Homework -- useful?

[Leanna]

Here is an interesting article about homework:

http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/edweek/homework.htm

Since I know there are some of you who won't read it, I'll give you some quotes to comment on

There’s something perversely fascinating about educational policies that are clearly at odds with the available data. Huge schools are still being built even though we know that students tend to fare better in smaller places that lend themselves to the creation of democratic caring communities. Many children who are failed by the academic status quo are forced to repeat a grade even though research shows that this is just about the worst course of action for them. Homework continues to be assigned – in ever greater quantities – despite the absence of evidence that it’s necessary or even helpful in most cases.

Researchers David Baker and Gerald Letendre were scarcely able to conceal their surprise when they published their results last year: “Not only did we fail to find any positive relationships,” but “the overall correlations between national average student achievement and national averages in [amount of homework assigned] are all negative.”

Finally, any theoretical benefit of practice homework must be weighed against the effect it has on students’ interest in learning. If slogging through worksheets dampens one’s desire to read or think, surely that wouldn’t be worth an incremental improvement in skills. And when an activity feels like drudgery, the quality of learning tends to suffer, too. That so many children regard homework as something to finish as quickly as possible – or even as a significant source of stress -- helps to explain why it appears not to offer any academic advantage even for those who obediently sit down and complete the tasks they’ve been assigned. All that research showing little value to homework may not be so surprising after all.

So..... is homework useful or useless in your opinion? I am going to say that homework is only beneficial in high school, in preparation for college.

 

[Neenie1]

I am in two minds about homework. My 6 year old gets what I would consider too much homework. He gets spelling, he gets reading (5 min per night) he gets a presentation to work on (like show and tell, except he has to write a description - say his favourite tv show, and draw a picture about it and then take it in to share with the class, it's only around 2 sentences, but takes time for him to prepare) he has to write 2 sentences based on the spelling words, (2 sentences using as many spelling words as he can in the sentence) then he gets 2 pages in a maths book.


All up this is only supposed to take 15min per night, but I am sure it takes longer than that. Most of the time he will happily do it, but it seems to be taking longer and longer, it's gotten to the point where I know if we are doing anything after school, I try and get him to do the homework in the morning so he can keep up with it all. He gets the homework assigned on Monday, it's due back Friday so we get to space it out as we see fit.

I plan on working out how long it takes us to do, keep a log sheet and then go back to the teacher with it, because I am sure it's taking more than 15min a night.

I dread how much they are going to get in high school. (this is a pre k - 10 school, they are working on adding 11 and 12)

 

[CelticRose]

I travelled for school. Between that & homework I had almost no free time & I resented homework. As a homeschooler I've learnt my kids can learn what they need to know in the minimal amount of time with no homework assigned ~ which leaves me to believe there's something wrong with the system. I am not an advocate of homework.

 

[sparassidae]

I think some students benefit from homework while others don't. I also think some teachers set homework better than others.

Revising spelling words always seems to be helpful, but endless maths questions doesn't.

Preparing a talk topic each week has been very interesting homework for both our children this year, it gets them branching out into different areas of interest.

So anyway, I think some homework has it's place.

 

[DestinationHome]

I have no problem with homework in the upper grades, but not at all in elementary. I wouldn't see reading with your child every evening as homework, though, even if it were "assigned".

 

[JulySheMustFly]

I'm conflicted about homework.

We have a very non-traditional family schedule and I really dread the day that homework creeps into our valuable family time. That and it bothers me to think that in many ways while parents are encouraged to not bring their work into home life children are. Then there is the idea of learning as "work". That alone bothers me. My children jump at the opportunity to learn new things but as soon as they are told or forced to do it there is zero desire and they battle against it.


(LOL - I just realized I'm an unschooler at heart.)

 

[MyaShane]

I’m not a fan of homework at all. Kids are already at school long enough during the day, and if you add the extracurricular activities in there, too what family time is left? I don’t mind the occasional short project together, but when it stretches out into hours in the evening then I think that’s ridiculous. I also feel that it puts a lot of kids at a disadvantage who don’t have very involved parents. I hear parents at work talk about how they practically do their kids’ homework for them! So, what’s the point? We’re not there yet as a family since my oldest is only in kindergarten, but it’s the one thing I absolutely dread about them going to public school!

 

[Green Orchid]

I agree with you Leanna, I think it has a place in high school but not before that.

Homework will not be an issue with my kids because I want to homeschool. So everything will be "home"work anyway.

 

[CelticRose]

I have no problem with homework in the upper grades, but not at all in elementary. I wouldn't see reading with your child every evening as homework, though, even if it were "assigned".

I have great readers though & now some of mine are 'adults' & still readers I figure we did something right.

 

[heart of peace]

Well, I think you know where I stand on Kohn's work, I like most of what he has to say. I think he tends to be a bit idealistic but still, he provides a lot of food for thought for parents these days.

 

[Hadassah]

Most kids have far too much Homework assigned.

