Homework

Homework, or homework assignment, refers to tasks assigned to students by their teachers to be completed mostly outside of class, and derives its name from the fact that most students do the majority of such work at home. Common homework assignments may include a quantity or period of reading to be performed, writing or typing to be completed, problems to be solved, a school project to be built (such as a diorama or display), or other skills to be practiced.

Main objectives and reasons for homework

The basic objectives of assigning homework to students are the same as schooling in general: To increase the knowledge and improve the abilities and skills of the students. However, opponents of homework cite homework as rote, or grind work, designed to take up children's time, without offering tangible benefit. [cite web
url = http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/08/ING0FLHNM21.DTL
title = After years of teachers piling it on, there's a new movement to ... Abolish homework
accessdate = 2007-12-09
quote = Vigorous scrutiny of the research, they argue, fails to demonstrate tangible benefits of homework, particularly for elementary students. What it does instead, they contend, is rob children of childhood, play havoc with family life and asphyxiate their natural curiosity. Learning becomes a mind-numbing grind rather than an engaging adventure.] Homework may be designed to reinforce what students have already learned, [cite web
last = Needlmen
first = Robert
title = Homework: The Rules of the Game
publisher = The Dr. Spock Company
date = 2001-05-08
url = http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5654,00.html
accessdate =2007-03-25] prepare them for upcoming (or complex or difficult) lessons, extend what they know by having them apply it to new situations, or to integrate their abilities by applying many different skills to a single task. Homework also provides an opportunity for parents to participate in their children's education.

Amount of homework required

A review of over 60 research studies showed that, within limits, there is a positive correlation between the amount of homework done and student achievement.Fact|date=August 2008 The research synthesis also showed that too much homework could be extremely counterproductive, causing students to "burn out".Fact|date=August 2008 The research supports the "10-minute rule", the commonly accepted practice of assigning 10 minutes of homework per day per grade-level. For example, under this system, 1st graders would receive 10 minutes of homework per night, while 5th graders would get 50 minutes' worth, 9th graders 90 minutes of homework, etc. Some students, however, receive up to, or more than, five times that on some days.Fact|date=August 2008 This includes those students in the IB Diploma Program. These students should expect to have at least 6-7 hours of homework per night. That relates each class to having roughly 2 hours per night. [cite web
url = http://dukenews.duke.edu/2006/03/homework.html
title = Duke Study: Homework Helps Students Succeed in School, As Long as There Isn't Too Much
accessdate = 2007-03-25]

Many schools exceed these recommendations or do not count assigned reading in the time limit. [See for example [http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007696251 Toronto Student Trustees Ask School Board For Homework Overload Restrictions] , Marta Cyperling - AHN News Writer, June 20, 2007.]

In the United Kingdom, recommendations on homework quantities were outlined by the then Department for Education in 1998. These ranged from 10 minutes daily reading for 5-year-olds, to up to 2.5 hours per day for the pupils in Year 11 aged 15 or 16.Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/211159.stm|title=Homework cut for youngest pupils |accessdate=2008-02-02|publisher=BBC News|year=1998|work=BBC News website]

Homework strategies

Effective study skills can help to speed up the completion of homework, giving a student more free time.

In cases where the teacher assigns homework verbally or on the chalkboard, the student can avoid forgetting or misremembering the assignments by writing them down and keeping them well-organized in a notebook, planner, or agenda. It is also recommended that one develop a strategy that decreases the student's chances of forgetting completed homework at home.cite web
last = Fleming
first = Grace
title = Top 5 Tips for Remembering Homework Assignments
publisher = About, Inc.
url = http://homeworktips.about.com/od/timemanagement/tp/forgot.htm
accessdate = 2007-03-25]

Students with a positive attitude toward homework, who enjoy it and work on it enthusiastically, generally complete their homework faster than if they view their homework negatively. Reluctance and resistance can make homework take longer. Minimizing distractions, by studying in a quiet room and leaving the TV off, etc, make it easier to concentrate and get homework done faster, while doing a better job. Contrary to specialists' recommendations, there is no evidence that the radio, as opposed to the television, hinders performance. This may be because radios emit only audio and no video, so there is less distraction.cite web
title = Tips For Helping Kids and Teens With Homework and Study Habits
publisher = Child Development Institute, LLC
url = http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/learning/studytips.shtml
accessdate = 2007-03-25]

One approach for minimizing the amount of homework a student has to do at home is for the student to complete as much of it as possible while still at school. Spare time between classes, during lunch, and especially during classes may be enough to get most or even all of the student's homework completed, depending on how much is assigned. This approach may have negative consequences, such as causing students to skip lunch or miss important information in other courses.Fact|date=February 2008

Homework resources

Internet homework resources

There are many homework-related resources available on the World Wide Web. There are web-sites dedicated to communicating about homework, for teachers to post assignments on-line for students, and to keep parents informed. Many schools host their own homework posting services on their websites. There are non-profit organizations on-line that help students with their homework for free. There are also tutorials on most school subjects, especially math, which students can use if they don't understand their homework assignments.

