20 reasons why homework is good

20 Pros and Cons of Homework

Homework. It’s a word that sends a shudder down the spine of students and parents alike.

It is also a question that has become divisive. Some people feel that homework is an effective way to reinforce the concepts that were learned at school. Others feel like the time that homework demands would be better spent with a meaningful activity that brings the family together.

Is homework important? Is it necessary? Or is the added stress that homework places on students and parents doing more harm than good? Here are some of the key pros and cons to discuss.

List of the Pros of Homework

1. It encourages the discipline of practice. Repeating the same problems over and over can be boring and difficult, but it also reinforces the practice of discipline. To get better at a skill, repetition is often necessary. You get better with each repetition. By having homework completed every night, especially with a difficult subject, the concepts become easier to understand. That gives the student an advantage later on in life when seeking a vocational career.

2. It gets parents involved with a child’s life. Looking at Common Core math can be somewhat bewildering to parents. If you see the math problem 5×3 expressed as an addition problem, 5+5+5 seems like the right answer. The correct answer, however, would be 3+3+3+3+3. By bringing homework to do, students can engage their learning process with their parents so everyone can be involved. Many parents actually want homework sent so they can see what their children are being taught in the classroom.

3. It teaches time management skills. Homework goes beyond completing a task. It forces children (and parents, to some extent) to develop time management skills. Schedules must be organized to ensure that all tasks can be completed during the day. This creates independent thinking and develops problem-solving skills. It encourages research skills. It also puts parents and children into a position where positive decision-making skills must be developed.

4. Homework creates a communication network. Teachers rarely see into the family lives of their students. Parents rarely see the classroom lives of their children. Homework is a bridge that opens lines of communication between the school, the teacher, and the parent. This allows everyone to get to know one another better. It helps teachers understand the needs of their students better.

It allows parents to find out their child’s strengths and weaknesses. Together, an educational plan can be developed that encourages the best possible learning environment.

5. It allows for a comfortable place to study. Classrooms have evolved over the years to be a warmer and welcoming environment, but there is nothing like the comfort that is felt at home or in a safe space. By encouraging studies where a child feels the most comfortable, it is possible to retain additional information that may get lost within the standard classroom environment.

6. It provides more time to complete the learning process. The time allotted for each area of study in school, especially in K-12, is often limited to 1 hour or less per day. That is not always enough time for students to be able to grasp core concepts of that material. By creating specific homework assignments which address these deficiencies, it becomes possible to counter the effects of the time shortages. That can benefit students greatly over time.

7. It reduces screen time. On the average school night, a student in the US might get 3-4 hours of screen time in per day. When that student isn’t in school, that figure doubles to 7-8 hours of screen time. Homework might be unwanted and disliked, but it does encourage better study habits. It discourages time being spent in front of the television or playing games on a mobile device. That, in turn, may discourage distracting habits from forming that can take away from the learning process in the future.

8. It can be treated like any other extracurricular activity. Some families over-extend themselves on extracurricular activities. Students can easily have more than 40 hours per week, from clubs to sports, that fall outside of regular school hours. Homework can be treated as one of these activities, fitting into the schedule where there is extra time. As an added benefit, some homework can even be completed on the way to or from some activities.

List of the Cons of Homework

1. Children benefit from playing. Being in a classroom can be a good thing, but so can being on a playground. With too much homework, a child doesn’t have enough time to play and that can impact their learning and social development. Low levels of play are associated with lower academic achievement levels, lower safety awareness, less character development, and lower overall health.

2. It encourages a sedentary lifestyle. Long homework assignments require long periods of sitting. A sedentary lifestyle has numerous direct associations with premature death as children age into adults. Obesity levels are already at or near record highs in many communities. Homework may reinforce certain skills and encourage knowledge retention, but it may come at a high price.

3. Not every home is a beneficial environment. There are some homes that are highly invested into their children. Parents may be involved in every stage of homework or there may be access to tutors that can explain difficult concepts. In other homes, there may be little or no education investment into the child. Some parents push the responsibility of teaching off on the teacher and provide no homework support at all.

Sometimes parents may wish to be involved and support their child, but there are barriers in place that prevent this from happening. The bottom line is this: no every home life is equal.

