While new teachers are often provided very specific guidelines for how much homework they are allowed to assign students, this does not help the teacher decide what to assign. Teachers must take the time guidelines provided by their school and prioritize the work that students do so that they receive the most benefit from the homework assignments.
Understanding the Purpose of Homework Assignments
No child enjoys doing homework and most will try to get out of any extra work whenever possible. Parents often dislike homework too as it provides a constant source of tension with their children. Even so, homework assignments are quite useful and teachers need to not abuse the time children spend doing work at home. Keeping homework assignments to a reasonable amount will help keep parents supportive and students on task.
Homework assignments provide students the opportunity to practice new skills in a different environment. Research has shown that homework does indeed help students, especially in the older grades. Although this same study also warns teachers that too much homework could lead to "fatigue and academic disinterest" [1].
Prioritizing Homework Assignments
When teachers consider what homework to assign, it is important to prioritize. Obviously a teacher in middle school or high school who teaches only one subject will assign work in that particular subject. Elementary school teachers, though, who teach all subjects, must decide which subjects will benefit the most from the additional work after school.
On top of that priority list should be reading. Every student, regarding of grade, should spend time each and every day reading at home. This helps with reading fluency, comprehension and will effect a student's grade in every class as each class requires reading.
In general, students should also have some math homework as well as some written language homework assigned each day. The repetition for math is vital to allow students a chance to practice each new skill and develop a greater understanding of each skill. Written language skills improve with daily practice, and even a simple journal entry or spelling/vocabulary words used in sentences will provide opportunity for students to improve handwriting and creative thinking skills.
Assigning homework to students is most effective when the teacher puts some thought into the assignment. Purposeful activities that have students practice essential skills and new concepts at home will help them master these lessons. It is important that teachers prioritize their homework assignments and keep the total time students spend doing work at home to a reasonable amount.
[1] Cooper, Harris, Ph.D., Lindsay, James J., Ph.D., Greathouse, Scott, Ph.D., and Nye, Barbara , Ph.D."Relationships Among Attitudes About Howmework, Amount of Homework Assigned and Completed, and Student Achievement" Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 90, No. 1.
Learn more about homework assignments including information about the less homework revolution and tips on assigning homework to special needs students.
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