The Great Homework Debate: Where Do you Stand?

Hey there! I've been meaning to write about this for a while because it's one of those things that everyone has an opinion on. Let's talk about homework – love it or hate it, it's a hot topic that's worth discussing. So, get comfy, and let's dive into the subject of homework!

I recently attended a professional development series, and one of the discussions that got everyone fired up was homework. It's the age-old debate, and boy, did it get people talking. While we all kept our cool, there were some strong feelings on both sides of the homework fence.

Team Homework: The folks in favor of homework think it's a fantastic way for students to practice what they've learned in school and to teach them responsibility. But, they agree that chasing down missing homework or dealing with students who haven't done it is a real struggle. There are plenty of other good reasons they have for homework, too. They are proud of the creative assignments and projects they have given the students and often see them as enjoyable to complete.

Many teachers report assigning unfinished classwork to be completed at home. Does this qualify as homework or not? It seems to me we need to question why it is that classwork cannot be completed in the time given. Is it a punishment to require a slow working student to finish assignments at home or do we see it as an accommodation? Is unfinished classwork combined with actual homework just assignment overload?

What qualifies as homework? For young learners, is assigned reading at home, math fact practice or spelling word memorization homework? None require a piece of paper to be returned. By definition, is home practice the same as homework?

No Homework, Please: Then there are the teachers who are not fans of homework. They believe that there are situations where students might not get the support they need at home. They also say that homework takes away from family time and extracurricular activities that help students become well-rounded individuals. They are also tired of chasing down missing or incomplete homework and doing additional grading.

At the end of the day, we agreed to disagree, and that's perfectly fine. Homework is one of those topics that doesn't have a clear-cut solution, and the instructor even joked about bottling up the answers and selling them on a beach somewhere if she had them!

So, here's what I took away from the discussion:

According to research, homework is most effective when it's short, reinforces what's been learned, and can be done without needing parents to hold your hand.

A Parent's Take on Homework:

Now, as a parent, I see homework from a whole new perspective. My high schooler sometimes spends hours on homework, and it makes me question if it has to be this way. We want to enjoy life and have some fun, right?

I know it's not the teachers' fault; they genuinely care about our kids. But the pressure of schoolwork, especially in middle and high school, can be overwhelming. Sometimes, I wonder if all the stress is worth it.

I'm confident my kid will succeed, but I worry about the toll all that homework takes on him. And when you have more than one child with homework, well, it's an eye-opener.

Where Do You Stand on Homework?

Before I was a parent, I had a different take on homework. Now, I see both sides of the argument.

I do assign some ungraded homework like reading together or a very short review sheet of concepts that spiral throughout the year because I believe in teaching good study habits early on. But I try to keep it reasonable, and I encourage parents to get involved. Homework should be a chance for them to see how their child is doing and be their "forever" teacher. I happen to teach in a community where there is strong parent support and for this I am grateful. Many parents even request extra practice activities at home. Young siblings often see older siblings doing homework and parents feel an early start to building responsibility is needed. Some of my young students enjoy doing work at home, because they love schoolwork and see it as fun, and if asked, I do try to provide it.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with homework. It's a topic that impacts all of us, both personally and professionally.

Coming Soon?

Interestingly, some school districts are starting to think about homework policies. What do you think the perfect homework policy would look like? Does your district have one, and what's your take on it? Share your experiences and ideas if you've found a way to make homework work for you.

Thanks for hanging out and reading along. Regardless of where you stand personally, I hope we can all find a way to make home schoolwork a bit more manageable! Your child's teacher may see it differently and this is where the struggle will continue.