Homework in the park.
As the summer holidays draw to a close you can almost hear the collective groan of kids around the country. In part that could be the blisters caused by the new school shoes that they’re breaking in, or the prospect of having to go to bed/get up earlier. Part of it is also possibly the prospect of having regular homework again.
The debate for and against homework is as old as – well – homework itself. There does seem to have been a trend though in recent years of piling ever more extra-curricular work onto our children. Ironically, the increasing-homework trend seems to mirror the concern over the falling-educational-standards trend. So the question is, for primary-aged children at any rate, does homework really enhance their learning? The answer seems to be, to paraphrase a quote from ‘The Castle’, that it’s not the amount of homework you have, but rather what you do with it that counts!
“The research is unequivocal that there is no academic gain achieved by serving up homework in its current form,” says child and adolescent psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg.“It’s a bit like the modern-day equivalent of cod liver oil: given from habit because it’s simply assumed to be good for you.”
Dr Carr-Gregg asserts that the problem is the way in which homework is often currently given. “A lot of (homework) is totally irrelevant to kids lives,” he says. “It simply hijacks family time together for no good reason. The five words: “have you done your homework?” instigate arguments across the country, and research that I have done previously has indicated that a large percentage of children simply surf the net to copy and paste answers, or even get their parents to do it for them. There is no educational value in that.”
However Dr Carr-Gregg does support an appropriate amount and type of homework, citing the homework grid developed by Ian Lillico as a great example of where after-school tasks can aid learning. “This type of out of school work, as it’s called, is based on and involves activities such as baking a cake and taking a photograph of it, or playing a game of scrabble with Mum and Dad. Essentially it allows more positive family interaction and often encourages children to move more – definitely a good thing!”
Dr Caroline Walta, a former teacher and currently an academic co-ordinator with the faculty of education at La Trobe University, Shepparton, is a definite supporter of homework. “Homework is an opportunity for parents to participate in their children’s education,” she says. “Ideally it complements the classroom learning and it gives children the opportunity to set up good lifetime study habits.”
Like Carr-Gregg though, Dr Walta explains that to be effective, homework needs to be relevant for the children. “Setting effective homework is an extremely complex task for teachers,” she explains. “In setting homework, teachers need to consider the age and skill level of each student. The homework needs to be interesting, challenging and open ended and relevant to the curriculum. The homework then needs to be assessed and subject to feedback – and teachers need to allow enough time during the school day to provide that feedback. Plus teachers also need to be able to communicate the homework policy to parents. Now they are all pretty big tasks!”
Examples of homework tasks that have worked for Dr Walta in her former role included nightly reading to increase children’s literacy and fluency, personalised spelling lists, issues of global concern, which gives children the ability to develop research skills and mathematics. But not all at once! “Homework should not take longer than a child’s natural enthusiasm can last,” says Dr Walta. “It should not become a burden for parents or their children.”
At the end of the day – whether it’s a joy, a burden, or somewhere in between, homework is a fact of life for most school children.
But – what is your view? Has your experience of homework been positive, negative, or somewhere in between? Let us know on the Essential Kids Forums.
Tips for getting homework done.
- Some tips from Dr Walta for parents.
- Routine! Make sure your children have a quiet place, preferably at the same time each day, to get their homework done.
- Model reading for pleasure. Kids learn by our example, so let them see you reading a book!
- Encourage independence and application. Parents should encourage children to be independent in completing the task.
- But support your children with suggestions and discussions of key ideas. It isn’t about doing the work for them, but be available to suggest how they could work out the answers.
- Acknowledge their application. Once they’ve finished, let them know you’re pleased!
