Strategies & Tips for a Successful Homework Routine
For parents and students alike, homework can sometimes present lots of challenges. From fitting homework time into an already busy schedule to helping children manage stress, creating a smooth and effective homework routine can be difficult. I’ve noticed that students are either struggling to complete the work, feeling frustrated by the assignment or unable to finish the task within the available time. So, If homework time has become a daily battle for your family, you aren’t alone. With the right approach, a few smart strategies, and tips from two of your favorite DP interventionists, your family can make homework a positive part of your everyday routines.
Does homework support learning at school?
The benefits of homework have been debated by teachers and parents for years as the very word evokes negative feelings to everyone involved, students, parents and teachers. Although many people think of homework as doing more harm than good by causing large amounts of stress, others believe that it has great advantages. Homework is a great way to practice and reinforce skills already learned. It also helps to develop responsibility. Being assigned work one day and knowing that it has to be done by the next day or by the end of the week, students will develop a sense of time management. In some classrooms, turning in their work on time is encouraged and rewarded with cool prizes! Which leads me to the first of five tips for a successful homework routine:
Get to know the teacher - and what they're looking for. Attend school events such as Student Led Conferences, Celebration of Learning, and volunteer to run a small group. Communicate about their homework policies and expectations of their classroom. Sometimes homework expectations can vary from classroom to classroom.
Create a homework station. Choose a space in your home free of noise, distractions, and interruptions that is well-lit. Keep the most common supplies-paper, pencils, glue, scissors etc.. within reach. You’ll find easy DIY ideas here.
Set a regular homework time. Some kids work best in the afternoon, following a snack while others may prefer to wait until after dinner. Set aside an appropriate block of time (10-25 mins depending on age) for homework every day so that your child knows what to expect. Set a digital timer like this one and encourage your student to focus and beat the clock!
Students do the work, Not Parents. They won't learn if they don't think for themselves and make their own mistakes. Think of homework as “practice” Parents can make suggestions and help with directions. But it's a kid's job to do the learning. Consider circling the problems that are a challenge and communicate that to the teacher for added support and clarification.
Break large tasks down into smaller chunks. Your child may not know how to start a major task, which could trigger procrastination or feelings of defeat. Break larger projects into three or four smaller chunks. Within one homework session complete one chunk. Students can feel a greater sense of accomplishment by completing each small step toward the larger whole.
How long should homework take?
The amount of time homework takes to complete depends on the grade level. In K-5, homework should usually take anywhere from 15-30 minutes to complete. However, as your child’s grade level increases, so does the amount of time to complete homework. Studies have shown that students by the twelfth grade will have approximately 2 hours of homework to complete a day. This is due to the fact that students have multiple classes and teachers at this level. However, the average 6-8th grade student should have roughly 45-60 minutes of homework per night between both Expedition and Math. Most of the homework is to practice concepts learned in class that day and to reinforce the concepts taught.
Should homework be mandatory?
As an educator and parent, I feel that homework should be mandatory to the extent that it is a reinforcement of previously learned concepts. However, we don’t agree with students being given homework on topics not yet covered in class because it negatively impacts the student’s willingness to complete the homework and may cause undue stress on the parents and students.