| Homework is too hard, too easy, too boring, too | | | | of the educational plan. Time management, |
| much! Homework is a hot topic among parents, | | | | planning, and organization, often termed executive |
| kids, and professionals, takes up hours each day, | | | | functioning skills, are things these kids struggle |
| and still many people are wondering if it's even | | | | with. A well planned homework system can help |
| effective. There is a lot of discussion about if | | | | these children improve their executive functioning |
| homework helps kids learn, some research on the | | | | skills. Poorly thought out homework can make |
| topic, but very few clear answers. For example, | | | | their lives and yours a nightmare. |
| an extensive 31 page article published in | | | | If the homework is too time consuming, covers |
| Educational Psychology Review is titled: "The | | | | material your child hasn't yet been taught, or |
| Relationship Between Homework and | | | | seems pointless, you have a right to discuss your |
| Achievement - Still Much of a Mystery." Articles | | | | concerns with the teacher, or even the principal. If |
| on homework have appeared recently in Time | | | | it's getting to be late, your child is exhausted, and |
| Magazine, "Salon.com" and professional journals. It's | | | | the homework has turned into an emotional |
| a complicated issue, depending on the age of the | | | | ordeal, it's reasonable to consider putting it away |
| child, the type of homework, and how | | | | unfinished. And, if homework is an ongoing battle |
| effectiveness is measured. But one thing is quite | | | | that is filling up all your family time and allowing |
| clear: homework is not going away any time soon. | | | | your child no chance for relaxation, you're |
| As a parent, you're going to have to live with | | | | obligated to fight the system and support your |
| homework, or protest it, or just decide to home | | | | child. All children have the right to an education, |
| school and avoid the problem entirely. It makes | | | | but at the same time, all children have the right to |
| sense to decide how you're going to manage it. | | | | be kids. |
| The best time to do that is not at 10 p.m. when | | | | The bottom line on homework is that you are the |
| you and your child are both exhausted and near | | | | parents. The homework is being assigned to your |
| tears. Instead, come up with a plan in advance. | | | | children, to be worked on in your home. It's okay |
| The first step is to talk to other parents. Try to | | | | to question the value of the assignments, limit the |
| gauge if all the kids are struggling, or if your child | | | | time your child spends on homework, prioritize |
| is having more trouble than others. Research the | | | | the important work, discuss the assignments with |
| National Education Association (NEA) guidelines for | | | | the teachers and even make the decision that, |
| homework, or the recommendations of Harris | | | | sometimes, homework just won't be done. |
| Cooper, considered by many to be the | | | | For more information on how you and your family |
| homework expert. (Both can be easily found with | | | | can most effectively manage homework, look for |
| a web search.) Find out the official homework | | | | the other articles I've published here. For other |
| policy for your district or school. Finally, it's a good | | | | opinions and studies, go online and find "The Myth |
| idea to talk to your child's teacher. All this advance | | | | About Homework," by Claudia Wallis, Time |
| research may take time, but it will put you on a | | | | Magazine, August 29, 2006; the work of Harris |
| more even footing with the people assigning and | | | | Cooper at Duke University; "Homework Hell" by |
| approving of the homework and allow you to | | | | Ayelet Waldman on "Salon.com", October 22, |
| work together to make a plan. | | | | 2005; and "Rethinking Homework", by Alfie Kohn |
| If your child has special needs, for example, is | | | | in Principal, January-February 2007. For those |
| diagnosed with a Learning Disorder, Attention | | | | willing to delve deeply into the topic, find "The |
| Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), Autism or | | | | Relationship Between Homework and |
| Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Asperger's | | | | Achievement - Still Much of a Mystery", by Ulrich |
| Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD), or | | | | Trautwein and Olaf Koller, published in Educational |
| a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS), it | | | | Psychology Review, Vol. 15, No. 2, June 2003. |
| is crucial that homework management be a part | | | | |