Many libraries provide on-line resources which present subjects specifically for students who are looking for something to write about. And there are archives of ready-made homework assignments, including handouts, which teachers can use to provide homework to their students. Many other websites are used for research, especially search engines, such as Google, and encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia.

Apart from above given resources there are hundreds of websites who are providing homework help at nominal rates. Such websites claim to help students understand concepts.

Some parents choose to monitor their students' usage of the internet, as some of the sites may be found deceptive or inappropriate by academic institutions.cite web
last = Clark
first = Pauline
title = Online Homework Helpers
publisher = Information Today, Inc.
url = http://www.infotoday.com/linkup/lud101502-clark.shtml
accessdate = 2007-03-25] Also, Internet resources offer students a wealth of opportunity for plagiarism. [ [http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/plagiarism_the_internet.html Plagiarism.org] ]

Tutoring

With an enhanced emphasis on homework, parents and students are turning to customized solutions. Private institutions, such as Sylvan Learning Centers and Kaplan, help students through individually-tailored assignments. Other parents find help through their community where tutoring, study groups and other resources may be made available. [cite web
last = Rothschild
first = Barbara
title = Emphasis on homework
publisher = Courier Post
url = http://www.courierpostonline.com/education/dec1104a.html
accessdate = 2007-03-25] Many libraries provide tutors for helping students with their homework, both in-person and on-line. "See Homework help service."

If it is necessary to hire a tutor to assist with a child's homework, parents should also speak to the child's teacher about the amount and the appropriateness of the homework load.

Parental homework strategies

Students generally benefit when their parents become involved in the homework process. However, too much parental involvement can prevent the positive effects of homework.Citation
publisher = White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans
title = General Homework Tips For Parents
url = http://www.yic.gov/publications/homework/general.html
accessdate = 2007-03-25]

Setting a regular time to do homework and designating a specific place for doing homework helps keep the student well-focused on his or her studies. A flat surface, good lighting, school supplies (pens, pencils, paper, scissors, glue, eraser, ruler, etc.) and a dictionary are often essential.

Teachers need to know what their students understand and can do independently, therefore they often advise parents not to do the children's homework assignments for them, nor correct their children's homework assignments and have them copy the corrections. Grades, and the teachers' other feedback, need to apply to the student's performance, not to the parents' performance, nor to student-parent co-performance.

On the other hand it is also fairly common for teachers to give assignments far beyond what students can do independently and for teachers to expect parents to go over homework and have the student make corrections before it is turned in. Practices vary.

Independent learning is encouraged and improved by providing guidance (such as explaining how to look up information or find a word in a dictionary) rather than merely providing the answers to the child's homework-related questions.

Having one's child read out loud allows the parent to provide corrections and help the student learn how to read better.

When parents do "homework" of their own at the same time as their children, it sets a good example and helps to foster a good attitude toward learning.

One key role for parents is to negotiate with teachers and schools should the homework burden be unmanageble or age-inappropriate for the students. This negotiation may take the form of speaking with the teacher individually, speaking to other school officials, or coordinating with other parents or with the PTA or school board to get the homework load for the entire class or school reduced. [Citation
last1 = Bennett
first1 = Sara
last2 = Kalish
first2 = Nancy
title = The Case Against Homework: how homework is hurting our children and what we can do about it
isbn = 0307340171]

Teaching and homework effectiveness

Student learning improves when homework serves a clear purpose and is matched to both the skills of each individual student and to the current topics being taught in class. Feedback improves the effectiveness of homework, especially when given in a timely manner (within 24 hours). Effective feedback improves student learning by correcting misunderstanding, validating process, and highlighting errors in thinking. Embedded comments provide much better feedback than a mere grade at the top of the paper. Homework must be concentrated to be effective: mastering takes days or weeks of practice. Fifty-percent mastery may be achieved after 4 practice sessions, but it takes 28 practice sessions to achieve approximately the eighty-percent mastery level. [cite web
url = http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/home.php
title = Focus on effectiveness: Research-based Strategies; Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.
accessdate = 2007-03-25]

Another way teachers can be more effective is by alerting parents to their students' homework, giving parents a chance to become familiar with the material and their child's progress. This also encourages parents to become involved in the homework process.cite web
last = Wood
first = Chip
title = Strategies to overcome the struggles and help all students succeed
publisher = Responsive Classroom
url = http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/newsletter/12_4NL_1.asp
accessdate =2007-03-25] Messages tend to get lost in transit or even altered when using "pupil post" (passing verbal messages or written notes back and forth using the student as courier), and therefore direct communication is much more effective and prevents frustration all around. Methods available for directly reporting homework assignments (to both students and their parents) include the phone, email, and centralized web-pages.

