Homework Routines Lead to Academic Success
This is about the time during the school year when homework expectations and the reality of completed assignments begin to diverge for some students and teachers. Homework is an often debated topic and school districts carefully craft policies to clarify homework structures. I recently had this article published in the Radford News Journal about the Radford City Schools' homework philosophy and procedures. I hope you find it thought provoking and helpful.
~~~Steve Frey, Frey Educational Associates
Radford City Schools have been in session for about a month now, and students have had time to adjust to new schedules and routines. Of course, one of the biggest adjustments for students at the beginning of the school year is homework.
Thomas Friedman, Pulitzer Prize journalist and author, said, “When I was growing up, my parents told me, ‘Finish your dinner. People in China and India are starving.’ I tell my daughters, ‘Finish your homework. People in India and China are starving for your job.’”
In what is commonly acknowledged as the most comprehensive research study on homework that has been done, Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper found a positive correlation between homework and student achievement. It was clear in in his meta-analysis that students who did homework performed better in school.
Friedman and Cooper agree homework is an important part of the school experience. The Radford City School District agrees, also.
The school district’s homework policy states in part, “A strong home-school partnership, with many lasting benefits for the individual student and the student’s family, can be greatly enhanced by a sound program of homework. In addition, homework should be an important tool in developing independent thought, self-direction and self-discipline.”
The most common reason homework is assigned is to have students practice material presented in class to reinforce learning and to help students reach mastery of specific skills. Sometimes it is in preparation for an upcoming lesson. For example, a teacher may have students read a chapter in a novel for discussion in class the next day. Homework may also be related to long term assignments completed over a more extensive period of time.
Ellen Denny, the Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction for Radford City Schools, said that parents should, “Make homework a priority. When you make homework a priority, you make education a priority.”
She went on to say that this message, “Has to come from parents.”
The Radford homework policy includes several guidelines. First, it should have a valid purpose and be an extension of the activities taking place in the classroom. Teachers should take time to clearly explain the assignment, so the students are able to complete the task independently. The teacher reviews and returns homework to the students with appropriate credit and in a timely manner. Of course, excessive homework, as with the absence of homework, should be avoided.
Parents can find the complete homework policy in the Radford City Schools online policy manual under instruction.
“Homework’s not just about extra work,” said Denny. “The biggest rule of thumb: Homework should be relevant.”
She feels it is an important vehicle to teach the student how to organize and manage time. “We must teach children to work independently,” she added.
She says that with her own children, she found that if they could get homework done before 5:30 PM or dinner time, the evenings always went better. She believes that you need to work with children to find the ideal time, make sure you have the correct environment, and that you have the resources necessary for assignments at home. She feels that everyone learns differently and you need to keep that in mind when developing homework routines.
She also feels parents who have children in daycare could elicit help from providers in getting homework done during part of that time. Then parents could just check over the homework later on when everyone gets home.
Teachers will contact parents if there is a problem with homework coming in regularly, but Denny said that homework should not be a stressful time for parents or children, and parents should let teachers know if there are problems with homework at home.
Denny said if children didn’t understand or were frustrated with homework or taking an inordinate amount of time to complete it, communicate the problem to the teacher. “Write a nice note to the teacher. Ask, ‘What would you like me to do to help.’”
She said that teachers want to work with parents. Everyone is working together to support the child, and if the problem is becoming chronic, the teacher and parent might follow up with a conference to see if there is a disconnect with the homework that can be easily solved. Perhaps the student didn’t really understand the material. It could be taking more time because the student is completing some unfinished classwork along with the homework. It could be that the student isn’t focusing on the assignment and is taking more time because of that. A quick discussion with the teacher could help solve homework issues.
Denny suggests that parents should, “Check homework until your child is in ninth or tenth grade, and even after that.” She said that it is important that the student completes it, but that it is completed with accuracy, also.
Whether there is homework or not, students should always take time to read at home. Denny said a child should, “Read 20 minutes each night.”
She stressed that parents have a critical role with homework and said, “We recognize, appreciate, and support them!”
In emphasizing the importance of the home-school connection with homework, Denny said, “You are your child’s teacher at home. We want to partner with parents. It starts at home, and success looks different for every child.”