Homework and School Achievement

Homework affects achievement in school. Research tells us that time spent doing homework directly affects a child's achievement. Students who consistently do homework perform academically better than those who do not do homework. By doing homework, students can improve academic achievement in all subjects. This occurs across all grade levels for both high and low achievers.

Homework for the school-age child is an opportunity to learn the valuable organizational skills for strong study habits. . Parents can "get the most out of homework for your child" when you understand the purpose of it and values it encourages.

The Purpose of homework is to practice and strengthen academic skills.

Seven Hidden Values Of Homework:

1. Responsibility: Homework is the child's responsibility. When parents get too involved they set the process on its head. The lessons get done, but the real lessons don't get learned.

2. Independence: Because this is the first time someone other than a parent assigns frequent tasks to the child, homework breaks new ground. How this golden opportunity is handled will enhance or obstruct the child's progress toward self-direction.

3. Perseverence:There's no point to a child's doing homework, if everytime the child gets frustrated, parents step right in and make it better. Its OK to let the child struggle a little with a problem.

4. Time management: Children need to be told when to finish homework, not when to start it. That way instead of learning to waste time , the child learns to manage it.

5. Initiative: Like a muscle, the ability to be a self-starter strengthens with exercise. That's why it's essential that the child decide when its time to begin each homework assignment.

6. Self-reliance: Homework can affirm a child's feeling of competency. Mismanaged, it deflates that feeling. Unfortunately there is no in-between.

7. Resourcefulness: The ability to be inventive in the face of problems is the very stuff of being human. Homework provides a wonderful setting for the child to practice such cleverness.