There is a common pattern that many students seem to follow as they get older. When they are in elementary school, they tend to enjoy homework and school, but as they get into middle and high school, they begin to lose focus, dislike homework and even regret having to attend classes. The National Parent Information Network (NPIN) of the U.S. Department of Education has developed a list of things that may help parents who have students who are becoming unconcerned about homework.

Everyone needs to work together - the school, teachers, parents and the student - to solve the problems. If your child refuses to do assignments, call his or her teacher. If you and your child can't understand the homework instructions, call the teacher. The teacher may also be able to help you get your child organized to do the homework. NPIN says different homework problems require different solutions:

• Does your child have a hard time finishing assignments on time? Maybe he or she has poor study skills and needs help getting organized.
• Is the homework too difficult? Maybe your child has fallen behind and needs special help from a teacher or tutor.
• Is your child bored with the homework?

Maybe it's too easy and your child needs extra assignments that offer more challenge.

NPIN suggests asking your child these questions to combat any problems about homework that may arise:

• What's your assignment today?
• Is the assignment clear? (If not, suggest calling the school's homework hotline or a classmate.)
• Do you need special resources (a trip to the library or access to a computer)? Do you need special supplies (graph paper, poster board, etc.)?
• Have you begun today's assignment? Have you completed it?
• Is it a long-term assignment (a term paper or science project)?
• For a major project, would it be helpful to write out the steps or make a schedule?

There are certain things you can offer your child whether he or she asks for help or not, according to the Chicago Public Schools:

• Encouragement - Give your child praise for efforts and for completing assignments.
• Availability - Encourage your child to do the work independently, but be available for assistance.
• Scheduling - Establish a set time to do homework each day. You may want to use a calendar to keep track of assignments and due dates.
• Space - Provide a space for homework, stocked with the necessary supplies, such as pencils, pens, paper, dictionaries, a computer and other reference materials.
• Discipline - Help your child focus on homework by removing distractions, such as television, radio, telephone and interruptions from siblings and friends.
• Modeling - Consider doing some of your work, such as paying bills or writing letters, during your child's homework time.
• Support - Talk to your child about difficulties with homework. Be willing to talk to your child's teacher to resolve problems in a positive manner.
• Involvement - Familiarize yourself with the teacher's homework policy. Make sure that you and your child understand the teacher's expectations. At the beginning of the year, you may want to ask your child's teacher these questions: What kinds of assignments will you give? How often do you give homework? How much time are the students expected to spend on them? What type of involvement do you expect from parents?