Parents, here are a few tips from an online parenting Web site, www.teachersandfamilies.com, which suggests the following ways to help your child establish good homework habits:

* Remove distractions. Do homework in a quiet place without distractions. Turn off the TV. Don't expect your child to do homework in a room where siblings are playing.

* Establish a routine. Set a specific "homework time," such as right after supper. Require that homework be complete before your child can watch TV, use the phone, etc.

* Prioritize. Encourage your child to work first on those assignments that are due tomorrow. Then tackle the tasks that are due later. Help your child plan his studying so that projects are not left until the last minute. An assignment book can help.

* Don't procrastinate. Leaving a large assignment until the last minute can be tempting. Push hard to encourage your child to start projects early.

* Check for understanding. Be sure your child understands new assignments before he or she starts working on them.

* Guide, but don't correct. If your child needs help, offer ideas that can help sort out the problem, but don't give the answers.

* Get organized for the next day. Remind your child to pack the backpack before going to bed. Even the best homework effort doesn't do much good if it's left on the kitchen table!

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For the northern Wake families whose children still have a few more weeks of vacation, here are a few tips for parents to ensure time out of school can also be a time of learning. Online magazine Momscape.com recommends the following tips:

* Find educational learning Web sites for students like www.funbrain.com, math.com or abcteach.com. Some Web sites also have printable worksheets.

* Visit local landmarks such as museums or other historic locations. Make sure to talk about history, science or other subjects your child will be learning.

* Prepare for the next grade level by providing your children with additional help in subjects they might have struggled with in school the previous year.

Also, visit www.how-to-study.com for a list of subjects and tips on how to remember key elements of those subjects.

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