Return
to the brainsarefun.com homepage.
Go to the Brainsarefun Index
of All Solutions and Research Results
Few activities drive more severe wedges between parent and
child than homework. I know of no single activity that has destroyed
more family unity or caused more destruction and tears. All this,
when there is absolutely no evidence to support the efficacy or value of
what commonly passes as "homework." Homework not only drives wedges and fails to work - most of it serves as a disincentive to learning rather than as a motivator to further involvement.
There are four common types of homework:
1) drill and practice
2) independent reading
3) long-term projects
4) problem solving
Wrongly, all four are almost always used to introduce the student
to new material. Since the material is new, often requiring Mom
and Dad to get involved in instruction, the chances of frustration,
parent-child battles and academic failure, increase exponentially.
While "well-thought-out and appropriately designed homework" may
be appropriate at times, it is virtually impossible to find an
example that meets this standard. The reality is,
for the most part, homework is alienating, anti-intellectual,
and encourages deceit on both the part of the students and parents (This
deceit is most clearly demonstrated at "project night,"
when parents come to school to see their childrens' projects,
most of which were done by parents). Consider the number of parents
who bail their children out by completing homework which they
pass off as the child's.
The fact is, there is no evidence that most of what passes for homework influences the child or family "positively." Pity the poor family who suffers the failure of poorly designed and poorly coordinated homework night after night after night. Is it any wonder that so many parents and children give up and shut down to as much school as they are able? They can no longer stand the fighting, the tears, the recrimination, the damaged academic self-confidence. For far too many of our children (and adults), school equals failure. The fact is, short of what goes on in most classrooms, I can't think of any activity that destroys more academic potential than homework. It is no wonder that school suffers the terrible reputation it has acquired.
Then why so much homework? Homework has become so increasingly
popular because schools have come under enormous pressure to perform.
Since it is the rare school that truly has a plan, a curriculum,
a methodology, a teacher training program to realize improved
performance, a consistent program of positive behavior management,
the alternative has been to unload responsibility onto the shoulders
of students and parents -- in the form of homework. When children
fail, the parents and the students can then be blamed. Rarely
will schools, school boards, administrators, teacher's unions
or teachers allow themselves to be held responsible.
WHAT REALLY WORKS?
The type of homework that really works is that which leads to
proficiency, mastery, achievement and success:
1) Effective homework is comprised of short drills that last one to fifteen minutes each. Each drill emphasizes one to three of the most important skills and facts leaned in class that day. These skills and facts should be drilled to proficiency in the classroom, and can be quickly reviewed and drilled to mastery at home.
Homework should not introduce new material to which
neither student or parent has been exposed. The material must
be that with which the student is already proficient. The student
must be able to succeed at homework without having to turn to
mom or dad. Simply enough, mom and dad probably aren't home from
work yet. When they do walk in the door, they probably aren't
prepared to deal with homework.
2) Homework should have a very definite time limit and be coordinated among teachers so that all teachers don't make homework assignments on the same night. Up through grade eight, a total limit of 15 to 45 minutes of well-designed homework, four or five nights a week, may be appropriate. High-school homework may extend to one hour. Since classes commonly meet only two or three times a week, college homework may extend to two hours. Through high school, homework should be limited to four nights a week and one hour on the weekend. Thirty minutes of family reading is an ideal part of most evenings, but this is not realistic in the face of today's enormous homework burden. See The Brainsarefun Reading Solution for details.
3) Homework should be linked to contracts and student earning. See Contracts that put your child in charge of winning.
There would be no need for as much homework if so much time weren't wasted during the typical school day, mostly through a lack of correct student and classroom supervision and lack of positive discipline. Students have already put in a full day by the time they arrive home. How many adults do you know who bring home one or more hours of work every evening?
The apologists for homework are legion. However, they have
no evidence to support their case.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: HOMEWORK 1 © April 2001 by Rory Donaldson. All rights reserved. In order to help reverse the tide of academic failure and optimize success, individuals may copy brainsarefun solutions for non-commercial use at no charge. Contents may not be sold or repackaged in any manner without the written permission of Rory Donaldson. Since all material is copyrighted, please ensure that this entire copyright notice and contact information continues to be attached to each article you download. Mr. Donaldson appreciates the feedback. Additional solutions may be viewed and downloaded at no charge by logging on to brainsarefun.com. New titles are being added regularly.
Suggestions and comments encouraged, email: roryd@brainsarefun.com.
This document may be printed directly from your browser
or cut into your word processor for additional formatting.