4. School is already a full-time job for kids. An elementary school day might start at 9:00am and end at 3:20pm. That’s more than 6 hours of work that kids as young as 5 are putting into their education every day. Add in the extra-curricular activities that schools encourage, such as sports, musicals, and after-school programming and a student can easily reach 8 hours of education in the average day. Then add homework on top of that? It is asking a lot for any child, but especially young children, to complete extra homework.

5. There is no evidence that homework creates improvements. Survey after survey has found that the only thing that homework does is create a negative attitude toward schooling and education in general. Homework is not associated with a higher level of academic achievement on a national scale. It may help some students who struggle with certain subjects, if they have access to a knowledgeable tutor or parent, but on a community level, there is no evidence that shows improvements are gained.

6. It discourages creative endeavors. If a student is spending 1 hour each day on homework, that’s an hour they are not spending pursuing something that is important to them. Students might like to play video games or watch TV, but homework takes time away from learning an instrument, painting, or developing photography skills as well. Although some homework can involve creative skills, that usually isn’t the case.

7. Homework is difficult to enforce. Some students just don’t care about homework. They can achieve adequate grades without doing it, so they choose not to do it. There is no level of motivation that a parent or teacher can create that inspires some students to get involved with homework. There is no denying the fact that homework requires a certain amount of effort. Sometimes a child just doesn’t want to put in that effort.

8. Extra time in school does not equate to better grades. Students in the US spend more than 100 hours of extra time in school already compared to high-performing countries around the world, but that has not closed the educational gap between those countries and the United States. In some educational areas, the US is even falling in global rankings despite the extra time that students are spending in school. When it comes to homework or any other form of learning, quality is much more important than quantity.

9. Accurate practice may not be possible. If homework is assigned, there is a reliance on the student, their parents, or their guardians to locate resources that can help them understand the content. Homework is often about practice, but if the core concepts of that information are not understood or inaccurately understood, then the results are the opposite of what is intended. If inaccurate practice is performed, it becomes necessary for the teacher to first correct the issue and then reteach it, which prolongs the learning process.

10. It may encourage cheating on multiple levels. Some students may decide that cheating in the classroom to avoid taking homework home is a compromise they’re willing to make. With internet resources, finding the answers to homework instead of figuring out the answers on one’s own is a constant temptation as well. For families with multiple children, they may decide to copy off one another to minimize the time investment.

11. Too much homework is often assigned to students. There is a general agreement that students should be assigned no more than 10 minutes of homework per day, per grade level. That means a first grader should not be assigned more than 10 minutes of homework per night. Yet for the average first grader in US public schools, they come home with 20 minutes of homework and then are asked to complete 20 minutes of reading on top of that. That means some students are completing 4x more homework than recommended every night.

At the same time, the amount of time children spent playing outdoors has decreased by 40% over the past 30 years.

For high school students, it is even worse at high performing schools in the US where 90% of graduates go onto college, the average amount of homework assigned per night was 3 hours per student.

12. Homework is often geared toward benchmarks. Homework is often assigned to improve test scores. Although this can provide positive outcomes, including better study skills or habits, the fact is that when children are tired, they do not absorb much information. When children have more homework than recommended, test scores actually go down. Stress levels go up. Burnout on the curriculum occurs.

The results for many students, according to research from Ruben Fernandez-Alonso in the Journal of Educational Psychology, is a decrease in grades instead of an increase.

The pros and cons of homework are admittedly all over the map. Many parents and teachers follow their personal perspectives and create learning environments around them. When parents and teachers clash on homework, the student is often left in the middle of that tug of war. By discussing these key points, each side can work to find some common ground so our children can benefit for a clear, precise message.

Quantity may be important, but quality must be the priority for homework if a student is going to be successful.

20 Reasons Why Homework is Good: Unlocking the Best Benefits For Students

Do you want to know why homework is good? If yes, then you should have a close look at this blog post to explore top 20 reasons why homework is good for students.

Table of Contents

Homework has long been a part of the educational landscape, with students around the world completing assignments outside of school hours. While it may sometimes be met with groans and sighs, homework serves a valuable purpose in the learning process.

