Do you find your family struggling with the amount of kids homework you have to get through each afternoon? Our education writer has some tips for you.
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When I started my teaching career, I believed that giving homework in at least three subjects was not a big deal. Now that I have my own elementary school aged children, I am feeling bad for all of the kids that I put through tortuous hours of homework. I find myself fighting with my third grader to focus and keep working as we trudge through hours of after school work.
Fifteen years ago, the general rule of thumb for teachers was to assign about ten minutes of homework per grade level. So a first grader would receive about ten minutes of work, a second grader twenty minutes and so on. But times have changed. With the implementation of the new common core standards and teachers feeling the pressure to get students to perform, those numbers have gone way up. Most teachers that I know are assigning at least an hour’s worth of work each night of the week, leaving little time for after school activities and play time.
Have a doodler on your hands? Keep them close by so you can help keep them focused.
There are a few things that we can do as parents to help our kids get through the hectic afternoon, while making sure we squeeze in much needed family time.
1. Set up a homework routine.
Children do their best work when they know what is expected of them. My children know that when they come home from school, they have a snack and then it is homework time. Having play time after their work is completed motivates them to focus and get it done. On days when we go directly to an after school activity, the routine gets pushed back to whenever we walk through the door.
2. Set up a quiet work area.
Having three kids do homework at the kitchen table can be counter-productive. Most kids need to work where there is little distraction. That means finding separate places for your kids to work and turning off all televisions, radios and gaming systems. Make sure each area is stocked with essentials like crayons, pencils, glue and scissors to avoid distractions. Keep the neediest kids close by while sending your independent workers to a quiet place.
Playtime is important too! It’s also a good motivator: If you do your homework right after school, you can play until dinner.
3. Recognize when there is a problem.
In the elementary school years, homework should not be taking kids hours upon hours to complete. Ask to speak with your child’s teacher if you think there is a problem. Many teachers will modify homework assignments for kids who need it. Be specific as to what the problem is. If your child can whiz through the spelling homework, but is taking hours on math, some teachers will assign less problems. I have allowed students to get a jump start on spelling over the weekend to relieve some of the pressure that kids face during the week.
4. Help relieve your child’s stress.
Kids are under a tremendous amount of pressure these days. They are completing more challenging work at younger ages. There is little time in the school day for fun activities and kids are feeling it. Talk to your child about how she feels about the work load at school and make time everyday for unstructured play!
Homework needs to be checked every night by an adult. It is ok if it is not perfect, but children should always be required to do their personal best work. Most importantly, be there to support and keep your child on task. Your presence will teach kids how important their education is to you.
Thanks for reading,
Anne Davis
@Anne
Hi Adelien,
I give homeschooling moms so much credit. I think it is great that you give homework to practice responsibility. Ultimately, that should be the point of homework.
@Anne
Hi Angel. I find the virtual school so interesting. It seems that the amount of homework these days is overwhelming. Having a routine like you do makes a big difference. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the comments. I love hearing how other families handle homework.
We are a homeschooling family. I just give “homework” to practice their responsibility. However, my youngest son is a part time homeschooler. He doesn’t have a lot of homework, but plenty of test. Thanks for sharing, from UBC
I have a first grader and fifth grader. My fifth grade attends a virtual school so she doesn’t have “homework” because all of her work is done at home, but my first grader does have a good bit of homework. Every time I turn around there is something else coming home to practice. We also have a snack after school then get right to it. I like to get it done and we can go on to do other things. Thanks for all the great tips! I’ll definitely keep these in my arsenal 🙂