Homework: A Necessity for Classroom Achievement? Over the past few decades to date, views on homework assignments are still evolving as to the effect on classroom achievement. Parents of the late 60s and 70s desired for their children to be free to play and explore. Bennett and Kalish (2006) provided evidence that too much homework harms students’ health and family time. With the publication of A Nation at Risk in the 80s, parents wanted children to work harder even after school hours. “Homework can help students develop study skills that will be of value even after they leave school,” reads a publication on the U.S. Department of Education website called Homework Tips for Parents. “It can teach them that learning takes place anywhere, not just in the classroom. … It can foster positive character traits such as independence and responsibility. Homework can teach children how to manage time.” Is it rational to think that five year olds, who have been involved in school activities for seven hours, without a rest time, be required to sit for twenty to thirty minutes once home to complete unnecessary assignments in order for the teacher to meet the principal’s expectations? Should a fourth grader, who struggles to complete classroom materials without negative consequences, suffer through two to three hours of needless worksheets under the stressful attention of a tired, overworked parent? Purpose Homework usually falls into these categories: practice, preparation, and extension. At the elementary school level, homework can help students develop study skills and habits and can keep families informed about their child’s learning. At the secondary school level, student homework is associated with greater academic achievement (... ... middle of paper ... ...ho did not complete homework (DeNisco, n.d.). Unclear Link According to an analysis of more than 100 studies, in the lower grades the effect of homework on achievement is minimal (McEntire, 2006). Too much homework can be detrimental to family life and student achievement. Homework has a positive effect on achievement, but the effect varies dramatically with grade level. For elementary students, no amount of homework – large or small – affects achievement (Synthesis, n.d.). For elementary school students the effect of homework on achievement is trivial, if it exists at all. Homework generally does not improve elementary students’ performance, it really does not matter how much is assigned (Synthesis, n.d.). The link between homework and achievement is unclear (Edvantia, 2007). Homework seems be have more of a positive effect on certain groups of students.
When excessive homework is assigned, teachers often overlook that this can affect their interpersonal skills. When the opposite occurs, students have a major risk in forgetting the material and its processes. I appreciated the approach that the article took presenting both sides without distorting their views. The article counted with important individuals in the field of education and psychology who expressed their views based on their extensive work of research. I agree with Campbell in the sense that decision of assigning homework is very personal and is based on each educator’s individual teaching style. The article implies how the freedom that many school districts gives to educators give them a greater say in how they manage their classrooms. The decision making about homework allows educators to grow as professionals because they are able to have control and responsibility in how they impart their lessons, consequently gaining experience. In my personal opinion, I agree in the benefits of homework as a reinforcement or remedial strategy because extra practice can often provide clarification. However, when using this as a resource for academic advancement I consider it a way to confuse students if the content has not been previously covered. Homework is definitely helpful, but for it to not be considered busy work it is important that the educator
Homework has been an integral part of education since children started to be educated. Recently however, homework has begun to be assigned more and more often to students, especially in the United States, as it has begun to fall further and further behind countries like China, Singapore, and Japan. Homework is anything assigned by teachers to be completed by the students either at home, or just on their own time. The workload for students has gotten to the point where more and more parents are starting to notice the load for their kids has gotten to be too much. Many kids in high school, even 9th and 10th graders, can have 3 or even 4 hours of homework every night. In the past couple years, homework has gotten so out of control that parents are starting to speak out, and protest the amount of homework that students get each night (Marzano). In addition, studies have been done to determine the value of homework, but overall, the results are mixed at best (Kohn). Even studies that show a positive relationship between homework and test scores, among other things, show that homework is only effective when assigned in a moderate amount. Too much homework can be counter-productive, or have adverse effects on students. Students with too much homework can perform worse on tests, and develop serious physical and mental health problems from too much stress or lack of sleep.
According to Marzano and Pickering (2007) in an article titled the Case for and Against Homework, homework can be useful and very insurmountable when employed effectively. “Three import issues are the appropriate use of homework at various grade levels; the optimum amount of time students should spend on homework; and the most effective forms of parent involvement” (Pg. 76).
Incorporating homework into the average student’s life can significantly improve academic achievement, the understanding of lifelong study skills, and school appreciation. In order for students to solidify their understanding of certain topics, homework is required since it enables students to retrieve what they have learned outside of school and learning skills can be improved. “For example, Cooper summarizes many of the positive outcomes homework has on students’ lives. Cooper categorizes these outcomes into four sections: immediate achievement and learning, long-term academic benefits, non-academic benefits, and greater parental appreciation of and involvement in school. Under the first section, Cooper explains that one’s learning can progress rapidly since there will be increased understanding, better critical thinking, retention of factual knowledge, greater concept formation, information processing, and curriculum enrichment for a student in the learning process.
Homework develops positive study skills. Because your studies become more complex, or difficult, each year, you should begin developing good study habits at an early age.
When a teacher always calls out that word terrifying word “homework”, moans and groans fill the classroom. Students start to slouch and lie their heads back, as teachers start to feel guilty for what they have done. You might say that homework will help teens and children to drill in the knowledge they’ve learned in school today, and help these kids learn some study habits. But let’s face it. The truth is that no student in any school loves homework. They have already spent their time in school focusing and learning for nothing, since homework is...