In this article, we will explore 20 reasons why homework is good and how it can positively impact students’ academic journey. From enhancing learning and understanding to fostering important skills such as responsibility and critical thinking, homework plays a significant role in a student’s educational development.

Also Read Top 27+Trending Project Ideas for College Students In 2024

So, let’s delve into the reasons why homework should be seen as a beneficial and integral component of the learning experience.

20 Reasons Why Homework is Good

Have a close look at the 20 reasons why homework is good.

Enhances learning and understanding

Homework goes beyond the limited time in the classroom, allowing students to delve deeper into the subject matter.

For example, in a math class, students can practice solving equations, applying formulas, and exploring different problem-solving strategies through homework assignments.

This hands-on practice solidifies their understanding of the concepts and helps them connect the theoretical knowledge with real-world applications.

Reinforces concepts

Homework provides an opportunity for students to reinforce what they have learned in class by applying it to practical situations.

For instance, in a history class, students can be assigned reading assignments and asked to analyze primary sources or write essays that require them to synthesize the information they learned in class.

By actively engaging with the material outside of the classroom, students reinforce their knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of the subject.

Develops responsibility

By assigning homework, educators instill a sense of responsibility in students. Meeting deadlines and completing assignments on time teach students the importance of managing their obligations.

For instance, a science project that requires regular updates and progress reports teaches students to plan their time effectively, allocate resources, and take ownership of their work.

These skills translate into other areas of life, such as meeting work deadlines or managing personal projects.

Builds time management skills

Homework assignments provide an opportunity for students to develop essential time management skills.

For example, having multiple assignments in different subjects requires students to prioritize their tasks, allocate time accordingly, and balance their academic responsibilities with extracurricular activities or personal commitments.

Through effective time management, students learn to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, which prepares them for the demands of college or a professional career.

Promotes independent learning

Homework encourages students to become self-directed learners. By assigning research projects or open-ended assignments, students have the freedom to explore topics of interest and conduct independent research. This fosters curiosity, initiative, and a lifelong love for learning.

For example, in an English class, students can be assigned a book to read and analyze, allowing them to explore the themes, analyze the characters, and develop their critical thinking skills through independent analysis and interpretation.

Prepares for exams and assessments

Homework serves as valuable preparation for exams and assessments. By practicing through homework assignments, students review and reinforce the material covered in class, identify areas where they need more practice, and gain confidence in their abilities.

For instance, in a language class, students can be given vocabulary exercises, reading comprehension passages, and writing prompts to practice the skills needed for an upcoming exam.

This targeted practice helps students perform better on assessments and boosts their overall academic performance.

Encourages critical thinking

Homework tasks often require students to think critically, analyze information, and draw conclusions.

For instance, in a social science class, students can be given a current event to research and analyze, requiring them to examine different perspectives, evaluate the reliability of sources, and form evidence-based arguments.

This develops their ability to think critically, question assumptions, and make informed judgments, skills that are crucial for success in higher education and beyond.

Cultivates self-discipline

Consistently completing homework assignments develops self-discipline in students. For example, a long-term project that spans several weeks or months requires students to pace themselves, set milestones, and stay committed to the task until completion.

This cultivates the discipline needed to work independently, meet deadlines, and persist in the face of challenges, all of which are valuable qualities for personal and academic growth.

Improves time on task

Homework provides students with additional practice opportunities, allowing them to spend more time engaging with the subject matter. For instance, in a foreign language class, students can practice vocabulary, grammar, and conversation skills through homework assignments.

The additional practice time enhances their fluency, accuracy, and overall proficiency in the language.

Expands knowledge base

Homework assignments often require students to explore topics beyond the classroom curriculum, encouraging them to broaden their knowledge base.

For instance, in a science class, students can be assigned research projects on a specific scientific discovery or phenomenon.

This research allows them to delve into related topics, explore scientific journals, and expand their understanding beyond what is covered in the textbook.

By engaging in independent exploration, students develop a broader perspective and a thirst for knowledge

Builds research skills

Homework assignments promote the development of research skills in students. For example, in a social studies class, students can be assigned a research paper on a historical event.

This requires them to locate and evaluate credible sources, analyze and synthesize information, and present their findings in a coherent and well-supported manner.

These research skills are transferable to other academic disciplines and are valuable in higher education and professional settings.

