Is homework necessary?
Categories: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Education
As kids head back to school with new backpacks and sneakers and grins missing teeth, you're breathing a sigh of relief. Right? Isn't that what you're doing?
Well, maybe not if your child is going to school for the first time (if that's the case, deep breath, everything will be FINE....) But for kids heading back to school for the second year, or the fifth for that matter, you know your child is re-entering the realm of structured routines, after school activities, and yes, homework.
Is it a good thing? The homework, I mean. Some parents say it's the best thing ever--and they hound me from day one for more homework, more homework. Others say the opposite, and wonder why I ever send any homework home at all.
In my opinion homework in the elementary grades serves only one purpose: to get young students into routine of doing homework in preparation for the later grades. Other than that, I think it interferes with the meaningful and enriching activities children should be doing after school and at home with their families. Call me a renegade, but there is quite a bit of research out there to support my view.
Don't get me wrong-I'm not saying children should go home and play video games all afternoon. I think every child should spend time with books every single day--reading independently and being read. I also think that parents should involve their children in other meaningful academic activities that are incorporated into daily life--like playing math games, or doing research on a topic that the child is interested in.
But homework for homework's sake when your kid is 6 years old? I'm not convinced.
I'm curious. Do you think homework in the early grades is important and necessary--or is it overrated, and perhaps taking precious time away from other activities children could be doing?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Baron 8-21-2008 @ 9:32AM
My wife is a 3rd grade teacher, which, at her school, is the time they start getting real grades and taking home "homework". Most of the parents don't mind it at all, but there are a few parents that just can't stand it. Generally speaking, not to be mean or anything, but usually the parents that have the hardest time with their kids bringing home work are the parents who's kids need it the most. i.e. the kids that are struggling in the classroom. I certainly can't speak for all schools, but I know that the homework they give here is to get them prepped for spelling tests, math tests, reading tests, etc. I know how much time and effort my wife puts into her class, all the hours she pours into grading, and I know that she, and the other teachers there, don't give homework for homework's sake. It all serves a purpose as they don't have any extra time in their classes for fluff!
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Sabrina 8-21-2008 @ 10:33AM
Mountains of homework in elementary school (like I had at my private school) is not appropriate, by 3rd grade I was doing 2 or more hours a night. A 5-10 minute assignment from one or two classes per night is perfect in my opinion. The purpose of homework is several-fold. 1) It shows the parents what the kids are actually doing and (hopefully) forces them to be more involved in their child's learning 2) It gives kids extra time after school to practice a tough lesson and let it really sink in and 3) It is an extension of the school day designed to make sure the concepts are carried over to the next day.
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Anne T. 8-21-2008 @ 11:03AM
I'll be sending my older son to Kindergarten next week. I am against homework in elementary school and even high school, actually. If the school day were shortened that would be something else, but as it is, with the school day just leaving us maybe four hours of waking time at home- this does not leave him or us sufficient time to play outdoors, to build with Legos, to read the books he wants to read, to go to a fine arts theater program or to a museum, to do gymnastics, and to eat dinner. It bothers me that the assumption is that parents can't be trusted to raise their children as intelligent, cultured, happy people, in the little time that the kids spend at home. Our kids should be able to accomplish their school-learning in the seven hours (not counting the hour-long, round-trip bus ride) that they spend at school, five days a week.
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Tamyu 8-21-2008 @ 11:38AM
I don`t believe that overly large amounts of homework have a use - particularly in lower grades. I DO however think that it is important to have some level of homework in order to make it part of the daily routine. It`s much worse for a child to go from no homework whatsoever to a bunch overnight. And as little use as it may be in lower grades, it does provide valuable practice in the higher grades.
A child is going to have to do meaningful homework somewhere along the line - I have yet to hear of a university graduate who didn`t have to do something outside of class! It`s better to get into the habit of doing it early, just like the other habits that children need to acquire as they go along. Even if the homework itself doesn`t teach them anything - it is giving them practice in doing homework... Something they`ll be doing lots of during their education.
All that said - 2 hours in early grade school is outrageous!! The amount of homework should be linked to the grade level in a realistic way. It`s work for a first or second grader to stay focused for 15 minutes, so homework shouldn`t take much longer than that to complete. As they get better at independent study and focusing, it should increase bit by bit. If they can`t sit still and do work quietly for an hour in class, it`s silly for a teacher to expect them to be able to do so at home.
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Karen 8-21-2008 @ 12:16PM
If the elementary school day is managed properly, there is no reason for homework other than for things that benefit from repetition.
Math facts, reading, etc.
Tough lessons should be done at school. I do not even believe that young children should be studying for tests. They should be learning and ideas should be reinforced IN SCHOOL.
I absolutely have a problem with homework and it is not because my children need it the most. What they need is time for family dinners, sports and other physical activity that they do not get in school (both my children swim daily), etc.
Children should be reading daily, but I think it is horrible when a concept is introduced in class, but most of working it out needs to be done at home. That should be done under the direction of the teacher. Only things that need to be PRACTICED should be reinforced at home at this level.
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ame s 8-21-2008 @ 5:18PM
I'm not against some homework, to reinforce skills such as reading and math. I agree with Karen about trying to learn new concepts at home. I had a math teacher in elementary school who was really bad about that. Even with my parents' help, that "new math" was something the teacher should have been teaching.
My 8 year old is still in public elementary and at most comes home with a few worksheets, plus spelling & vocabulary words and a reading story each week. We put in an hour a day, tops, and that includes studying for tests.
My 10 year old is now in a private school for 5th grade. I'm astounded with the amount of homework and studying for tests she has to do now. From talking to other parents with children who went to this school in elementary, they have always had more homework and studying to do than in the public schools. Granted, it is a university prep school (from 3 year old pre-K through 12th grade) and I moved her there mainly for that reason, and because in public, she would go to an intermediate school for 2 years, then to middle for 2 years, then on to high school.
Tuesday, this child had over 2 hours of written homework and had to study a map of Japan for a test the following day. Thank goodness she didn't have to spell the words correctly.
These schools have my daughters for 7 hours a day. I really don't like having to spend 2-3 hours after school on homework. An hour of studying, I could handle that. My 10 year old's 1 hour a week soccer practice is going to set us back a bit, and that is sad.
Sadder, my elementary student only gets P.E. twice a week now, 55 minutes at the end of Tuesdays and Thursdays. My private school student only has P.E. once a week, but has recess for 30 minutes every day, either outside or in the gym. I would rather they reduce recess, either by time span or number of days, than to send home all this work. Perhaps they want me to feel like I am getting my money's worth. ?
My older girl's math teacher did tell us parents during orientation to not spend hours on math homework if the child has trouble with it, because that is her job. I wish the other teachers felt the same way.
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