HOMEWORK TIPS FOR PARENTS

By John Carr

General Secretary, Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO)

Homework is the most regular and the most important link between home andschool. It allows a parent/guardian to become involved in children’sschool work and see on a daily basis how they are doing in school.

It allows teachers to assess learning and extend it beyond the four walls of the classroom. Building on the work done in school, homework is also part of the development of good study habits.

That’s the theory. The reality can sometimes be different.

In most homes today parents work outside the home. They are seeing their work intensify and their time spent outside the home increase through longer hours of work or increasing commuting time.

The idyllic days of mother sitting around a table supervising the homework of the family (if indeed they ever existed except in middle class homes) have gone.

Many stressed and tired parents question the place of homework in the modern world and wonder why all the work can’t be done in school. In today’s world where family friendly work practices are increasingly being demanded many workers try to avoid bringing work home. Can we fault our children if they want to do the same?

Many equally stressed teachers I’m sure would love to shed the extra marking that homework brings. While most teachers give homework because it makes a valuable contribution to children’s learning I’m sure there are others who are less convinced of its worth and give it because it is expected. 

I believe that homework can be very valuable if it:

keeps parents in touch with their children’s work;

allow parents to interact with their children in an activity that is relevant, challenging and stimulating;

extends and reinforces work done in school;

helps to develop independent learning skills.

From time to time there have been calls for a national policy on homework. These have ranged from total abolition to very prescriptive and detailed suggestions depending on who was making the argument.

This is a tricky one as it depends on the child’s age, level of concentration, home factors or the child’s learning ability.

Many schools suggest guidelines such as:

            Infants            10 - 15 minutes

            First/Second  20 - 30 minutes

            Third/Fourth   30 - 40 minutes

            Fifth/Sixth        50 - 60 minutes

But these are only guidelines. Some children will have the work done in a fraction of the time. Others will struggle to do it in twice the time.

If there is a difficulty check with the teacher. Children in Irish schools get homework regularly. Parents should treat regular “no homework” tales with a little bit of caution and find out if they have a little genius who has it done while the teacher is writing it on the board in school or a child with a genuine problem that can’t manage to write it all down.

Also remember that the type and amount of homework given varies depending on the class of the child. In Infant classes children do not get regular formal homework in the way that older children do but there is a huge amount of work that parents can do with children at home. Reading stories is perhaps the best activity but don’t forget that playing with jigsaws, colouring and using play dough have huge value. Parents can also play a big part in early reading and writing activities at home.

By the end of primary school children should be capable of completing homework on their own. But the involvement of parents is still vital. Parents can help in area like spelling and talking about reading. Many parents feel unsure about helping in certain areas such as maths or Irish. If in doubt teachers will be glad to show how a parent can help.

If for some reason homework cannot be done on particular night a note can be sent to the teacher.

Parents/guardians can help by having a set time and place for homework. Children should be encouraged to take increasing responsibility themselves and completing homework within a reasonable time.  If the child is doing his/her homework under the proper conditions and is spending too much time on homework the parent/guardian should contact the teacher in the school. If problems exist at home which may prevent or interfere with a child's homework, the teacher should also be told.

Don’t suffer in silence or quietly curse homework. Talk to the teacher and suitable arrangements can always be worked out.

Some Practical Tips for Parents:

Encourage a positive attitude towards homework from an early age.

Praise rather than criticise

Encourage the child to undertake his/her homework independently. 

Agree with your child a suitable time for doing homework, taking into account age, the need for playtime, relaxation and family time.

Provide a quiet place, free from distractions, interruptions and of course, T.V.

Issues to be decided at school level:

            Should homework be assigned at weekends

            How to communicate difficulties

            Should parents sign off on homework each night/week

            Is homework allocated during certain absences

            What type of “homework” should be assigned to very young children

            Use of computers, newspapers, other media

For more information on the Irish National Teachers Organisation, visit www.into.ie