Homework! To give or not to give?? Blog #15

Are you one of many to assign unnecessary busy work each night to your students? Or maybe you don't assign homework at all. Do parents complain about their child having TOO MUCH homework? Or maybe some parents are saying that their child NEVER has homework. What side of the fence do you fall on? Assigning homework or no homework?

There's a study on this, like most things now days, and 90% of 2,100 students surveyed through Education Week, reported that homework caused them additional stress. 75% of these students spend at least thirty minutes each night on homework and 45% spend more than an hour each night on homework. Granted homework can be stressful, but I really don't believe that a high percentage would say it's fun and carefree.

Education Week also wants to know if homework is unnecessary. Could homework be a waste of time? Or is it an effective, educational tool? According to the same study, math scores did not necessarily improve when homework increased. However, this same study revealed that homework does benefit high and low achieving students, but counterproductive for average learners. The authors of this study believe classes "could be better served by using other methods to improve student achievement with a more effective tool for improvement." So now what? Do we give homework or not give homework? This has been debated for many years.

We also have a nation-wide problem of low test scores. Trying to remedy this problem, statistics have shown that teachers are loading their students with homework. Is this why the amount of time students spend on homework has tripled since 1981?

Spring Branch Independent Schools would like to know this; as others would, does homework enhance or hinder students' academic achievement? Is there a right answer? Not at this time, but many teachers feel that homework is good for time management skills. And what about reinforcing what students learn in the classroom? Many teachers also feel that by assigning hours of busywork deprives a child of the free time he or she needs to develop. How about a happy medium: moderate, meaningful homework? This way students can discover their own intellectual curiosity, without being forced to learn. 40% of parents surveyed in the same study as above, say that one-third of their child's busywork assignments are of "fair" or "poor" performance when completed.

The school board members of Toronto School District are looking to exclude homework during vacation periods, no homework at the kindergarten level, and to NOT punish students if their homework isn't turned in on time. Instead, they're looking into having family fun nights by incorporating homework with games.

All in all, the homework debate still continues nation wide. It still could be a prominent part of students' educational lives. I just wish more parents participate and engage with their child and their homework. I don't ASSIGN homework. However, any independent work we do in the classroom turns into homework if it's not completed by the end of the day. But wouldn't my students just LOVE it if they didn't get punished for not getting it done at home and on time??? Then homework wouldn't be stressful!! Poor kids! If only life was stress free!!