Homework - What's the right amount for students?

Over the past four years, I have received a significant number of emails from parents and had numerous face-to-face conversations around concerns regarding the amount of homework that our students receive. Many of them say that their children spend an average of two to three hours a night doing school work. I have also talked to a number parents who have told me that they didn't think that the homework load was excessive and felt that it was just the right amount. Thus, it has been a challenging task to determine if there are indeed a significant number of students who are spending too much time on a nightly basis reading, studying for tests, completing assignments and projects, etc. After 3 1/2 years as the Principal, I believe

that the issue is not schoolwide but rather teacher and Pod (students are housed by pods in each grade level) specific and that the issue is not as significant as some parents claim it to be. There does seem to be some inconsistency in the amount that is given which; is understandable to a degree as our teachers work in teams that are geographically separate. With that said, I would like the amount of assigned homework to be more evenly balanced and consistent grades six through eight.

We are beginning to undertake a more comprehensive look at the amount of homework that is assigned and how we can better coordinate it as well as having conversations on what good homework looks like. The good news is that the vast majority of parents believe that the homework assigned is really well designed. We are also working with students to help them become more efficient at doing homework. Often, students spend more time than they actually need to or wait until the last minute to complete work that was assigned days or weeks earlier.

There are have been countless studies regarding homework and its impact on student learning. The results of the the research is varied. There are a number of articles that I think present arguments on both sides of the issue and would be good for parents to read including Homework Wars, In Defense of Homework, and Forgot Homework. Some researchers have found homework to enhance student learning and to teach students valuable life skills including organizational and time management skills and how to be responsible. Others say that the benefits are minimal if at all and that homework - especially if too much is given on a regular basis often has an adverse impact on student learning.

I would say that they are both right and that the key is to have a balanced approach. Students should not be doing over two hours a night on average although there may be exceptions on occasion. I believe that students benefit from quality homework assignments that connect to the curriculum that they are studying in their classes to extend their learning beyond what is required for a test. In addition to adding to their learning, the task-management, organizational and study skills skills that they acquire are ones that will serve them well both in their academic careers and beyond. The key is to not give them too much homework as students actually internalize less as they are so consumed by just getting the work done. I have talked to countless students who say that when the homework load is too heavy that they just "grind it out" and usually don't remember what they learned beyond the test or assignment once it is turned in. Needless to say, this is not the desired outcome for anyone - particularly for students.

Parents can also play an important role in helping their children to do their homework more effectively and efficiently. The amount of time you spend doing this should decline somewhat as they reach the middle and high school years but it is still important to take a role. I always recommend that parents check more frequently initially and then "lessen the reins" as their child proves she or he is acting responsibly. It's essential that you check in from time to time to make sure that they are completing their work and to help create the conditions that will help them be successful. Students need a quiet work space (I do not recommend having a computer located in their rooms) and they should create a routine as much as possible. Most successful students work on their homework at the same time each afternoon or evening. It is essential that you do not let then stay up late to do their homework as adolescents need at least nine hours of sleep per night. For further tips , refer to an article titled, Winning the "Homework Wars". You might want to also watch the video of the CBS interview featuring Stephen Perrine.

I am hopeful that Mill Valley Middle School will serve as a model for how you can have a very high-performing school program and have a balanced approach regarding the amount and quality of homework that is assigned on a nightly average. While I do not think that the problem is a significant schoolwide issue, I do believe that it is an area of growth for us. I also feel that parents can play an active role by helping set up effective conditions for homework. It's also important to monitor it to some extent - depending on the specific needs of your child. I am happy to announce that we will be showing the movie - A Race to Nowhere sometime after the Winter break as it touches on issues around homework and students' workload. As I have mentioned before this is a complex issue that will only be solved when whole communities (including schools) work together (instead of pointing fingers at each other) in a concerted effort to make sure that we challenge children but not at the cost of their physical and mental health.

Continual Learning

November

Fostering the Ability for Students to Self-Advocate

One of the qualities that successful students possess is the ability to advocate for themselves. While there are a number of strategies that we use both in and out of the classroom during the school day to help develop this important quality in our students, there are a number of steps that parents can take as well.

The first is to try to involve your child in decisions/situations that impact their school lives. While there is always a temptation to try to fix challenges that they are faced with, it is essential that they begin to learn how to solve their own problems. For example, if they fall behind in their schoolwork, or you (or they) believe that they deserved a better grade on an assignment, have your child see their teacher rather than contact her/him yourself - at least initially. The best thing that you can do is to give them the tools that will help empower them to solve their issues. One of the best strategies that you can use is to have you and your child role play how they might best interact with that teacher to have a positive interaction. Suggest ways that they can respectfully approach them, have them practice what they might say, and talk to them about proper responses to questions that they might be asked.

If your child finds it particularly nerve-wracking to approach a teacher, help them craft a letter that they can present to them. They will still benefit from the interaction and they will gain confidence that will allow them to do it unaided the next time. I can't tell you how much teachers appreciate when students see them with questions or concerns that they have - particularly when they so at the right time and in a respectful manner.

If you do need to meet with a teacher, have your child attend and actively engage in the meeting for at least part of the time. As children enter the middle school years, it is essential that they begin to be active participants in the conversation rather than sit on the sidelines while the adults are talking about them. Even though students will push back on this, I can't tell you how many times I have seen when a student, who initially disliked the idea of being present in a parent/teacher meeting, left that same meeting feeling positive (at least inwardly) and much happier when they came in.

Children aren't born self-advocates, we need to consciously help them develop the skills and qualities necessary to empower them. I still make the mistake of sometimes telling students to just go see the teacher if they have a question or problem - forgetting that that that is much easier said than done for the vast majority of students at this age level. So, the next time that you tell your daughter or son to see a teacher, first give them some explicit strategies that they might use before the interaction.

One of the best things we can do as educators and parents is to gently "stretch" our children so that they gain the confidence and the skills to become more independent. Working together to help children develop self-advocacy skills is an essential means toward that end.