Encourages problem-solving

Homework tasks often present challenges and problems that students must solve independently or in collaboration with peers.

For example, in a math class, students can be given complex word problems that require them to apply mathematical concepts and problem-solving strategies.

This fosters their ability to think critically, approach problems from different angles, and develop innovative solutions.

These problem-solving skills extend beyond the academic realm and are applicable in various real-life situations.

Reinforces study habits

Regular homework assignments help students establish effective study habits. For example, in a history class, students can be assigned reading assignments and study guides to review for upcoming quizzes or exams.

By following a consistent study routine, organizing materials, and actively engaging with the content, students develop effective study strategies that enhance their learning and retention of information.

Facilitates parental involvement

Homework assignments provide an opportunity for parents to be involved in their child’s education.

For example, parents can assist their children with homework by offering guidance, answering questions, and providing additional resources or explanations when needed.

This involvement strengthens the parent-child bond, allows parents to stay informed about their child’s academic progress, and creates a supportive learning environment.

Enhances organizational skills

Managing multiple homework assignments requires students to develop and refine their organizational skills.

For example, students can use tools such as calendars, to-do lists, and digital apps to keep track of their assignments, deadlines, and priorities.

These organizational skills extend beyond the academic setting and are valuable in managing various responsibilities and tasks throughout life.

Improves communication skills

Some homework assignments involve written or verbal communication, allowing students to develop effective communication skills.

For example, in an English class, students can be assigned essays, presentations, or debates that require them to articulate their thoughts, present arguments coherently, and engage in respectful discussions.

This practice hones their written and verbal communication abilities, which are essential in academic, professional, and personal contexts.

Builds perseverance and resilience

Overcoming challenges and completing homework assignments teaches students perseverance, resilience, and the value of hard work.

For example, a challenging math problem or a lengthy research paper may initially seem daunting.

But as students persist and work through the difficulties, they develop resilience and a growth mindset.

They learn that perseverance and effort are essential for overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals.

Promotes creativity

Certain homework tasks, such as creative projects or artistic assignments, encourage students to think creatively, explore new ideas, and express themselves in unique ways.

For example, in an art class, students can be assigned a project to create an original artwork that conveys a specific theme or emotion.

This fosters their creativity, imagination, and self-expression, allowing them to develop their artistic skills and discover new talents.

Prepares for real-world responsibilities

Homework prepares students for future responsibilities they will encounter in their personal and professional lives.

For example, meeting deadlines, managing projects, and handling workloads are common expectations in the real world.

By completing homework assignments, students develop the skills and habits necessary to handle these responsibilities effectively, setting them up for success in various endeavors.

Reinforces classroom learning

Homework serves as a bridge between classroom instruction and independent practice, reinforcing and extending learning beyond the school environment.

For example, in a science class, students can be assigned hands-on experiments or observations to conduct at home.

This allows them to apply the concepts learned in class, make connections to real-world phenomena, and deepen their understanding through practical application.

What are 5 benefits of homework?

Have a close look at the 5 benefits of homework.

Reinforcement of Learning

Homework provides an opportunity for students to reinforce what they have learned in class. By practicing concepts and skills through homework assignments, students solidify their understanding and knowledge of the subject matter.

Development of Responsibility

Completing homework assignments teaches students the importance of taking responsibility for their own learning. It instills a sense of accountability and helps students understand the connection between effort and achievement.

Preparation for Assessments

Homework serves as valuable preparation for exams and assessments. By reviewing and practicing concepts through homework assignments, students can better prepare themselves for tests, quizzes, and other evaluative measures.

Skill Building

Homework assignments help students develop crucial skills such as time management, organization, critical thinking, and problem-solving. These skills are transferable and applicable to various aspects of life.

Extended Learning

Homework extends learning beyond the classroom, allowing students to explore topics in more depth, conduct research, and engage in independent study. It fosters a sense of curiosity and encourages students to become lifelong learners.

These benefits of homework contribute to students’ academic growth, personal development, and readiness for future challenges.

Why is homework so popular?

Homework has gained popularity and become a common practice in education for several reasons:

Homework provides an opportunity for students to reinforce what they have learned in class. It allows them to practice and apply concepts, ensuring better retention and understanding of the subject matter.