They also say that homework allows parents to see what their children are learning and that homework helps them get better grades. It is true that homework is a self-evaluation for students to make sure they understand what they are learning. However, that is not the case. According to Discovery News, “Studies show that 99% of teens said that homework causes stress.” How is something stressful beneficial? How can homework have a positive impact when it is only making student’s lives worse? Equally important, Discovery News also stated: “56% of students said that homework was their primary stresser more than tests or getting good grades.” As you could see from this, the majority of students feel homework is more stressful than things like big tests. Along with homework being stressful, Discovery News states “Students reported sleep deprivation because of homework.” Meaning that students lacked the requirement of the basic necessity of sleep, meaning at least eight hours. Just because of the extent of homework, students entre next day is halted because students are exhausted and incapable of functioning. But, if the amount of homework was reduced, I believe students would not be as stressed and it would be more practical and
“So, is homework related to high academic success?” “At a national level, the answer is clearly no. Worldwide, homework is not associated with high national levels of academic achievement” (Homework 2). Kids do not get enough sleep because school starts too early and schools should start later for health benefits. Additionally, Teachers give too much homework which might cause kids to stay up late and not get enough sleep and cause health issues. If schools start late there’s less time for after school activities. Even though homework is to help learn and schools start early and end at a good time, schools should start later because kids do not get enough sleep and teachers give too much homework.
Elementary aged kids should not have the burden of doing homework like high school or middle school aged kids. Three reasons for this include the fact that homework gets done by the parents, it causes mental and physical health issues and it causes lack of social ability skills. These three things are just a few possibilities of what can happen when an elementary kid has homework.
Although homework may seem like drudgery, the hard work that is put into homework may pay off in the long run. In the article, “Does homework really work for students?” Jacqueline Carey, the mother of seventh grade student Micah Carey, stated that “homework gives [students] a good foundation for when they move on further in school” (Johnson). Not only that but according to Donyall Dickey, principle at Murray Hill Middle School, “if students do not acquire things in class, they will acquire them through homework” (Johnson). As we can see homework helps and prepares us for higher grade levels while in primary school that can possibly prepare us for college. It also helps us to remember the materials that were taught in class. Another reason homework can be beneficial is the fact that it can prepare us for tests and the dreadful pop-quiz that a teacher may randomly give us. This fact was proven, according to a 2006 study by Harris Cooper, director of Duke University’s Program in education, in the article “Homework or Not? That is the (Research) Question”. The studies instituted that “students who had homework performed better on class tests compared to those who did not” (DeNisco). Another compelling thing about homework, are the qualities a skills th...
Homework offers multiple benefits for real life. One benefit of homework is that it helps the student develop essential skills. While homework may seem like a tedious task, it can help a student comprehend the material. Homework is necessary for more than just a grade; it is an assignment that teaches you valuable life skills. According to “Do students have too much homework?”, homework should lead students to be better at taking what they know and applying it to a certain task. Students tend to portray homework as something that they have to get done without knowing the value that lies behind it. Homework enables the student to recall a certain problem and apply it to another distinctive situation. According to “Do students have too much homework?”, applying knowledge is the most important. Learning is definitely important but what students do with the facts that they learned is essential as well. Applying knowledge allows the students to take a simple fact and relate it to a grander scheme of things. Relating what they know will enhance their creativity and let them see behind the lines of how everything connects.
Dr. Michael Nagel, an associate professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, says homework has no scientific benefit and that it could even be bad for a student’s brain. “The adult brain does not fully mature until the third decade of life (a person’s thirty’s) and too much stimulation could cause unnecessary stress on a student.” An analysis conducted by Pearson showed that the number of hours spent on homework was between ten and sixty-five hours a week, with females scoring higher on the hours of homework, stres...
Harris Cooper, a researcher on homework from Duke University, claims that too much homework causes stress. In this I paper will talk about the damaging effects homework has on a child, how homework causes students to dropout of school, and some ideas for an alternative to homework.
Homework helps students learn essential life skills such as self-discipline, independence, and perseverance; however, according to Alfie Kohn, “no study has ever confirmed the widely accepted assumption”. In modern schooling, all grade levels are given substantial amounts of homework, which causes a multitude of problems regarding physical and emotional health, along with, potential family issues and no leisure time. Therefor, there should be less classes or class time should be extended in order to give students an adequate amount of time to finish assignments in school, rather than at home. After all, what is the point of having a teacher if the student has to learn at home rather than being taught at school? This does nothing but compound
We all know the downfall of homework: the frustration and exhaustion, family conflict, time loss, and decreasing interest in learning. No study has ever demonstrated any academic achievement linked to assigning homework. There is also no support to the fact that homework provides nonacademic benefits at any age. Here are a few examples: building character, promoting self-discipline, or teaching good work habits. All teachers who assign homework want to believe that the gain outweighs the pain. Although, there is no evidence of that and they must rely on faith (“Homework: No Proven Benefits”, pg. 1). Michellea, a mother of a middle school student, says that some work can reinforce certain skills, but hours of homework are unhealthy and unproductive. Mominseattle agrees. She contemplates that such a heavy load can result in potential drawbacks to the students. Hours of homework a night plus a full day of school can be just as much work as an adult at a full-time job. She believes students should enjoy their childhood, as short as it already is. MagnetMom complains about how her daughter’s homework takes away her beneficial sleep. With busy families, like hers, they have many after school activities, so when they get home, they do not have time for too much homework. She says ...