Homework: How

to Make it

Meaningful and

Beneficial to

Students

(Grades K-6)

By: Hallee Cole

hallee.cole@smail.astate.edu

Introduction

– Homework and its effects are largely debated in educational communities.

– There are two sides to the argument.

– Does the good outweigh the bad or vice versa?

– How can we make sure our assignments are helping our students?

The History

– Homework has been around as long as public schools have

– The debate about homework has been going on for quite a while.

The Argument for Homework

– Students need to engage in intellectual pursuits outside of class.

– Students need to learn how to do homework now, so they will have good habits

developed for the future.

– Students need to learn how to handle responsibility.

The Argument Against

Homework

– Homework causes students to become overly stressed.

– Children are losing their leisure time.

– Homework is having a negative effect on the health of our students.

The Research

– Unfortunately, the research done on homework and its effects on learning have

yielded mixed results.

– Some say that homework correlates with a large positive impact on children’s

learning.

– Some say that the effect of homework is almost nonexistent in elementary

students.

– There’s no way to be sure, as instructors, assignments, and students are all

unique.

Does the Good Outweigh the

Bad?

The Good:

– Extends learning beyond the

classroom

– Teaches students responsibility

– Positive and productive use of

free time

The Bad:

– Loss of leisure time

– Stress

– Health issues

– Can negatively affect children’s

love of learning

Homework is a Balancing Act

– Homework in great quantities seems to be the main issue for children.

– When homework is assigned, make sure it has a purpose.

– A good rule to follow is, the “10-minute Rule”

– 10-minute Rule – ten times a student’s grade level is the number of minutes it should

take the student to complete all of their homework assignments for a day.

– For example, a second-grader should be able to complete their homework in about

20 minutes

– This doesn’t mean your top student is the only one who finishes in 20 minutes and it

takes your other students 45 minutes!

How to Make our Assignments

More Meaningful

– Make real world connections.

– Give students opportunities to work on it in class.

– Remind students to do homework in the order it was assigned during the day.

– Provide choices when possible

– Offer a challenge

– Tell your students why you’re giving them this homework.

Important Things to Remember

– The pros and cons of homework

– The “10-minute Rule”

– How to make your assignments more meaningful

Conclusion

– Homework is a tool we can use.

– Homework is a good thing, but remember that too much of a good thing is a

bad thing.

– Remember, every student has different needs. Homework should be helpful,

not a burden.

References

– Does Homework Improve Learning? by Alfie Kohn

– The Case For and Against Homework by Robert J. Marzano and Debra J.

Pickering

– Stanford Research Shows Pitfalls of Homework by Clifton B. Parker

– Making Homework Meaningful by Dominick Recckio

– Designing Engaging Assignments by Beth Pandolpho

– The Cult(ure) of Homework by Cathy Vatterott

– In Defense of Homework: Is There Such a Thing as Too Much? by Lisa Morehouse