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Primary homework help: check the work, then let your child correct it

Start with the question and the teacher’s instructions, then look at the steps the student has tried. This guide uses original maths and English examples to show how to find the sticking point, offer a prompt and leave the correction to the student. It is for parents supporting primary pupils at home; adapt it to the student’s level and classroom method.

A homework guide from Tutor Wong · About Tutor Wong

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Four steps for checking homework with your child

  1. Check what the question asks

    Ask the student to read the question and identify the information given, what they need to find, and any required units or sentence pattern. Check whether the teacher has specified a method before changing an answer.

  2. Find the first uncertain step

    Keep the original answer and ask the student to explain their working. Separate a misread question, a calculation slip and an unfamiliar method. If no working is shown, ask for it before guessing the cause.

  3. Offer one prompt at a time

    Ask a question that points to the key idea, such as “After exchanging one ten, how many tens are left?” Let the student attempt the next step before adding another explanation.

  4. Let them correct it and try a similar question

    Have the student make the correction, cover the answer and try a similar question. If the same step is still unclear, keep the question and their attempts to discuss with the teacher.

These are teaching examples written for this guide, not actual App marking records or a test of learning outcomes.

Maths homework example: finding a regrouping mistake

For students learning two-digit subtraction with regrouping.

Question: 52 − 28. The student writes 34.

Ask: “After exchanging one ten for ten ones, how many tens are left?”

Think of 52 as 4 tens and 12 ones: 12 − 8 = 4, and 4 tens minus 2 tens leaves 2 tens, giving 24. An answer of 34 may mean the student regrouped the ones but left the 5 in the tens column unchanged. Ask them to explain before deciding why it happened.

Check: 24 + 28 = 52. Ask which digit in the written working needs to change, and why.

Your turn: 63 − 27 = ? Write the tens and ones after regrouping.

Show the reference answer and check

Reference answer: 36. Write 63 as 50 + 13; 13 − 7 = 6 and 50 − 20 = 30. Check that 36 + 27 = 63.

English homework example: which verb form follows does?

For students learning simple-present questions and negatives with do and does.

Sentence to correct: Does she likes apples?

Ask: “This question already uses does. Which form should the next verb take?”

In this type of simple-present question, does agrees with she and the following verb uses its base form: Does she like apples? Compare it with the statement “She likes apples.” and notice how the sentence pattern changes.

Ask the student to explain why likes changes to like, then read the whole sentence again.

Your turn: correct the simple-present negative He don't play football.

Show the reference answer and check

Reference answer: He doesn't play football. The subject he takes does not (doesn't), followed by the base form play.

A parent’s homework checking checklist

After a piece of homework, check these four points together:

  • We checked the question, diagrams, numbers, units and teacher’s instructions.
  • The student can identify the mistaken step, rather than just remember the answer.
  • The student made the correction and attempted a similar question.
  • We marked anything still unclear and kept the attempts for the teacher.

How can photo homework checking support your review?

To organise mistakes across a worksheet, photograph the full questions and answers in the Tutor Wong App and review the feedback for each question. Check what the system read against the original work and the teacher’s requirements. AI Tutor offers hints and follow-up questions when an explanation is needed; bring that feedback back into the correction steps above. This website provides guides and examples; photo checking takes place in the App.

AI can misread handwriting, diagrams or answers and can give an incorrect explanation. A green tick is not enough on its own. If a method differs from the classroom approach, keep the original question and ask the teacher.

The free plan includes 20 homework checks per month, up to 2 per day, plus a separate allowance of 3 AI Tutor sessions per month. Allowances are counted separately; check the pricing page and the App for current availability when subscribing.

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Questions about primary homework help

What if I do not understand the question either?
Help check the question and the teacher’s instructions, then ask the student to write what they know and where they are stuck. A textbook example or an AI hint can be a starting point. If you cannot check the method, keep the working and ask the teacher rather than teach an uncertain answer.
Does homework help always require a private tutor?
Consider whether the student needs an occasional explanation or ongoing teaching and observation. This guide helps parents support corrections. If they need regular lessons or repeatedly struggle with a concept, discuss it with the school teacher or a suitable tutor. Tutor Wong provides AI homework support and does not match families with human tutors.