Is homework really needed?

It is an age-old educational debate. Do children benefit from homework? Whether it be completing an art poster, logging onto a device to finish a maths task or designing an object for the next lesson, homework is a divisive topic. In this article, we will outline the pros and cons of home learning and delve into the reasons why some argue it is more of an irritation and others think it is an essential aspect of education.

Advantages of homework:

It is in the best interests of the teacher and parent for a child to become the best learner possible. There are multiple reasons why homework can provide the necessary challenges for a student to flourish throughout their primary and secondary education.

Discipline of practice: learning does not take place just at school. Children are learning all the time. Homework offers the student an opportunity to embed taught concepts in school and deepen their own understanding. Its also teaches the student as early as possible, that although arduous at times, much of learning and revising is about being disciplined and repetitive.

Time management: schools provide home learning to stimulate learning as well as to build character. Homework tasks have deadlines – a reality of working life as an adult. By setting homework with realistic deadlines, the student is able to develop organisational skills alongside their learning of a maths topic or historical figure. These skills become a crucial part of higher education when independent thinking and time management more important.

The three-pronged approach: homework often acts as a tool to bring the teacher, parent and student into communication. Parents are able to understand with greater detail, how their child is learning and developing, as well as know what they are learning about. For example, instead of ‘British Monarchy’, a home learning task might bring up a conversation at home about a particular lesson at school about a coronation or timeline of events. This enriches the student’s learning experience.

Environment: if a student is only learning in a classroom, they may develop unfair opinions of themselves around how they learn best and what makes them a learner. Homework allows the student to take ownership of the environment in which they can learn in. For example, some children will enjoy completing tasks at a desk at home in their uniform and others prefer wearing something more comfortable with music on in the background. This emphasises the importance of ‘learning happens everywhere’.

Relaxing of time constraints: children learn at different paces, and the time spent in the classroom on a task may not be enough for a student to fully grasp a concept. Having additional time for learning at home can support children in their education and provide follow up opportunities to embed a topic.

Disadvantages of homework:

The teacher’s utterance of the word ‘homework’ can evoke a sense of anxiety amongst children. Here we delve into some of the reasons as to why this might be.

Unnecessary stress: the thought of homework can fill a student with a mixture of emotions: stress, anxiety and a lack of motivation to name a few. If a task set for homework, a child may begin to worry about not having the time, the equipment or the ability to complete it.

Hindrance: free time allows children to not only relax, but also discover the world on their own terms – learning a new instrument, attending sports clubs or interacting with friends and family provides children with the right balance of leisure activity alongside their academic school work. With the right levels of physical activity, which can help to boost cognitive function, children will be able to bring energy and enthusiasm into school after an evening of relaxation and good sleep.

Ineffective tasks: home learning can provide added stress onto home life if devices and internet is needed for a particular homework, or materials required for a building project. If homework is stand alone and unrelated to school learning, then students will not be reinforcing learnt knowledge and a negative perception of homework can develop.

Helping children manage their homework

There are strategies that teachers in school and parents at home can use to support a child’s homework. In this section, we explore some of the suggestions that are said to help children manage their homework.

Discussions at home: it might seem like not interfering with your child’s homework is the least conflicting approach, however, having a discussion, asking questions and prompting can be a healthier tactic.

Praise: identifying strengths such as handwriting, layout or effort can provide the child was a positive nudge in the right direction for them to begin feeling confident and driven towards their homework.

Routine setting: research suggests that routine planning is crucial when it comes to a child’s relationship with homework. Maximise their school diary to organise and communicate with a teacher, create a weekly timetable, and find the balance between homework and leisure activities. Embedding these structural foundations will benefit the child greatly.

Study zone: create an area at home for your child to study where they feel comfortable learning and able to remain focused. Perhaps at the dining table with the TV on in the background is not as conducive to learning as at a desk with a cosy lamp and calming music.

Extra mile habits: encourage your child to extend their homework by investigating a question linked to the homework. Their teacher will be so impressed to discover that they have independently explored further.

Rewards: finally, a reward system, if managed carefully, can offer the right amount of stimulus for a child to complete their homework. Balance is key here. If you are always having to conjure up new rewards to persuade, then rewards can be counter-productive. Small and consistent is the way.

How schools can support

Using software such as Educater’s Assessment Tracker to track pupil progress will support planning and understand where students need extra support. Click here to find out more and book a free trial: