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Why is homework good for students?

Why is Homework Good for Students?

Homework has been a long-standing debate among educators and parents, with some arguing that it is unnecessary and others believing it is essential for student learning. As we delve into the world of education, it is crucial to understand the benefits of homework and why it is good for students.

Direct Answer: Why is Homework Good for Students?

Homework is beneficial for students in several ways. Here are some reasons why:

  • Improves Retention and Understanding : Homework helps students retain and understand what they learned in class. By revisiting the material at home, students are more likely to solidify their understanding and recall information more effectively.
  • Develops Study Habits : Homework helps students develop good study habits, such as time management, organization, and prioritization. These skills are essential for success in all aspects of life.
  • Enhances Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving : Homework provides students with the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a practical way, which helps develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Prepares Students for Assessments : Homework helps students prepare for assessments and exams by giving them a chance to review and practice what they have learned.

Additional Benefits of Homework

In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, homework provides several other advantages to students:

• **Boosts Self-Motivation and Independence : Homework can encourage students to take ownership of their learning and develop a sense of responsibility and self-motivation. • **Facilitates Consolidation of New Skills : Homework helps students consolidate new skills and knowledge, making it easier to recall and apply them in the future. • **Helps Develop Self-Directed Learning : Homework allows students to learn independently, which is an essential skill in today’s fast-paced and rapidly changing world.

What Kinds of Homework are Effective?

While all homework is not created equal, some types of homework are more effective than others. Here are some tips for creating effective homework:

Key Characteristics of Effective Homework

• Clear Instructions : Homework instructions should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. • Relevant : Homework should be relevant to what was covered in class and align with learning objectives. • Challenging : Homework should be challenging, but not overwhelming or too difficult. • Well-Timed : Homework should be assigned at the right time, taking into account students’ schedules and academic demands.

How to Make Homework Engaging and Enjoyable

While homework is essential, it’s also important to make it engaging and enjoyable for students. Here are some tips:

Making Homework Engaging and Enjoyable

• **Use Real-Life Scenarios : Use real-life scenarios or hypothetical situations to make homework more relevant and interesting. • **Incorporate Technology : Incorporate technology, such as online tools and resources, to make homework more interactive and fun. • **Provide Feedback : Provide constructive feedback to students, helping them understand their strengths and areas for improvement. • **Offer Choices : Offer students choices, such as different topics or formats, to keep things interesting and prevent boredom.

In conclusion, homework is an essential part of the educational process, providing numerous benefits to students. By understanding why homework is good for students, educators can create effective and engaging assignments that promote learning, improve retention, and develop essential skills. By following the tips outlined in this article, educators can create homework that is both challenging and enjoyable for students, leading to improved academic performance and long-term success.

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Is Homework Good for Kids? Here’s What the Research Says

A s kids return to school, debate is heating up once again over how they should spend their time after they leave the classroom for the day.

The no-homework policy of a second-grade teacher in Texas went viral last week , earning praise from parents across the country who lament the heavy workload often assigned to young students. Brandy Young told parents she would not formally assign any homework this year, asking students instead to eat dinner with their families, play outside and go to bed early.

But the question of how much work children should be doing outside of school remains controversial, and plenty of parents take issue with no-homework policies, worried their kids are losing a potential academic advantage. Here’s what you need to know:

For decades, the homework standard has been a “10-minute rule,” which recommends a daily maximum of 10 minutes of homework per grade level. Second graders, for example, should do about 20 minutes of homework each night. High school seniors should complete about two hours of homework each night. The National PTA and the National Education Association both support that guideline.

But some schools have begun to give their youngest students a break. A Massachusetts elementary school has announced a no-homework pilot program for the coming school year, lengthening the school day by two hours to provide more in-class instruction. “We really want kids to go home at 4 o’clock, tired. We want their brain to be tired,” Kelly Elementary School Principal Jackie Glasheen said in an interview with a local TV station . “We want them to enjoy their families. We want them to go to soccer practice or football practice, and we want them to go to bed. And that’s it.”

A New York City public elementary school implemented a similar policy last year, eliminating traditional homework assignments in favor of family time. The change was quickly met with outrage from some parents, though it earned support from other education leaders.

New solutions and approaches to homework differ by community, and these local debates are complicated by the fact that even education experts disagree about what’s best for kids.

The research

The most comprehensive research on homework to date comes from a 2006 meta-analysis by Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper, who found evidence of a positive correlation between homework and student achievement, meaning students who did homework performed better in school. The correlation was stronger for older students—in seventh through 12th grade—than for those in younger grades, for whom there was a weak relationship between homework and performance.

Cooper’s analysis focused on how homework impacts academic achievement—test scores, for example. His report noted that homework is also thought to improve study habits, attitudes toward school, self-discipline, inquisitiveness and independent problem solving skills. On the other hand, some studies he examined showed that homework can cause physical and emotional fatigue, fuel negative attitudes about learning and limit leisure time for children. At the end of his analysis, Cooper recommended further study of such potential effects of homework.

Despite the weak correlation between homework and performance for young children, Cooper argues that a small amount of homework is useful for all students. Second-graders should not be doing two hours of homework each night, he said, but they also shouldn’t be doing no homework.

Not all education experts agree entirely with Cooper’s assessment.

Cathy Vatterott, an education professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, supports the “10-minute rule” as a maximum, but she thinks there is not sufficient proof that homework is helpful for students in elementary school.

“Correlation is not causation,” she said. “Does homework cause achievement, or do high achievers do more homework?”

Vatterott, the author of Rethinking Homework: Best Practices That Support Diverse Needs , thinks there should be more emphasis on improving the quality of homework tasks, and she supports efforts to eliminate homework for younger kids.

“I have no concerns about students not starting homework until fourth grade or fifth grade,” she said, noting that while the debate over homework will undoubtedly continue, she has noticed a trend toward limiting, if not eliminating, homework in elementary school.

The issue has been debated for decades. A TIME cover in 1999 read: “Too much homework! How it’s hurting our kids, and what parents should do about it.” The accompanying story noted that the launch of Sputnik in 1957 led to a push for better math and science education in the U.S. The ensuing pressure to be competitive on a global scale, plus the increasingly demanding college admissions process, fueled the practice of assigning homework.

“The complaints are cyclical, and we’re in the part of the cycle now where the concern is for too much,” Cooper said. “You can go back to the 1970s, when you’ll find there were concerns that there was too little, when we were concerned about our global competitiveness.”

Cooper acknowledged that some students really are bringing home too much homework, and their parents are right to be concerned.

“A good way to think about homework is the way you think about medications or dietary supplements,” he said. “If you take too little, they’ll have no effect. If you take too much, they can kill you. If you take the right amount, you’ll get better.”

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Write to Katie Reilly at [email protected]

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