In 6th grade, I was bringing home more than 6 hours (yes HOURS) of homework to be done, in addition to the catch-up seatwork because the Navy moved us a month later than school started in our new area... so the teachers penalized me for not being there, rather than giving me the run down of what was covered and what chapters to read so I'd be caught up.

They fully expected me to do the stuff I missed in additon to the hours of homework we were sent home with for each class we had. (English/Language Arts, Math, History, Science, Language: Spanish)

On top of that was the crazy bus schedule that had us waiting at 6am each morning for the bus and not getting home with the bus until 5pm each night. Yes, you read that right.

It was one of many factors that got all three of us kids pulled from the DoD school and homeschooled.

When we homeschooled, we went through a year and a half of unschooling before doing structured 5hr a day schooling...

I graduated in '99 two months earlier than my fellow homeschoolers in the state. Other than self-taught and audited classes, I haven't been in another classroom until this past September/October.

Now in school myself for almost 8 months, I have homework to help me along to get my German Certificate. Some of it is helpful, but to be honest it is REALLY stressfull to try and have "family time" with my DH, get a meal on the table and do housework with about an hr of homework each night. Somehow we get it done, as sometimes it is easier than not and other times we stretch it between what I can do the night of, and the next morning.

The hardest part will be studying for the test that is upcoming in June (which we have started training/learning for right now). There is a lot I missed in the bit of time I was out sick, so I have catch-up on that... and then there is a lot we're covering now with new verb tenses and new words all around, and every little bit you can catch and retain is all good.

It's a real struggle on the weekends. You'd think I'd want to get it done right away, but sometimes you just want to spend time with family rather than with your head in a book or glued to tv/the internet.

Studying and learning shouldn't be work. It should be enjoyable and something you can work your day around, rather than being tied like a prisoner to.

 

[CarrieAg93]

I think homework can be useful and warranted. If a child is struggling to understand a concept at school then the parent should be helping them learn it at home. Homework should be more individualized than it generally is. Every child can benefit from reading and writing practice at home.

 

[GolfingMom]

I agree with CarrieAg93.
In my OS Kindergarten class, what isn't finished at school comes home as homework. So far this year, OS brought home one paper which he didn't finish in class.
They also have an easy assignment given on Monday due Wed, and another given on Wed due Friday. Sometimes it's reading, sometimes it's writing. I don't mind it and neither does he...

 

[Redguard]

I don't mind homework.

Pinkguard brings home assignment sheets Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Easy stuff... writing out sentences, addition, subtraction....

I think that it also gives parents the opportunity to engage their children about what they're doing at school and helping them to reinforce the lessons learned.

 

[Robinsegg]

I think there are many cases in which homework is a waste of time: both for the students and the teacher. I certainly felt that way growing up.

I also believe that individualized assignments are more helpful than "one-size-fits-all" . . . but I feel that way about all education, including many of the developmental guidelines expecting 5yos to sit still, no matter what the learning style of the child.

Oh well, I guess that's one of the reasons we homeschool
Rachel

 

[Andry]

To swim against the current [ahem...puts flamesuit on], I dare say some of us still carry repressed memories of past homework angst.

I'm a strong proponent of homework....should be more of it. Generally, the academic curricula and expectations of North American elementary schools lag behind the rest of the world. IMO, typical grades 1 - 7 academics can really be achieved in 2-3 years, but we spread it over seven as schools conveniently also serves as daycare while the parents work.

BTW, we've raised our 8 yo with the understanding that homework is simply a part of life....like brushing teeth, you gotta do it if you want to keep them healthy. No biggie. No drama.

Flame away...

 

[Leanna]

IMO, typical grades 1 - 7 academics can really be achieved in 2-3 years, but we spread it over seven as schools conveniently also serves as daycare while the parents work.

How do you feel about this belief? Do you think it is a good thing that they drag it out for convenient day care? They say that an entire public school day can be accomplished in less than 2 hours at home.

Yes I went to public school all growing up, and homework was a complete waste of my time. Actually.... like 90% of public schooling was a complete waste of my time. I had to go the same pace as the rest of the class which meant a lot of ...

 

[Redguard]

They say that an entire public school day can be accomplished in less than 2 hours at home.

Who's "They"?

Wait... don't tell me....































































Homeschoolers?

 

[Robinsegg]

I *do* believe things are done for "free childcare" in public schools. I also believe that degrading education to daycare is a disservice to all.

Otoh, I also believe that many students are put into "formal academics" far too early, which makes it more difficult to learn.

Could we put more pressure on the kids to do more, work harder, finish more quickly? Sure. Would it teach them to love learning and want to continue learning the rest of their lives? I don't think so.

R

 

[Leanna]

Who's "They"?

Its the ever and all mysterious "they" that comes with parenting

You know though, I could have just said "An entire public school day can be accomplished in less than 2 hours at home" and it would have been more clear and concise. I'll work on that. For the higher grades more time is required depending on what is being pursued.