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Section 1: Questions and Answers Vol. 6 Issue 2, Fall 1999
Q&A
Why Is Homework
Important?
Linda A. Milbourne and David L. Haury
Homework is intended to be a positive experience that encourages
children to learn. Teachers assign homework to help students review,
apply, and integrate what has been learned in class; to extend student
exploration of topics more fully than class time permits; and to help
students prepare for the next class session.
But there’s more to learning than simply mastering content. Learning
has many facets and requires many skills that children have to build.
So teachers also assign homework to help children:
●Acquire effective habits of self-discipline and time management.
●Develop initiative and learn to work independently.
●Gain a sense of personal responsibility for learning.
●Develop research skills, such as locating, organizing, and
condensing information.
●Learn to use libraries and other reference resources.
Homework can also bring parents and teachers closer together—parents
who supervise homework and assist their children with assignments
learn more about their children’s education and about the school.
Linda A. Milbourne is Associate Director
of the ERIC Clearinghouse for Science,
Mathematics, and Environmental Education
at The Ohio State University in Columbus,
Ohio. She is also the AskERIC Coordinator
for the clearinghouse.
David L. Haury is Director of the ERIC
Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics,
and Environmental Education and Associate
Professor of Mathematics, Science, and
Technology Education at The Ohio State
University in Columbus, Ohio.
© 1999 Digital Stock, Inc.
Does Homework
Affect Academic
Achievement?
During the past decade, research on
homework began to focus on the
relationship between homework and
student achievement. Some recent
studies suggest that, on average, chil-
dren who spend more time on home-
work do better in school and that the
academic benefits increase as children
move into the upper grades (see Help-
ing Your Child With Homework at
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/
Homework). Similarly, a 1998 Univer-
sity of Missouri survey suggests that
the more homework children com-
plete, especially in grades 6 through 12,
the better they do in school (see Yes,
Johnny, Doing Your Homework Is
Important at http://www.shpm.com/
articles/child_behavior/homework.html).
Although homework may not immedi-
ately affect the achievement of chil-
dren in grades K through 5, many
teachers and parents agree that home-
work helps to develop children’s
initiative and responsibility—attributes
that play a vital role in their long-term
academic development—and fulfills
the expectations of students, parents,
and the public. Homework helps
younger children develop the strong
study skills necessary for high aca-
demic achievement later. And regard-
less of age group, children appear to
get the most out of homework when
teachers carefully plan the assignments
and make them meaningful.
How Much Homework
Is Reasonable?
The National Parent-Teacher Associa-
tion and the National Education Asso-
ciation recommend the following
amounts of homework:
■Kindergarten through grade 3: up to
20 minutes each day.
■Grades 4 through 6: from 20 to 40
minutes each day.
■Grades 7 through 12: generally up
to 2 hours, but recommendations
vary according to the type and
number of subjects a student is
The ERIC Review Section 1: Questions and Answers
12
Q
taking. College-bound students
will receive increasingly lengthy
and complex assignments (for
more information, see the brochures
Helping Your Child With Home-
work at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/
parents/Homework and How
Important Is Homework? at http://
www.accesseric.org/resources/
parent/homewrk.html).
It will take some children longer than
others to complete assignments. Chil-
dren who listen carefully and participate
actively in class often finish homework
quickly, and those with particularly
strong listening skills may be able to
cut their homework time by 45 percent
(see Homework & Studying at Home at
http://henson.austin.apple.com/edres/
parents/pfet/hwrkmenu.shtml). Lower-
ability children may have to spend more
time on homework to achieve equal
gains (see The Homework Debate at
http://family.go.com/Features/family_
1998_11/metk/metk118homework).
However, teachers and parents need to
be aware that children who generally
take too long to complete assignments
may need more instruction to complete
the work successfully. While some
homework is a good thing, too much
can frustrate children and cause stress.
It’s also important that children have
time to exercise, play, socialize, and
pursue their own interests.
How Can I Help My
Child With Homework?
First, avoid doing the homework
yourself! Doing homework for your
child sends the message that he or she
is incapable of doing the work and that
perfection is the main objective. It
also denies your child the opportunity
to develop skills and gain understand-
ing from the experience. Remember,
doing homework should help children
plan, manage, and complete work on
their own. Second, familiarize your-
self with the school’s homework
policy so that you know what is ex-
pected of you and your child. Here are
some other ways you can help your
child get the most out of homework:
■Exhibit a positive attitude toward
homework in what you say and
do—show your child that you
think homework is important and
education comes first. Your
attitude not only has a direct,
positive effect on your child’s
attitude toward homework but
also can affect his or her academic
achievement (see Yes, Johnny,
Doing Your Homework Is Important
at http://www.shpm.com/articles/
child_behavior/homework.html).
■Encourage your child to take notes
on homework assignments when
they are given.
■Discuss homework assignments
with your child to become familiar
with what he or she is studying.
Talk together about the topic of an
essay before writing begins, and
do short quizzes on the day before
a test.
■Limit afterschool activities to allow
time for homework and family
activities.
■Limit telephone use by agreeing
ahead of time what will be allowed.
■Plan homework schedules and
routines that allow some free time
when assignments are completed.
Make sure your child is well rested
and fed and has had time to wind
down after school. Also, avoid
scheduling homework right before
bedtime when children will be too
tired or feel pressured to finish. For
long-term projects, mark plans and
deadlines on a calendar.
■Monitor television and radio use.
If your child’s favorite show comes
on during scheduled study time,
arrange to record the show if
possible.
■Do some assignments or questions
together when your child asks for
help. Sometimes children need help
learning how to break down large
assignments into manageable pieces.
■Stay nearby—reading, writing,
studying, or catching up on paper-
work. Be available to help if asked,
but avoid imposing your help or
your way of doing something.
■Check completed assignments and
review homework that has been
marked and returned. Avoid nega-
tive comments, but contact the
teacher if your child consistently
gets 25 percent or more wrong on
homework problems and assign-
ments or if he or she never seems
to have any homework.
■Provide your child with a conven-
ient, quiet, and comfortable work
area that is well lit, free of family
traffic, and stocked with the materi-
als needed to complete assignments.
Some children study better with
music or background noise, so try
to accommodate your child’s pre-
ferred learning style.
■Encourage the use of reference
materials, such as dictionaries and
encyclopedias, and provide a com-
puter and a calculator if possible.
If a computer is not available at
home, plan regular visits to a public
library or community learning
center that provides access to
computers (for more information,
see the box on page 13).
You may also find it helpful to talk to
the teacher, counselor, or principal if
your child develops a consistently
negative attitude toward homework,
continually fails to fully understand or
complete assignments, or fails to
make any academic progress. Home-
work is an essential component of the
total educational program. It should
enhance the intellectual development
of your child while creating greater
interest and success in learning and
studying.
For more information about helping
your child with homework, see Home-
work Helpers For Parents at http://
family.go.com/Features/family_1999_02/
nwfm/nwfm29homework and How
Parents Can Help With Homework at
http://family.go.com/Features/family_
1998_09/sano/sano98homework/
sano98homework.html.
