What's the benefit of homework?

[Heaven]

Eta - there are dozens of studies reporting the benefits of homework, just as there are dozens which refute its benefits.

Sorry, I should have added that I haven't researched it at all myself!! That was only something I read from somewhere else, which I wasn't sure if it was true or not, hence the question marks.
Though I did just google what Alfie Kohn had to say on it, and maybe it has stuck in my head from one of his books that I read because the article I just found said:

1. The negative effects of homework are well known. They include children’s frustration and exhaustion, lack of time for other activities, and possible loss of interest in learning. Many parents lament the impact of homework on their relationship with their children; they may also resent having to play the role of enforcer and worry that they will be criticized either for not being involved enough with the homework or for becoming too involved.
2. The positive effects of homework are largely mythical. In preparation for a book on the topic, I’ve spent a lot of time sifting through the research. The results are nothing short of stunning. For starters, there is absolutely no evidence of any academic benefit from assigning homework in elementary or middle school. For younger students, in fact, there isn’t even a correlation between whether children do homework (or how much they do) and any meaningful measure of achievement. At the high school level, the correlation is weak and tends to disappear when more sophisticated statistical measures are applied. Meanwhile, no study has ever substantiated the belief that homework builds character or teaches good study habits.

But yeah, you can always find research to support any view. In the case of the OP I think it's clearly not working though.

[nothing2lose]

Actually, it doesn't stop at high school or university. DP and I are always doing "homework" for our jobs.

[onthefly]

I can see the point of going off to figure stuff out by yourself, or finishing off essential tasks. Homework like that would be good, if appropriate (and for older kids). Although, little kids could have homework of coming up with something to talk about at news the next day, or something like that
Pointless extra work without supervision or correction is another matter.

[Sopdet]

Anybody can find research to support what they believe. The only proper research is peer reviewed research which isn't always open to the general public for access.

I think kids should have homework, but it should be building on what they have learnt in school. I like what TFB said about it.

I have friends and relatives that are teachers and honestly they can tell when the child hasn't done any additional work outside of school.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I disagree on the positive effects being mythical.

In the run-up to an examination, doing past papers as homework away from the class, researching the answers, bringing the paper to class to discuss - so, so useful. Using selected past paper questions after a class revision session shows how much has gone in during the lesson and what else needs to be covered. And it can mean 1-2 grades difference. Trust me - I see the children who do the homework get the grades.

DS has homework and he's 6. He has spellings to learn and books to read. He likes reading books with me. He learns a lot from it. We see the bonus in reading together as he tackles harder and harder books. The one-to-one doesn't happen as much in the school room. Yes, sometimes he's tired and "can't" do it: I read the book to him. It's about enjoyment at his age. He still learns from being read to.

And learning spellings? Weesh. Tell me that isn't needed, go on, I dare you. We're on the internet. It would take me five seconds to disprove anyone who disagreed with me.

[Trillian]

I disagree on the positive effects being mythical.

In the run-up to an examination, doing past papers as homework away from the class, researching the answers, bringing the paper to class to discuss - so, so useful. Using selected past paper questions after a class revision session shows how much has gone in during the lesson and what else needs to be covered. And it can mean 1-2 grades difference. Trust me - I see the children who do the homework get the grades.

DS has homework and he's 6. He has spellings to learn and books to read. He likes reading books with me. He learns a lot from it. We see the bonus in reading together as he tackles harder and harder books. The one-to-one doesn't happen as much in the school room. Yes, sometimes he's tired and "can't" do it: I read the book to him. It's about enjoyment at his age. He still learns from being read to.

And learning spellings? Weesh. Tell me that isn't needed, go on, I dare you. We're on the internet. It would take me five seconds to disprove anyone who disagreed with me.

Cannot agree with you more!

There is a HUGE difference between the kids who regularly do their homework and those who do not. If you think that there are no benefits to it then you obviously have spent no time in a classroom. The kids who do do it are more likely to be engaged in their work in the classroom and perform better academically than those who do not. Homework reinforces and supports what is learnt at school and it's value is immeasurable. Especially for reading and spelling.

[Heaven]

There is a HUGE difference between the kids who regularly do their homework and those who do not...The kids who do do it are more likely to be engaged in their work in the classroom and perform better academically than those who do not.

But couldn't it be the other way around? Kids that are more engaged and more academically minded are more likely to do homework? These are just my thoughts and only from my experience. I was a kid that always did her homework, and got reasonably good grades, but the reason was because I was a goody and too afraid of getting in trouble, LOL.

I agree with TFB that homework for older kids like practice exams etc is beneficial. You can't really get through your exams without studying outside of school. I disagree with it for the little kids though. A child's 'work' is play. The OP was about an older child anyway though so I'm getting off track now.

[Floweryfields]

Cannot agree with you more!

There is a HUGE difference between the kids who regularly do their homework and those who do not. If you think that there are no benefits to it then you obviously have spent no time in a classroom. The kids who do do it are more likely to be engaged in their work in the classroom and perform better academically than those who do not. Homework reinforces and supports what is learnt at school and it's value is immeasurable. Especially for reading and spelling.

