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Step 1
Keep a child attentive by making sure he is well rested and well fed. Studying on an empty stomach or without a proper diet can block the road to learning. A sixth grader needs 10 hours of sleep a night to get him through a whole day of learning and playing.
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Step 2
Designate an area in the house where homework is done. Schedule a standard time for homework and keep to that schedule. Keep a dictionary and reference books near his study area so he can look up words, subjects and symbols he doesn't know or fully understand, helping with comprehension.
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Step 3
Establish goals with the sixth grader. You can ask, "What would you like to be when you get out of school?" or "What interests you the most?" Together work out the subjects she needs to be proficient at for the particular career she chooses. If she wants to work at the zoo or a museum, allow her to concentrate on science, history and mathematics. If she wants to be an artist, guide her in that direction with study of perspective, colors and so on.
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Step 4
Get a reading list from the librarian or teacher. Set a family reading time each night for at least thirty minutes. Parents should have a book to read as well. Encourage reading for pleasure with books like "A Week in the Woods" by Andrew Clements, "Dealing With Dragons" by Patricia C. Wrede, "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls, "Running Out of Time" by Margaret Peterson Haddix and "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen.
