The question of homework: Should our kids have it all?
By Lauren Knight
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/02/24/the-question-of-homework-should-our-kids-have-it-all
Key Points: The article asks if we are overloading our students with homework?
Are we allowing enough time for other activities? Research proves that if homework interferes with social experience and time best devoted to recharging our minds and bodies, it is no longer benefiting the student. Research also promotes the reduction of homework as a benefit to promoting a desire to learn. The counter discussion centers around "character building,"study skills, and self-discipline as a few reasons to give homework. The article concludes that students who receive no homework in a subject could have their interest sparked to research topics independently.
Intended Audience: Parents, school boards, administrators, and educators.
Relevance: This is a hot topic in our schools right now and in many instances, there is a shift in the amount of homework students receive from many teachers. In some situations, a reduced amount of homework that is contained to only weekdays or every other weekend appears to be a new academic trend. The article explains both sides of the argument and it is relevant to examine the benefits and the disadvantages of the impact of homework as an educator. After all, as educators, our objective will always be to have a motivated student that is well-rested and excited to learn in the classroom.
I was shocked when I starting observing in classrooms and learning that many teachers did not find homework beneficial. It is a trend that I am seeing more and more in Beaverton and it seems to be favorable to many students, teachers and parents. For one, homework is just not fair. There is a large majority of students who lack resources at home including individuals to help them with their homework. On the other end, there are parents who often assume too great of a role which is counterproductive. One of my teachers said that she didn't like giving homework because she was tired of grading parents work. Hearing these reasons along with a lack of evidence of the positive effects of homework, I think it is a trend that will continue to pick up and children should use this “homework” time to spend with family, participate in activities that foster creativity and simply spend time being kids. There are a lot of life lesson that can be learned outside of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked when I starting observing in classrooms and learning that many teachers did not find homework beneficial. It is a trend that I am seeing more and more in Beaverton and it seems to be favorable to many students, teachers and parents. For one, homework is just not fair. There is a large majority of students who lack resources at home including individuals to help them with their homework. On the other end, there are parents who often assume too great of a role which is counterproductive. One of my teachers said that she didn't like giving homework because she was tired of grading parents work. Hearing these reasons along with a lack of evidence of the positive effects of homework, I think it is a trend that will continue to pick up and children should use this “homework” time to spend with family, participate in activities that foster creativity and simply spend time being kids. There are a lot of life lesson that can be learned outside of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI love that the benefits (or lack thereof) of homework is a hot topic in education right now. For me personally, it is right on time. My daughter started middle school this year, and I am happy that many of her teachers don't assign homework besides reading at home. She has social skills to develop, she loves cooking, she has laundry and dishes and taking care of a pet to do. These are ALL independent living skills that we have mentioned in our cohort discussions that many GenEd kids simply do not possess. How are we supposed to parent and teach those skills if schoolwork takes up the whole day?
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