I am not doubting that homework has it's benefits - but I can't see what they are in this case in point. The child is doing it because she knows she has to, no one is checking that she is doing it right, in fact she is continually learning the incorrect answers day after day. I get that teachers don't have oodles of time on their hands, but if no one does check it, then I still am left wondering what is the benefit of it. Try as I might to help her understand how to work out the math, she just didn't understand it, poor kid, and I sort of have this (perhaps misguided) hope that someone might notice and get her some extra support.

Perhaps the real issue is lack of parental involvement? But not every family does have the time to contribute to supporting homework, for whatever reason, right or wrong.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Perhaps the real issue is lack of parental involvement? But not every family does have the time to contribute to supporting homework, for whatever reason, right or wrong.

Disagree. DH and I both work, DH full-time (sometimes overseas for up to 2 weeks at a time, usually about one week a month) and me four days a week (plus some evenings and I bring work home). I leave the house before DS wakes up some mornings, when I pick him up it is time for making dinner, eating then bedtime. Liebling can do some homework while I cook (my day off, Liebling cooks with me). We chat about school over the dinner table. We read school books at bedtime. He will read to me, I tend to pick stories he will need to know by senior school to read to him. So classical tales, from myths and legends to Treasure Island and Wizard of Oz (he just picked this from the library) to Roald Dahl. Stories that everybody "knows" by the time they are adults, but often haven't read and get wrong. And Greek Myths because if he doesn't get a Prep education but does go to private seniors he will seriously be on a back foot.

It doesn't take much to sit down in the holidays/Saturday mornings and do a bit of maths or French (again, trying to get him a proper education in the state sector). DH and I are fairly time-poor when it comes to family life, but it is NOT hard to spend a few minutes talking about school and homework. Every family can do this.

I set a half-hour homework a week for children age 9-13 at the moment; this is their Science work (they have other subjects on other nights). Parents have complained about reading homeworks set by the previous teacher, they want their child to write something down so they can talk about what they're doing, they want their child to actively do homework. Seems you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[Cass72]

I actually quite like homework. I think that the benefits far outweigh any objections. Children can learn to work on their own. Apply the tools that they learnt today and refresh them in their head. It also gives them life skills (developing independence and taking responsibility for example).

FWIW DS1 never "got" math. He was always in the "dumb" class (his words, not mine). Until we met a teacher in year 9 who realised that he wasn't dumb but rather quite intelligent. He's doing a double-degree at uni (Engineering and Science) not bad for the "dumb" kid huh?! I helped out where I could and if neither of us knew an answer we googled it - how did my parents get through our schooling years without google?? I encouraged him to ask his teacher if he didn't know an answer. Most teachers (if not all) were quite happy with an unanswered question or two, provided that they could see that he had attempted it and, asked for their help in completing it.

Sorry....I'm rambling.... and all over the shop today!

DS1 was telling me the other week that his lecturer at Uni said that the optimal time to re-read notes etc from a class/lecture for retention of knowledge is 5 days later. I'm not sure if this is transferable to young little minds though.

I think it's important that they are given homework from a young age to give them the tools to cope with it as it increases and the expectations become higher.

Sopdet, what you say too about I have friends and relatives that are teachers and honestly they can tell when the child hasn't done any additional work outside of school. It is obvious and I see this with DH's children. DS1 has often helped DSD over the phone with her homework and, when they were living with us, she was doing a lot better. Sadly, homework/schoolwork is not highly regarded in her home and the results at the end of the year are rather telling. DSS and I struggled a lot last year while he was doing a course at CIT. He kept telling me that the homework/assignments were bull**** and that there wasn't any point. I argued that there was - no homework, no assignment, no results, no certificate, no job! I dragged him kicking and screaming, resisting at every opportunity, through that course.

TFB - awesome comments

[Heaven]

This reminds me of that article a couple of days ago...

Homework hits home as schools outsource teaching to parents

PARENTS don't have time for home teaching duties, say couriermail.com.au readers in response to a story on state reform designed to improve results.
Others say that many parents don't have sufficient numeracy and literacy skills to pass on to their children.
However, Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek does not believe it is too much to ask for parents to get more involved in their children's schooling.
The Minister was responding to an article in The Courier Mail saying that parents would be asked to teach their children literacy and numeracy at home.
"The more we can at least aim for it instead of what's happened over the last few years which is handing everything over to schools and saying you're responsible for everything means children aren't getting the great results they could get if their parents were involved," said Mr Langbroek.

