by Barbara Stanley

Created on: January 23, 2009   Last Updated: March 11, 2009

School work, assigned to complete at home, is beneficial in the form of review and as a way to self-test for potential need of remediation. Massive amounts of homework serve only to frustrate children and teens, while not accomplishing the desired result of mastery in a particular subject. Homework is important as a tool for students to use as a reinforcement of newly learned ideas and information. Ideally, homework can be the tool that parents use to find out what goes on in the classroom on a daily basis, what problems their children are having, if any, and as a means of bonding.

Homework should never be assigned as punishment or used as busy work. Students resent this and gain nothing from having completed the assignment. There are times when several disruptions during instructional time will make it necessary for a student to have a larger homework assignment. Because homework is important in reinforcing ideas taught during the school day, children should never be pressured to finish by a certain time. The work assigned will give students an opportunity to test themselves for understanding a new concept, math equation or theory. Parents can see where and how their children are in trouble.

Unfortunately, the school day is not long enough to teach all skills that a student needs before passing to the next grade. When interruptions are factored in(special school events, fire/disaster drills, time lost while changing classes, etc.)the school day is getting shorter. Homework becomes more important as an assessment tool for comprehension and mastery, giving the teacher the best picture of those students who are ready to proceed and those who need a little more time in remediation.

Reading at home gives a student the opportunity to increase his or her comprehension. Reading aloud is good practice for any child who gets nervous about reading in front of classmates. Usually, teachers will notice a pattern that develops in students who struggle to read. This helps the educators know when to try a different approach with those students.

Homework is also important because it gives the child a chance to be responsible, organized, and prepared for the next day's work. In many schools, homework accounts for one fourth of the final grade in each subject. This points to the value teachers place on homework. Of course, studying for tests during the week is necessary, not just for a good grade, but for the securing of knowledge in a particular subject.

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