Thank you for this! My 3 year old has homework in preschool this week. It's simple, just reading a book we were sent, discussing themes in it, and doing a play-based sorting activity related to the book. But I wonder when in my evening - in the 2.5 hours I have between daycare pick-up and bedtime - I'm supposed to fit this in among cooking & eating dinner, cleaning the kitchen, playing as a family, bath, and bedtime reading (where he always gets to choose the books).
This is so fascinating and I'm trying to think about how to engage with teachers in a thoughtful/respectful way on this conversation. For example, if I sketched out to my older daughter's teacher what our afternoon/evening routine looks like, and how we prioritize family dinner and early bedtime, would that help them see how even 30 minutes of homework is hard to fit into that timeframe? (Or would it just seem defensive?) Of course, this strategy is likely less available for less privileged families, where this homework-as-poverty-bias phenomenon is happening... and I also don't LOVE the message it sends my kid if I were to opt her out of a responsibility that her peers are still stuck with. So it's tricky to think about how to advocate for our own child's needs and the good of the school community on this one...
When I taught high school, I used homework partly for kids to read what we couldn’t read during class and partly to see what they knew on their own. One problem was that so many would have parents or tutors helping them that I couldn’t figure out what the kids knew and what I needed to re-teach a different way. So my suggestion for parents is to communicate to the teacher what the child was able to do alone and what they didn’t understand as well as what kind of help you provided. That kind of feedback (I think!) is helpful for the teacher and might help them figure out how to change the homework situation on their own. You might also say how long it’s taking - some kids take much longer than other and it’s hard to know that if you’re not at home doing the work with them.
Thank you for writing this article, I’m looking forward to researching it myself. As a first grade teacher, I don’t think painting our students or schools with one large sweeping paint brush is the right answer. I currently work with each of my student’s families to express how the additional 10 minutes could benefit their individual child, almost setting up a mini IEP. My homework is optional but as I openly communicate my concerns I see in the classroom with students, nearly all parents want the additional practice for their children. I think making it optional and giving clear communication why I believe it to be beneficial has resulted in a large buy-in by the parents of my class.
First grade teacher here. I live in a state without mandatory kinder. Every year I have students who have never attended preK or kinder at all and who know zero letters, sounds, or numbers when they arrive in gr 1. I also have students who attended preK, opted into full day Kinder, and come into gr 1 reading fluently. The gap is staggering. We also have a 4 day school week. Homework at our school is optional. Some teachers send daily, some weekly, some none. I encourage parents to read aloud to their children daily and send a few math and reading materials but none of it is graded or recorded. This year, 9 of 22 kids in my class are more than 1 year below grade level ENTERING first grade. The core instruction we offer in math and reading is way above their instructional level. So the race is on to catch them up before the gulf becomes permanent. What I find incredibly frustrating is that I KNOW that 20 min per day of intense, systematic, 1 on 1 instruction between ages 3-5 could prevent this problem for every child. 95% of the time, students are behind due to lack of experience and exposure, not lack of intellect.
While I appreciate the fact that kids didn’t have homework in the United States in the early 20th century.
You need to remember that the opposition was because parents in many rural areas expected kids to help out with the farm work after school and there was “concern” that school attendance would drop if homework was introduced.
Is this an issue today?
Do we really need to ban “all” homework? I’m sure kids can manage to do 2-3 hours of work after school (which is super important as it ensures material covered in class is learnt) AND still engage in other activities (music, sports and mess about on TikTok..)
I just found you via Virginia Sole-Smith. I had a hunch that homework wasn't appropriate for children in elementary school, and I appreciate you citing research. Children should learn that life is joyful and that boundaries are important- not that work doesn't stop when you get home.
I personally think that children do need homework. As a mother with 4 kids, I believe that children need homework. I had lots of homework that I asked for and I have an IQ of 149. This is just my opinion, though, so please don't take offense or argue.
Thank you! I was wondering about this last night while doing homework with my 6 year old. My 6 year old!!! It did not seem right.
