The Case Against Homework
The time our children spend doing homework has skyrocketed in recent years. Parents spend countless hours cajoling their kids to complete such assignments—often without considering whether they serve any worthwhile purpose. Even many teachers are in the dark: Only one of the hundreds the authors interviewed and surveyed had ever taken a course specifically on homework during training. The truth, according to Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish, is that there is almost no evidence that homework helps elementary school students achieve academic success and little more that it helps older students. Read full article
What is the Value of Homework? Research and Reality
Raise the topic of homework with parents of school age children and watch the sparks fly. Parent opinion on homework ranges from those who’d like to see it eliminated altogether to those who set extra work for their children to make up for what they see as an overly relaxed approach. Teachers are caught in the middle – not to mention kids - and even education experts are unable to present a united front about the value of homework. This article looks at the research about the value of homework in primary school and high school. Read full article
Short Lesson in Positive Psychology for my Son Delivered via Telephone
Last night my oldest child had a crisis of confidence. In fact, the crisis began at pick-up and continued well into the evening. The source of his misery was an English paper that he just could not wrap his head around. A paper that was due the next day, the last day of the school term, the day we were flying home and the last thing any of us wanted to focus on was homework. Read full article
Do Kids Need Facilitation or Direction? Homework and Baby Echidnas
Can’t spare much time to write today. I have four assignments due: a chapter of maths to complete, an essay on why skateboarding is not a waste of time and a novel to finish reading before Monday. Did I say I? I meant we (and not the royal one either). Read full article
