Help with homework without doing it for your child

Start by asking your child to explain the task and show what they have already tried. Identify the first step they cannot explain, then use one focused example or lesson to address that gap. Let the learner attempt a new question independently. Record unresolved questions for the teacher. This keeps support focused on understanding while preserving the learner’s ownership of the work.

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Prompts that reveal the problem

What is the question asking you to find?
Which information have you been given?
Can you show a similar example from class?
Where does your method first stop making sense?
How could you check whether your answer is reasonable?

Example: a factorising mistake

Suppose a learner writes x² − 5x + 6 = (x + 2)(x + 3). Ask them to expand their brackets: the result is x² + 5x + 6. The middle term’s sign exposes the mistake. Ask which two numbers multiply to 6 and add to −5. Then let the learner correct the brackets and solve a different equation.

See the full quadratic-equations explanation

Keep a small error log

Record the date, topic, mistaken step and a useful check. “Forgot brackets around a negative input; substitute with brackets next time” is more actionable than “bad at maths”. Revisit the log before the next assessment and ask the learner to demonstrate the corrected method.

When to ask the teacher

If the instruction is unclear, the method differs from what was taught, or several attempts do not resolve the gap, send the teacher a precise question with the learner’s attempt. Avoid completing assessed work for the learner. dorKk’s grade and subject guides can help locate supporting pre-recorded explanations; dorKk does not replace the school or teacher.