Adolescent Development Child & Adolescent Development
Homework is a highly debated topic, with varying philosophies. If you teach in a school that requires homework, remember that this can be difficult for families to manage, especially for those with children who require assistance to complete the tasks.
Here are some strategies to consider when assigning homework:
Large packets and long-term projects can be overwhelming for students. This is especially true for younger students who do not have sufficiently advanced time management skills to handle this work independently. Instead of asking students to complete a page of twenty math problems, consider having them choose any eight they want. The element of choice is important. If they have learned the skills and know the material, they will not learn more from completing twenty than they will from completing eight.
Homework can be used to lay the foundation for the next day. It can also create opportunities for students to share their personal experiences and make connections with others. For example, if you’re going to work on graphing the next day, ask students to create a survey question and then get responses from five people. Students will be eager for math the next day so they can share their ideas and data. If you are starting a personal narrative unit, ask students to make a list of three events that happened in their life that they think someone would be interested to learn more about. The next day, use an interactive learning structure to let students share these ideas.
Just as you model how students should complete their in-class daily work, you should do the same for homework. Even if you are giving only bite-size amounts, you want high-quality results. Set aside time in class at the beginning of the year for one or more practice homework sessions. This will allow you to observe students and support them in developing the skills that will help them to work successfully and independently at home. This is important, as allowing expectations to slide on homework can have a negative impact on the work students complete in class.
However, there will also be times when you will need to demonstrate empathy and flexibility, giving students a break from homework if they are dealing with challenging circumstances. Remember, knowing each of your students will be important for your expectations. For example, students who are traveling between two or more homes each week have a lot to manage. At times, this means leaving a book at mom’s house or forgetting their folder at grandma’s.
It can be tempting to ask children to copy down homework directions. This can be challenging for many third graders, and the expectations can get lost in translation. Provide students with clear written directions. When possible, provide an example. This will help students to be successful, and it will also help family members who are checking and supporting students with homework.
You make sure students know homework expectations; the same should be true for parents. Some students are in situations where they must do all homework on their own, without someone to guide them. Other students have overly eager parents who may take on the assignment and project themselves, and need to be reminded that this is their child’s work. Let parents know where assignments can be found. Do the parents need to check an assignment book and initial that the child read it and completed the work? Does the child need to go online for homework? About how long should homework take on a daily basis?
Some educators feel it should take students about twenty to thirty minutes, in addition to time for independent reading, while other districts will have different guidelines and expectations. What should parents do if their child is consistently struggling with homework and taking a long time to complete it, going far beyond the district expectations? Only you can provide these guidelines to parents.
Including a frequently asked questions section on your website or in the beginning-of-the-year letter can help parents. It can also save time for you by addressing all of these matters at once, instead of fielding many questions about homework during the year. This will allow you to focus your time and energy to support those students and families who have the greatest concerns about homework and helping them develop a plan for success.
This article is an adapted excerpt from Empowering Educators: A Comprehensive Guide to Teaching Grades 3, 4, 5. The Empowering Educators series also offers resources for K-2 and 6-8 teachers.