Why do I let my children do homework? What do I want my students to gain from homework?
Good outcomes
- Having some success, every night.
- Getting better in some skill or knowledge, every week.
- Talking about learning, every week.
- Hearing happy words from a teacher, more often than criticism.
- Showing faith in the teacher and school.
Please sir, may I have some more?
Homework provides an opportunity for learning when
- A child wants more practice or more depth than is possible at school.
- A parent wants to observe a child’s learning experience.
- A child needs experience to build confidence in independent study.
- A child needs practice to build habits needed for future study.
Say ‘When’
Harris Cooper recommends 10 minutes homework per night, per grade level. For example, Year 6 might have up to 60 minutes homework a night. (In our family we often do 50% or 100% more than this guideline!) Queensland schools echo this. NSW schools each set their own policy. Kohn questions the value of any homework.
My children normally want to do homework. We have worked out that enough is too much…
- When child does not receive feedback on the homework.
- When homework seems more important than self-care (sleep/exercise/food) or school.
- When child has no social world apart from school and household.
- If Learning Difficulties change the nature of the task.
I can give it up any time I want
‘How to cut back’ is coming soon…
References
- Image courtesy flickr.com “Chris and Jenni”, Creative Commons, online at http://farm1.static.flickr.com/156/431074917_e56269f13a_m.jpg
- Houghton, K 2008. When your kids say, I have too much homework. – School Reform. Online at http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art36027.asp
- Child and Youth Health 2006, Parenting and Child Health – Health Topics – Specific Learning Difficulties. Children Youth and Women’s Health Service, South Australia. Online at http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=306&id=1711
- Queensland Department of Education 2008, Homework – it’s a matter of balance. http://education.qld.gov.au/publication/schoolsandparents/2008/issue1-5-homework.html
- NSW Department of Education and Training, 2008, School Handbook – Homework. Online at http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/gotoschool/a-z/homework.php
- Duke University 2006, http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2006/03/homework.html
- Kohn, A 2006. The homework myth. Audio interview online at http://www.alfiekohn.org/books/hm.htm