By David Armani » What does the term ‘homework’ mean to you? In your family, does ‘homework’ have a positive or a negative connotation?
For some families, the word ‘homework’ is associated with the idea that such work is drudgery, a necessary (or not) evil of attending school. For others, homework is viewed as a precious opportunity to boost learning.
What are the pros of homework? Reviewing material covered during the day can help students to better retain new information, and to explore a subject more fully than classroom time permits. Homework also encourages students to study independently, and to learn how to use outside resources such as the library, reference materials and the Internet to do research.
Self-responsibility and time-management skills are cultivated when students complete and hand in an assignment on time, no matter how small. Monitoring homework also helps families stay informed about what their children are learning at school and about the objectives of the school curriculum.
It is important to consider how much homework is the right amount – it depends upon the age and the skills of the child. In the Peel Public School Board in Mississauga, the general rule is that Grade One students should be given about 10 minutes of homework per day, and there should be a corresponding approximate 10 minutes increase in homework for each progressive grade level, so that Grade Two students receive 20 minutes of homework per day, Grade Three students receive 30 minutes per day, and so on.
Parents play a vital role in supporting their children’s homework endeavours. Organizing a family schedule that gives children a regular time and a set place in the house to do homework is often crucial. So is removing distractions such as TV during their homework sessions. As children progress through school, parents may need to help them by providing access to resources such as the library or the Web in order to retrieve information that may be needed for projects or reports.
Parents, however, should not take over and complete their children’s homework. Too much parental involvement makes children dependent. Not only does this deprive them of the chance to learn from their mistakes but it also gives teachers the false impression that a student has mastered a body of knowledge when, in fact, the child probably needs some extra academic support.
Instead, parents should discuss the assignment with the child and ask probing questions that guide the child towards developing critical thinking skills on the topic at hand.
Homework can represent a “formal learning opportunity” but it is just the tip of the learning iceberg. Informal learning opportunities can occur whenever parents encourage their children to learn simply for the sheer joy of learning, whether it be reading books together or participating in sports, music, cooking, or any other extracurricular activity. Parents can set a good example for their children by including them in any task that requires thought and effort, and by explaining their actions as they go along.
What are the cons of homework? In many families, homework is seen as an intrusion on personal and family time that would be better spent on other things. Some argue that homework can sour children on learning, a situation from which they may never fully recover.
A recent article in the National Post newspaper entitled ‘Parents rebelling against homework’ shows that homework is indeed a controversial issue. Perhaps in response to an escalating amount of homework given to young children over the last 15 years, there is now a growing anti-homework movement in Canadian society.
The titles of some recent books demonstrate this trend: The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing and The Case Against Homework: How Homework is Hurting Our Children and What We Can Do About It.
Homework opponents argue, among other things, that homework does not necessarily promote good study habits in children. In some cases, for example, homework increases family tension, especially when tired and overburdened parents find themselves resorting to nagging their reluctant children into completing their homework.
Certainly, teachers should not be pressured into assigning homework simply because of societal expectations or only because it is the policy and practice of most formal school systems. Homework, however, has the potential to help a child do well in school if the assignments are meaningful, have a purpose and come with clear instructions. Parents may play a significant role by modeling a love of learning and by being lifelong learners.
Together, we parents and teachers should continue to collaborate on providing the best homework opportunities and the most supportive learning environments for our children. |
