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Homework: How
to Make it
Meaningful and
Beneficial to
Students
(Grades K-6)
By: Hallee Cole
hallee.cole@smail.astate.edu
Introduction
– Homework and its effects are largely debated in educational communities.
– There are two sides to the argument.
– Does the good outweigh the bad or vice versa?
– How can we make sure our assignments are helping our students?
The History
– Homework has been around as long as public schools have
– The debate about homework has been going on for quite a while.
The Argument for Homework
– Students need to engage in intellectual pursuits outside of class.
– Students need to learn how to do homework now, so they will have good habits
developed for the future.
– Students need to learn how to handle responsibility.
The Argument Against
Homework
– Homework causes students to become overly stressed.
– Children are losing their leisure time.
– Homework is having a negative effect on the health of our students.
The Research
– Unfortunately, the research done on homework and its effects on learning have
yielded mixed results.
– Some say that homework correlates with a large positive impact on children’s
learning.
– Some say that the effect of homework is almost nonexistent in elementary
students.
– There’s no way to be sure, as instructors, assignments, and students are all
unique.
Does the Good Outweigh the
Bad?
The Good:
– Extends learning beyond the
classroom
– Teaches students responsibility
– Positive and productive use of
free time
The Bad:
– Loss of leisure time
– Stress
– Health issues
– Can negatively affect children’s
love of learning
Homework is a Balancing Act
– Homework in great quantities seems to be the main issue for children.
– When homework is assigned, make sure it has a purpose.
– A good rule to follow is, the “10-minute Rule”
– 10-minute Rule – ten times a student’s grade level is the number of minutes it should
take the student to complete all of their homework assignments for a day.
– For example, a second-grader should be able to complete their homework in about
20 minutes
– This doesn’t mean your top student is the only one who finishes in 20 minutes and it
takes your other students 45 minutes!
How to Make our Assignments
More Meaningful
– Make real world connections.
– Give students opportunities to work on it in class.
– Remind students to do homework in the order it was assigned during the day.
– Provide choices when possible
– Offer a challenge
– Tell your students why you’re giving them this homework.
Important Things to Remember
– The pros and cons of homework
– The “10-minute Rule”
– How to make your assignments more meaningful
Conclusion
– Homework is a tool we can use.
– Homework is a good thing, but remember that too much of a good thing is a
bad thing.
– Remember, every student has different needs. Homework should be helpful,
not a burden.
References
– Does Homework Improve Learning? by Alfie Kohn
– The Case For and Against Homework by Robert J. Marzano and Debra J.
Pickering
– Stanford Research Shows Pitfalls of Homework by Clifton B. Parker
– Making Homework Meaningful by Dominick Recckio
– Designing Engaging Assignments by Beth Pandolpho
– The Cult(ure) of Homework by Cathy Vatterott
– In Defense of Homework: Is There Such a Thing as Too Much? by Lisa Morehouse
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