25:05):
Make sure you're hitting thatnotification bell on your
podcasting app and on YouTube aswell, so that when an episode
is released, you are one of thefirst to get it.
Episodes are released at 5 amon Friday mornings, so when you
wake up and you go to work andyou go to take your kids to
school on Friday, the episode isthere so that you can listen to
.
I greatly appreciate it.
I am your girl, charla Chante.
(25:26):
This is the Gag is Pod.
Bye, guys.
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