Criticism

There is a growing number of teachers, parents, and students that advocate the abolishment, or at least a limit to the amount, of homework. The main reason is the belief that students also learn from activities in life other than textbooks and workbooks found in classrooms. A whole day in class and most of the night reading school books that are related to the subject in school leaves a student out of touch, without free time, and unable to get exercise or pursue extracurricular activities. Talents and interest of the student often cannot be nurtured in a classroom setting with teachers focused only on a specific subject.

Moreover, there is a considerable body of research supporting the idea that homework is of little educational value, and that for young children (i.e. under 14) it actually has a negative effect on learning. [Citation
last = Kohn
first = Alfie
authorlink = Alfie Kohn
title = The Homework Myth: why our kids get too much of a bad thing
isbn = 0738210854] [Citation
last1 = Bennett
first1 = Sara
last2 = Kalish
first2 = Nancy
title = The Case Against Homework: how homework is hurting our children and what we can do about it
isbn = 0307340171]

History of homework

In the United States

Historically, homework was frowned upon in American culture. With few students interested in higher education, and due to the necessity to complete daily chores, homework was discouraged not only by parents, but also by school districts. In 1901, the California legislature passed an act that effectively abolished homework for those who attended kindergartenthrough the eighth grade. But, in the 1950s, with increasing pressure on the United States to stay ahead in the Cold War, homework made a resurgence, and children were encouraged to keep up with their Russian counterparts. By the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, the consensus in American education was overwhelmingly in favor of issuing homework to students of all grade levels. [cite web
url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/examiner/archive/1999/12/19/NEWS4357.dtl
title = History of Homework
accessdate = 2007-03-24]

In a study done at the University of Michigan in 2007, research concluded that the amount of homework given is increasing over time. In a sample taken of students between the ages of 6 and 9, it was shown that students spend more than two hours a week on homework, as opposed to 44 minutes in 1981. [cite web
last = Seligman
first = Katherine
title = Parents: Too much homework
publisher = Hearst Communications Inc.
date = 1999-12-19
url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/examiner/archive/1999/12/19/NEWS4221.dtl
accessdate=2007-03-25] Harris Cooper, nations top homework scholar, concluded after a comprehensive review that homework does not improve academic achievements for grade school students. Cooper analyzed dozens of students and found that kids who do some homework in middle and high school actually score "somewhat" better on standardized tests than kids who do 60 to 90 minutes in middle school and more then 2 hours in high school. [cite web
last = Wallis
first = Claudia
title = The Myth About Homework
publisher = Time Online
date = August 29, 2006
url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1376208,00.html]

See also

* Busy work
* Book report
* Essay
* Home schooling
* Homework help service
* Practice (learning method)
* School
* Schoolwork
* Study guide
* Study skills
* Teaching
* Tutoring
* Education

Further reading

* " [http://dukenews.duke.edu/2006/03/homework.html Duke Study] : Homework Helps Students Succeed in School, As Long as There Isn't Too Much
* "The Case Against Homework: How Homework Is Hurting Our Children and What We Can Do About It" by [http://www.stophomework.com Sarah Bennett] & [http://www.nancykalish.com Nancy Kalish] (2006) Discusses in detail assessments of studies on homework and the authors' own research and assessment of the homework situation in the United States. Has specific recommendations and sample letters to be used in negotiating a reduced homework load for your child.
* "Closing the Book on Homework: Enhancing Public Education and Freeing Family Time" by [http://www.bangordailynews.com/editorialnews/viewpoints/johnbuell.aspx John Buell] (2004)
* "The Battle Over Homework: Common Ground for Administrators, Teachers, and Parents" by [http://www7.nationalacademies.org/dbasse/Harris_Cooper.html Harris Cooper] (2007)
* "The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing" by Alfie Kohn (2006)
* "The End of Homework: How Homework Disrupts families, Overburdens Children, and Limits Learning" by Etta Kralovec and [http://www.bangordailynews.com/editorialnews/viewpoints/johnbuell.aspx John Buell] (2000)

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1376208,00.html "The Myth About Homework", Claudia Wallis, "Time Magazine", Aug. 29, 2006]
* [http://www.slate.com/id/2149593/ "Forget Homework", Emily Bazelon, "Slate", Sept. 14, 2006]

Parent resources

* [http://www.nea.org/parents/images/homeworksolutionsguide.pdf Bridging the Great Homework Divide: A Solutions Guide for Parents of Middle School Students] - from the National Education Association.
* [http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/homework/homeworktips.pdf Homework tips for parents] - U.S. Department of Education.
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/ BBC's (U.K.) parents' school guide]

Learner resources

* [http://www.studygs.net Study Guides and Strategies] Eighteen categories of peer-reviewed strategies, translated into thirty languages

Teacher resources

* [http://www.ed.gov/pubs/HelpingStudents/index.html Helping Your Students With Homework: A Guide For Teachers] - U.S. Department of Education.
* [http://www.peakparent.org/pdf/fact_sheets/homework.pdf Homework Practices that Support Students with Disabilities]
* [http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/parents/homework-tips/edlite-index.html A Teacher's Guide to Homework Tips for Parents] - from the U.S. Department of Education.