As students and parents get back into the grind of school,
educators are stressing the importance of homework.
Homework is an essential part of learning because it reinforces
what students are learning and allows teachers to assess which
students need extra help in certain subject areas. Many parents
don’t know what to expect when it comes to homework and need help
determining how their children should approach homework.
As students and parents get back into the grind of school, educators are stressing the importance of homework.
Homework is an essential part of learning because it reinforces what students are learning and allows teachers to assess which students need extra help in certain subject areas. Many parents don’t know what to expect when it comes to homework and need help determining how their children should approach homework.
The amount of homework assigned varies by grade level, said Peter Gutierrez, assistant superintendent of the Hollister School District and former teacher. For students in grades k through 2, homework is most effective when it doesn’t exceed 10 to 20 minutes a day, according to the National Parent Teacher Association, or PTA. For grades 3 through 6, it’s 30 to 60 minutes a day. Once students get to middle or high school, homework will vary by subject and additional projects and papers will be assigned.
Usually, parents stay updated on their student’s homework through elementary school, Gutierrez said.
“Middle school is when parents generally tend to back off and there’s a false sense of trust that’s built,” he said. “When asked if they have homework, the students say they don’t have any.”
Parents should assume students have homework or studying to do every night, both Gutierrez and the PTA advise. The key is to have an agreement with students and teachers about how much homework to expect each night. The PTA also suggests making studying, not just homework, a daily habit.
Although it can be hard with today’s busy lives, parents should set aside quiet time for the family every day and even set up a study area for children, the PTA suggests, “to emphasize the family’s commitment to quietly doing things that require thought and effort.”
“Kids pick up easily whether or not doing homework is valued,” Gutierrez said. “The value needs to be set early – learning in the evening is part of your job as a human being. All parents value education, but it’s what happens when children get home that matters.”
While some students can start on their homework as soon as they get home from school, others need to take a break to eat a snack or play. It’s important for parents to work with their children in finding the best studying time and behavior.
Gutierrez suggests using an egg timer for students who have a hard time focusing for very long or who need occasional breaks while working on homework.
“Whatever works. It’s not so much how you do it but that you get it done and that it’s valued,” he said.
Another way to boost student achievement with homework is to attend tutorials before or after school. Most schools have tutoring programs and most teachers stay after school to help students and answer questions, but very few students take advantage of the opportunity.
Even when teachers set up tutorials for students who need help with the California High School Exit Exam, no one shows up, according to teachers at San Benito High School.
Educators think it’s because most students don’t think they need the extra help. But when work is not completed, grades drop, and waiting until each report card to find out can be too late.
