Does it bother you that your child constantly complains that he has too much homework? Are you worried that your child will be overwhelmed by his enormous workload? Don’t you know how to respond to her complaints and cries for help? As it turns out, this complaint is nothing new.
The late 1990s brought numerous stories about students and parents whose home lives were destroyed by the overwhelming amount of homework students were given. Some even argued that it caused psychological damage. The stories, though lacking hard evidence, were published in many respected publications. It started a national debate about whether or not students have too much homework. Schools created homework policies, parents protested, students became confused about the true value of homework.
Among all the drama, people never realized that the articles were clearly devoid of facts. A report from the Brown Center on Education Policy in 2003 put to rest the idea that American students were drowning under piles of homework and claimed that their results reported the opposite. The report indicated that American students do not spend enough time on homework.
The average student from kindergarten through high school spends no more than an hour a day on homework. The report concluded that the homework load for the average student has not increased since the 1980s. Finally, the report indicated that most parents are satisfied with the amount of homework their children receive. In fact, if parents were dissatisfied with their children’s amount of homework, it was because they didn’t have enough.
School administrators and parents can rest easy. Students generally do not have much homework. Teachers should focus on giving students enough homework to challenge them, but not so much that they are overwhelmed.
Parents can help their children by teaching them good organization and prioritization skills. Homework should be neatly organized in a binder or binder that is easily accessible to the student. Having a planner really helps students keep track of all their assignments and tests. Last-minute procrastination ends with a regular review of a planner. Make sure your students make homework a priority when they get home. Some parents may even have to take toys and video games with them until homework is done to ensure it is completed.
With the right skills, students can thrive in school. Instead of worrying about how much homework your child gets, find out how you can help make sure it’s done.