What’s for Homework Tonight?
Rushing through it during car rides or in the morning, crying to get out of it, or frustrated about having more work to do, homework can cause undue stress on students and parents. How beneficial is homework? As families’ schedules become more hectic, homework does not need to be the cause of unnecessary anxiety.
Teachers take students’ age, grade level, and individualized education programs into consideration when assigning homework. Homework allows children to independently practice skills that reinforce what was taught in class. My first grader’s homework consisted of a nightly packet of spelling, reading, comprehension, and math skills, but it was challenging to do all the assignments because the homework took almost an hour. On the days he had therapy, it only left us with 30 minutes to complete his homework and still have time for dinner, a soothing bath, and play time. His teacher differentiated for him by allowing him to complete as much as he could due to our schedule—a thoughtful way to target his needs more prescriptively. As a parent, I want my child’s evenings at home to be spent relaxing with family and recharging for the next day.
The 21st-century student only spends about five hours at home in the evening. Students today attend after-school fine arts lessons, Scout meetings, sports activities, therapy, and religious classes. Sometimes these activities require a long commute. My students’ parents have told me that family schedules are jam-packed, and sometimes their kids scramble to change into their practice clothes in the car and scarf down dinner just to get into bed on time. Homework time is squeezed into the evening or gets done in the morning. With all of this rushing, when do children get to rest? If a child is experiencing distress about completing homework, it might require a second look at the quality of the assignment.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends school-age children ages six to 12 need about nine to 12 hours of sleep each night. When a child doesn’t get enough sleep because of homework, they might not be able to focus the next day. Research shows that children who get adequate sleep are much happier and have an overall better quality of life. An article published by the AAP states: “It’s true that school work and schedules teach important life skills. But most experts agree that children’s health and everyday progress stand to suffer when scheduled activities leave no room for ‘free’ playtime.”
Teachers should assign homework that is essential to literacy development and tailored to students’ needs. I’ve taught for 19 years, and I assign homework four days a week, usually in the form of a reading log that requires parents’ initials and a twice-a-week writing assignment. The assigned novel is always at their reading level, and the writing task is a journal. These assignments establish a learning routine and place emphasis on taking responsibility for academic progress. Research shows that reading for 20 minutes every night exposes a child to 1.8 million words a year. A child engaging in reading during free time at home fosters literacy skills and a love of reading. Temple University psychology professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek leads research on the profound connection between learning and play: “There is practically nothing that will be more important than reading time. It’s a time when kids learn integrated narrative. It’s a time when they learn about relationships and hear vocabulary that they don’t hear anywhere else.” Allowing a child to select authentic literature at their reading level ensures they will be engaged in learning.
Harris Cooper, a professor at Duke University, researched this topic and discovered that data supported the “10-minute rule.” That is, as a student progresses one grade, 10 minutes of homework is added. In essence, a second grader would be assigned 20 minutes. Assigning more than that did not lead to better results. Making sure the amount of time spent on homework coincides with their age level will ensure that the homework is not excessive.
Happy students who engage in meaningful activities at home will be motivated students who look forward to learning in school. Writer Jana Kingsford says, “Balance is not something you find; it’s something you create.” When research proves that homework overload doesn’t show gains, it’s best to keep homework short and sweet.
Healthy Children magazine’s “Caution Children at Play!” (Summer 2007); and Fatherly/Huffington Post’s “Elementary School Homework Probably Isn’t Good for Kids” (February 2018).
Anita Marquez-Hernandez teaches fourth grade in Weslaco ISD.
Are you an ATPE member with a story to tell? Email comm@atpe.org for Members Speak guidelines.
Teachers take students’ age, grade level, and individualized education programs into consideration when assigning homework. Homework allows children to independently practice skills that reinforce what was taught in class. My first grader’s homework consisted of a nightly packet of spelling, reading, comprehension, and math skills, but it was challenging to do all the assignments because the homework took almost an hour. On the days he had therapy, it only left us with 30 minutes to complete his homework and still have time for dinner, a soothing bath, and play time. His teacher differentiated for him by allowing him to complete as much as he could due to our schedule—a thoughtful way to target his needs more prescriptively. As a parent, I want my child’s evenings at home to be spent relaxing with family and recharging for the next day.
The 21st-century student only spends about five hours at home in the evening. Students today attend after-school fine arts lessons, Scout meetings, sports activities, therapy, and religious classes. Sometimes these activities require a long commute. My students’ parents have told me that family schedules are jam-packed, and sometimes their kids scramble to change into their practice clothes in the car and scarf down dinner just to get into bed on time. Homework time is squeezed into the evening or gets done in the morning. With all of this rushing, when do children get to rest? If a child is experiencing distress about completing homework, it might require a second look at the quality of the assignment.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends school-age children ages six to 12 need about nine to 12 hours of sleep each night. When a child doesn’t get enough sleep because of homework, they might not be able to focus the next day. Research shows that children who get adequate sleep are much happier and have an overall better quality of life. An article published by the AAP states: “It’s true that school work and schedules teach important life skills. But most experts agree that children’s health and everyday progress stand to suffer when scheduled activities leave no room for ‘free’ playtime.”
Teachers should assign homework that is essential to literacy development and tailored to students’ needs. I’ve taught for 19 years, and I assign homework four days a week, usually in the form of a reading log that requires parents’ initials and a twice-a-week writing assignment. The assigned novel is always at their reading level, and the writing task is a journal. These assignments establish a learning routine and place emphasis on taking responsibility for academic progress. Research shows that reading for 20 minutes every night exposes a child to 1.8 million words a year. A child engaging in reading during free time at home fosters literacy skills and a love of reading. Temple University psychology professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek leads research on the profound connection between learning and play: “There is practically nothing that will be more important than reading time. It’s a time when kids learn integrated narrative. It’s a time when they learn about relationships and hear vocabulary that they don’t hear anywhere else.” Allowing a child to select authentic literature at their reading level ensures they will be engaged in learning.
Harris Cooper, a professor at Duke University, researched this topic and discovered that data supported the “10-minute rule.” That is, as a student progresses one grade, 10 minutes of homework is added. In essence, a second grader would be assigned 20 minutes. Assigning more than that did not lead to better results. Making sure the amount of time spent on homework coincides with their age level will ensure that the homework is not excessive.
Happy students who engage in meaningful activities at home will be motivated students who look forward to learning in school. Writer Jana Kingsford says, “Balance is not something you find; it’s something you create.” When research proves that homework overload doesn’t show gains, it’s best to keep homework short and sweet.
References
The American Academy of Pediatrics Supports Childhood Sleep Guidelines press release (June 2016);Healthy Children magazine’s “Caution Children at Play!” (Summer 2007); and Fatherly/Huffington Post’s “Elementary School Homework Probably Isn’t Good for Kids” (February 2018).
Anita Marquez-Hernandez teaches fourth grade in Weslaco ISD.
Are you an ATPE member with a story to tell? Email comm@atpe.org for Members Speak guidelines.
Author: Anita Marquez-Hernandez, Weslaco ISD