"It's not necessarily making sure that they're teaching brand new concepts to their children, but making sure they're reinforcing the things that (students) are being taught at school."
Earlier it was reported, MUMS and dads will be asked to teach their children literacy and numeracy at home under a state reform designed to improve student results.
Parents will be called on to play a bigger role in education under new instructions from Education Queensland to schools.
The move is recognition of research showing children learn much more from their parents than their teachers.
Parent body P&Cs Qld welcomes the idea, saying "it is the parent's responsibility to be the educator".
Principals are also supportive, saying the idea would counter the shift in responsibility from parents to schools.
Under the instructional framework, state schools are being told to consider running training and developmental courses for parents and to invite them in as guest teachers.Other initiatives include setting practical literacy and numeracy activities that involve parents, providing parent literacy and numeracy workshops and sending staff into homes to explain the jargon used in schools.
"Parents and the broader community play a vital role in supporting successful learning outcomes for our children," the framework states.
It says a key marker of success will be parents being acknowledged as the first teachers of their children.
Some schools, including Redbank Plains and Glenala state high schools, have already demonstrated remarkable improvements in student results.
Queensland Teachers' Union president Kevin Bates said the framework was about "valuing parents as part of the education process", not just telling them about it.
"It has got huge merit and it has got merit because what it recognises is that education doesn't just take place in school," Mr Bates said.
He said research showed school was responsible for about 20 per cent of a child's learning, family about 40 per cent and social about 40 per cent.
"In that sort of a situation we have to realise that clearly schools can do a lot, but they can't do it all," he said.
EQ deputy director-general Lyn McKenzie said the new framework was about turning "good schools into great schools". She said the teachers would not be doing less.
"It is about how can we help the parent add value to their child," Ms McKenzie said.
"Unless we work with the families in helping them understand how to assist their child in their learning then it will be more difficult to go from good to great schools."
Qld P&Cs CEO Peter Levett said the group backed the framework. "It can be as simple as reading to your child or asking them at the end of the day how school went," Mr Levett said.
"It comes back to ... that parents are the first teachers of their children and that responsibility continues throughout your child's education.
"Obviously there are parents that are time poor (but) it is the parent's responsibility to be the educator and that is not taking away from what the school is doing, it is adding to it."
Queensland Association of State School Principals president Hilary Backus agreed.
"Over the last 15 to 20 years there has been a massive shift to schools being asked to be responsible for elements such as teaching your child to swim, sex education and behaviour, which previously were clearly the responsibility and domain of parents," Mrs Backus said.
She said parents without a good education could make a difference by demonstrating they valued learning.



Homework hits home as schools outsource teaching to parents | The Courier-Mail

So it would seem what makes homework beneficial or not is parental involvement, as you would expect... "He said research showed school was responsible for about 20 per cent of a child's learning, family about 40 per cent and social about 40 per cent."

But that's because that's one of your family's values, tfb. Just as you make a very conscious effort to ensure homework gets done, a family whose value is that play is a child's work isn't going to make the same effort because it doesn't hold as much importance to them.

I would hope they would. Even though I believe play is most important for young children and they shouldn't have homework after 6 hrs at school, if I chose to send my kids to a school and this is the way they do things then I would have so support my kids to do the best they can in that environment. I would guess that most people who don't help their kids with their homework just don't have time, or don't feel they can, or don't want to, rather than they are opposed to it.

[Floweryfields]

Disagree. DH and I both work, DH full-time

TFB I was trying to write a diplomatic post as I am not a parent and to say I think parents should make time for homework when I've not been there would be judgemental. I can't put myself in the shoes of the parent and say what they should or shouldn't be doing as I just don't know what their homelife involves.
ETA the family has 3 school aged and 4 non school aged children.

[Heaven]

I don't push my kids to do all their homework, and in fact hold some of their homework back from them, because I am opposed to the amount they get. Its ridiculous. My almost 6 year old has a minimum of 1 hour's homework each and every school day, and then weekend activities. Yesterday when we got home from school I told them to put some old clothes on and shoved them outside with no homework done at all. There needs to be a balance, and in my view there is far too much pressure put on small children. DD1 is very eager to do school work, but many of her classmates are already resisting doing any homework at all.

Wow, that's full on I would not be cool with that at all. Totally agree with you, that is my issue with homework. So much pressure for young kids these days. I imagine I would be resisting homework and have a pretty negative view of learning if that was me. I must be hard to balance though? On one hand that is what is expected from the school and you don't want your child to fall behind, on the other hand the homework is just excessive and there's too much pressure. I'd probably talk to the teacher about my concerns.

[LuluHB]

I have to say with all due respect too TFB, you have one child. I have three. That makes an enormous difference to how much time you can give to each child so to say that all families can handle the burden of homework is unfair. There are mums on BB that have 4 and 5 kids and I have no idea how they manage to spend any time with their kids on a one on one basis.

Heaven - We're very fortunate in that DD1 is a very bright little poppet and we've always read to her, played her never ending games of rhyming words, opposites etc so while we don't always encourage the structured homework, there is learning stuff going on ITMS. DH was actually on class duty today and he came home shaking his head. His job today was to get the kids to read to him from the five different levels of readers. He said our girl and one other little girl were the only ones able to read from the highest level, whereas some of the kids were struggling on the lowest level and unable to even name some letters, with a lot of kids then somewhere in the middle. Clearly those kids that are struggling need more involvement from their parents but you have to wonder if they're already so far behind, is the amount of homework the chilren are assigned going to change anything? There will sadly always be parents who don't spend time with their kids so you can only hope the teachers are able to prop them up a little