Is Homework Optional?

Though her son, “Big Joe,” was diagnosed with a learning disability in first grade, his mom, Julia Rhodes, made sure the diagnosis didn’t lower his morale.

She told him, “You’re just a different kind of learner. I will work with you so you can discover how you learn and make it work for you.”

Though he struggled through grade school, by age 15, at 6’7 and 250 pounds, Big Joe (already wearing a size 15 shoe) started to gain confidence as he distinguished himself as a football star.

He simply didn’t “do homework,” Julia says, noting that her son was so bright – homework may have been too boring for him.

So how did a learning-disabled kid like Big Joe end up graduating cum laude from college and launch a successful filmmaking career — without ever doing homework?

Julia, who raised her son as a single mom, said he cut himself a deal in high school and college.

Big Joe told his teachers he’d do everything BUT homework. He’d tutor other students. He’d study and would participate in classroom discussions. “He just had a block when it came to homework. So long as he did well on his tests and participated in classroom his teachers were willing to let him slide on the homework.”

While still in high school, Big Joe helped his mom, then a 10th grader teacher, invent a product now used in schools all over the world — an eraser cap for dry erase markers (attached so it can’t be lost). [See Turning Frustration Into Invention for more on this story.]

While he continued to struggle with his studies in high school, Big Joe ended up flourishing in college. He won awards for films he wrote, directed and produced at Sonoma State and currently works as a production assistant and camera man on the set of a new TV series, “Ten Things I Hate About You.”

Julia credits her son for inspiring her to give up her career as a teacher to become an entrepreneur and successful business woman.

If your child is a “different learner,” Julia offers these tips to help cope with school work:

1) Work with your teacher to develop a plan that works for your child. You can negotiate less or even no homework if your child is willing to do extra work elsewhere, such as tutoring and independent study.

2) Keep the doors of communication open at all times. Listen to your child and let him or her help steer the plan to overcome obstacles and challenges.

3) Teach your children to believe in themselves no matter what kind of learner they are and lead by example.

Julia Rhodes is president of  KleenSlate Concepts. She can be reached at kleenslate@kleenslate.com.