There are studies that show it doesn’t help for young kids, and really only help in upper grades like high school.
I think that is probably correct. I had a special needs daughter, and I think homework had a negative impact on her. She gets tired easily, so she only had time for school and homework eating and bed and speech therapy. No fun after school activities.
Her main problems were speech and social skills. Homework took time from working on those activities. She couldn’t handle things like play practice and homework.
Most of the homework was also busy work, especially in elementary and junior high. There were tons of math problems when she was great at math. She was slow at physical writing, so that was just tedious.
At the end of the day when she was tired, writing was hard for her (both physically and mentally). It was a terrible battle to get her to finish her work.it caused lots of strains in our relationship.
She’s in college now and is loving it! She just goes to community college because she wasn’t ready to leave home.
It’s been a breeze for her because there is no busy work. She gets most of her work done during breaks between classes. She wishes that school had always been lie college. She has a 4.0 so far.
I also had 2 gifted kids. Homework was boring and tedious for them because they were very smart.
I personally think the only homework in elementary school should be reading whatever you want. I would also just send home the spelling words/vocabulary words home. Let the kids/parents figure out the best way to learn them. Then have optional math homework. Maybe get extra credit for doing it. If the kids still do well on their tests, then you are doing the right thing.
I pretty much think that for high school too except it should be reading to prepare for class.
What studies I have heard of indicate that to learn something (meaning be able to use it successfully for many years) you need to “cement” it into your brain somehow.
The process that does this is to revisit the material several times. For example, suppose you want to remember your phone number. You study the number, and in the course of a few days you use the number and revisit the number. Experts say at least five uses is necessary for long term memory.
Now with homework, do you want the student to learn the algebra concept and be able to use it for life? (Lots of people believe you only need it until the course is over, but lets take the more serious view that the material is actually useful and will be needed from time to time.) Also lets assume that you want to be familiar with it without reviewing the old textbook when you want to do something like solve an algebra equation.
The answer is to see the material in class, revisit the material later in the evening (Homework) and then revisit the material the next day, (Homework review) and then bone up for the exam, and than take the exam. (Five times) Now you may be among those who know algebra and can use if all their life. How nice?
Oh, yes, I am a retired math teacher. And I assigned a little homework each day. (Practiced what I preach) The real truth is that if you want to learn it, try teaching it.