Homework makes up a big part of everyday assignments. From elementary to high school, homework is given to test knowledge, help gain new skills, and become an independent learner. But while it has lots of advantages for older students, there are also many disadvantages for elementary schoolers. High school homework stress is a common thing and should be taken seriously if you don’t want to burn out or want to protect your children from worries and anxiety.
According to the National Education Association, a 10-minute homework per class every night is the golden standard. However, there are no strict homework policies for high school or elementary school, and different children have different abilities and opportunities. While one student may complete all the tasks in half an hour, another one might need three times more. This creates a big gap between regular learners and those with disabilities or those who can’t focus easily.
Should there be homework in school? Yes, it should, but only when all the factors are considered. In this guideline, we are going to cover all aspects of homework throughout all school levels. Go on reading, and you or your child will always achieve academic success.
Elementary School Homework – Main Benefits
In the beginning, teachers’ main task is to promote love for learning, and too many assignments may give negative results. Elementary school homework should be simple, short, and clear. You should also remember that children at such a young age don’t have strong learning skills, so can’t benefit from all the advantages to the fullest.
Homework policy elementary school should mainly include reading every day. Learning how to read and master information is a great skill that will be of use during middle and high school. Some experts believe that lots of homework may turn students away from school. Not to let that happen, teachers should offer optional tasks and motivate students to read. The main benefits of homework in elementary school is learning how to read and scheduling studies every evening.
Middle School Homework Planner and Helper
When children grow older, they develop the skills necessary to understand how to gather and process information. And homework is a key to do that. Studies show that a school without homework for middle school students is less beneficial, and learners can significantly improve their knowledge if studying every evening.
However, homework free schools say that if students learn too much (more than 90 minutes every day), their grades will decline. Exceeding this limit can have a negative effect on motivation and concentration, so homework should only complement the studying process and not become a big part of the daily routine.
A middle school homework planner should include non-monotonous assignments and tasks that aim to boost creativity and interest in learning something new. The homework should be interesting, fun, and diverse.
We believe that teachers should become active participants in the process and before assigning a certain task, ask themselves the following questions:
- How much time will a student need to complete the assignment?
- Have I considered all the students?
- What skills will the homework promote?
- Will students learn something new?
- Is it possible to find the necessary material in textbooks or online?
Only when answering these questions, a teacher will be able to assign homework that all students can complete. Don’t forget that dealing with middle school students is complex, and teachers bear much responsibility for motivating or discouraging them.
Average Amount of Homework in High School and Tips
Too much homework in high school? By this time, students should be able to learn independently, and the quality of completed tasks significantly depends on the background obtained during elementary and middle school. The advantages of homework at high school are numerous, but only if its quantity isn’t too big.
When schoolers dedicate too much time to their homework (2+ hours every day), they can’t spend enough time with the people they love or simply to take a rest. According to researches, high school students have lots of physical and mental problems if they have too much homework. This results in insomnia, more stress, anxiety, and even depression.
A high school homework planner should remember that the tasks must be clear and complete without side help. The language should be clear and simple. Teachers should also be very attentive and remember that some students can’t do homework on their own, so if they don’t finish it, there shouldn’t be any punishments.
Tutors should remember that there are lots of distractions for high school students: from loud noises at home, lack of computers, to a poor neighborhood and disabilities. That is why teachers should be understanding, patient and avoid evaluating the quality of knowledge and skills simply based on homework results.
How much homework in high school students usually have? There’s no specific amount because every teacher considers the schedule, topics, and other parameters and gives a different size of homework from one day to another. But we recommend tutors cooperate and discuss the average homework that will fit in the two-hour maximum.
Some of them think that a 30-minute assignment is not much, but if a student has 5 subjects, this will result in 2,5 hours of homework in the evening, which is, as you already know, above the proposed maximum. When creating a policy that will work throughout the whole school, teachers will be able to help students complete the tasks on time, avoid stress, and get pure satisfaction out of the process. Remember, the average amount of homework in high school should be bearable.
Too Much Homework in High School? Parents Can Help
We have already discussed whether too much homework in middle school is harmful or not. We have also talked about elementary and high school. It is the right time to talk about another important issue: how parents can participate.
You should remember that homework is a great way for parents to be involved in the life of their child. They can learn about the worries, fears, and struggles of their child. They can also learn about their strong and weak sides, discuss important issues, and build a stronger bond. If parents teach their children how to finish homework at school or why education matters, they will surely establish a deeper connection.
As a parent, you should never be too strict or demanding. Remember, grades are not everything. You shouldn’t be controlling, and your main goal should always be to motivate and support children on their way to learn and find out something new. Education and learning should never cause conflicts but be joyful for all the participants.