Homework can be a touchy subject. Let's touch on how teachers, students, and parents can balance it with other evening priorities - like sleep!
Different teachers have different attitudes about homework. In general, studies have shown that in-class work is better for elementary students' learning, while older students have higher academic achievement when they do homework (Woolfolk, 2019, p. 567). The bigger issue when it comes to getting to bed at a good time is the amount of homework at night.
The National Education Association recommends the "10 minute rule" for homework (Woolfolk, 2019, p. 567). This means that kids should only have 10 minutes of homework per night per grade level. For example, a third grader should have no more than 30 minutes of homework per night, while a sixth grader should have no more than an hour of it.
What Teachers Can Do
Make sure homework is given thoughtfully with respect for students' need to downtime, extracurricular activities, and family time. Students will be more motivated to do homework if they understand how it is connected to their learning and find it interesting or fun. Create ways to engage students' interests and families in homework to make it more meaningful.
“Students are more likely to put in effort if they see homework as interesting, valuable, reasonably challenging, and not anxiety provoking.” (Woolfolk, 2019, p. 568)
What Students Can Do
Do homework as soon as possible after getting home, so that the rest of the evening is reserved for family time, personal interests, and relaxation. Instilling good time management habits now is an important part of becoming an adult.
What Parents Can Do
Remind students to do their homework early and not procrastinate to encourage good habits. Provide a calm and quiet space to homework, but keep homework out of bed... remember that the bed should be for sleeping and not associated with stressful things. When appropriate, help with homework, but certainly ask about what your child is studying in order to encourage communication and bonding. Share about your day as well!
References:
Woolfolk, A. (2019). Educational Psychology (14th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.
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