Thank you for this! My 3 year old has homework in preschool this week. It's simple, just reading a book we were sent, discussing themes in it, and doing a play-based sorting activity related to the book. But I wonder when in my evening - in the 2.5 hours I have between daycare pick-up and bedtime - I'm supposed to fit this in among cooking & eating dinner, cleaning the kitchen, playing as a family, bath, and bedtime reading (where he always gets to choose the books).
Love. This. So. Much.
This is so fascinating and I'm trying to think about how to engage with teachers in a thoughtful/respectful way on this conversation. For example, if I sketched out to my older daughter's teacher what our afternoon/evening routine looks like, and how we prioritize family dinner and early bedtime, would that help them see how even 30 minutes of homework is hard to fit into that timeframe? (Or would it just seem defensive?) Of course, this strategy is likely less available for less privileged families, where this homework-as-poverty-bias phenomenon is happening... and I also don't LOVE the message it sends my kid if I were to opt her out of a responsibility that her peers are still stuck with. So it's tricky to think about how to advocate for our own child's needs and the good of the school community on this one...
When I taught high school, I used homework partly for kids to read what we couldn’t read during class and partly to see what they knew on their own. One problem was that so many would have parents or tutors helping them that I couldn’t figure out what the kids knew and what I needed to re-teach a different way. So my suggestion for parents is to communicate to the teacher what the child was able to do alone and what they didn’t understand as well as what kind of help you provided. That kind of feedback (I think!) is helpful for the teacher and might help them figure out how to change the homework situation on their own. You might also say how long it’s taking - some kids take much longer than other and it’s hard to know that if you’re not at home doing the work with them.
Thank you for writing this article, I’m looking forward to researching it myself. As a first grade teacher, I don’t think painting our students or schools with one large sweeping paint brush is the right answer. I currently work with each of my student’s families to express how the additional 10 minutes could benefit their individual child, almost setting up a mini IEP. My homework is optional but as I openly communicate my concerns I see in the classroom with students, nearly all parents want the additional practice for their children. I think making it optional and giving clear communication why I believe it to be beneficial has resulted in a large buy-in by the parents of my class.
First grade teacher here. I live in a state without mandatory kinder. Every year I have students who have never attended preK or kinder at all and who know zero letters, sounds, or numbers when they arrive in gr 1. I also have students who attended preK, opted into full day Kinder, and come into gr 1 reading fluently. The gap is staggering. We also have a 4 day school week. Homework at our school is optional. Some teachers send daily, some weekly, some none. I encourage parents to read aloud to their children daily and send a few math and reading materials but none of it is graded or recorded. This year, 9 of 22 kids in my class are more than 1 year below grade level ENTERING first grade. The core instruction we offer in math and reading is way above their instructional level. So the race is on to catch them up before the gulf becomes permanent. What I find incredibly frustrating is that I KNOW that 20 min per day of intense, systematic, 1 on 1 instruction between ages 3-5 could prevent this problem for every child. 95% of the time, students are behind due to lack of experience and exposure, not lack of intellect.
While I appreciate the fact that kids didn’t have homework in the United States in the early 20th century.
You need to remember that the opposition was because parents in many rural areas expected kids to help out with the farm work after school and there was “concern” that school attendance would drop if homework was introduced.
Is this an issue today?
Do we really need to ban “all” homework? I’m sure kids can manage to do 2-3 hours of work after school (which is super important as it ensures material covered in class is learnt) AND still engage in other activities (music, sports and mess about on TikTok..)
I just found you via Virginia Sole-Smith. I had a hunch that homework wasn't appropriate for children in elementary school, and I appreciate you citing research. Children should learn that life is joyful and that boundaries are important- not that work doesn't stop when you get home.
I personally think that children do need homework. As a mother with 4 kids, I believe that children need homework. I had lots of homework that I asked for and I have an IQ of 149. This is just my opinion, though, so please don't take offense or argue.