Academic Performance

Homework is believed to contribute to improved academic performance. It gives students the chance to practice and refine their skills, review material, and prepare for exams and assessments, ultimately enhancing their overall academic achievement.

Skill Development

Homework promotes the development of important skills such as responsibility, time management, critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent learning. These skills are essential for success not only in academics but also in future careers and personal endeavors.

Parental Involvement

Homework serves as a means for parents to be involved in their child’s education. It provides an opportunity for parents to support and assist their children, fostering a collaborative relationship between home and school. This involvement is seen as beneficial for the overall academic progress and well-being of students.

Preparation for Real-World Responsibilities

Homework prepares students for the demands and responsibilities they will face in the real world. Meeting deadlines, managing tasks, and self-directed learning are skills required beyond the classroom, and homework helps develop these abilities.

Extension of Learning

Homework extends the learning experience beyond the limited time in the classroom. It encourages students to explore topics further, conduct research, and engage in independent study, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the subject matter.

Traditional Educational Practice

Homework has been a longstanding tradition in education, deeply ingrained in the educational system. Its continued use and popularity can be attributed to its historical presence and perceived benefits in reinforcing learning and building academic skills.

While homework may have its critics and varying opinions on its effectiveness, these factors contribute to its popularity as a widely practiced educational tool. It aims to enhance learning, develop important skills, foster parental involvement, and prepare students for future challenges.

Why is homework good for your brain?

Homework offers several benefits for the brain, promoting its growth, development, and overall cognitive abilities. Here’s why homework is good for your brain:

Enhanced Neural Connections

Completing homework tasks engages the brain, creating and reinforcing neural connections. These connections strengthen the pathways between brain cells , allowing for more efficient information processing and improved cognitive function.

Memory Consolidation

Homework involves reviewing and practicing learned material, which aids in memory consolidation. The act of retrieving information from memory and applying it during homework tasks strengthens memory recall and retention, improving overall learning outcomes.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

Homework assignments often require students to think critically, analyze information, and solve problems. Engaging in these cognitive processes stimulates the brain, enhances problem-solving abilities, and develops critical thinking skills necessary for academic success and real-life situations.

Attention and Focus

Homework tasks demand concentration and sustained attention, which contribute to the development of focused cognitive abilities. Regularly practicing sustained attention during homework improves the brain’s ability to concentrate on tasks, leading to improved academic performance and increased productivity in various aspects of life.

Executive Function Skills

Homework helps develop executive function skills, which are essential for planning, organizing, and completing tasks. These skills involve goal setting, time management, prioritization, and self-regulation. Engaging in homework exercises these cognitive processes, strengthening the brain’s executive function abilities.

Creativity and Innovation

Certain homework assignments, such as open-ended projects or creative tasks, stimulate the brain’s creativity and innovation. These activities encourage students to think outside the box, generate unique ideas, and explore alternative solutions. Engaging in creative thinking during homework exercises the brain’s imaginative capacities, fostering a more innovative mindset.

Metacognition

Homework prompts students to reflect on their own learning process, identify strengths and weaknesses, and develop self-awareness. This metacognitive practice enhances the brain’s ability to monitor and regulate its own thinking, leading to improved self-directed learning and metacognitive skills that are transferable to other areas of life.

Time Management and Organization

Homework requires students to manage their time effectively and organize their work. Engaging in these tasks exercises the brain’s planning and organizational skills.

By developing effective time management strategies and organizational techniques, the brain becomes more adept at managing complex tasks and responsibilities.

In summary, homework is good for the brain as it promotes neural connections, memory consolidation, critical thinking, attention, executive function skills, creativity, metacognition, time management, and organization.

By engaging in these cognitive processes during homework, the brain is continually challenged and stimulated, leading to improved cognitive abilities and academic performance.

Note : Also read our blog on Best Ideas for Social Science Topics for Research Papers.

In conclusion, homework plays a vital role in the educational journey of students. It offers numerous benefits that contribute to their learning, development, and future success. By enhancing learning and understanding, reinforcing concepts, and promoting critical thinking, homework ensures a deeper grasp of the subject matter.

Moreover, it fosters responsibility, time management skills, and independent learning, equipping students with valuable life skills. Homework prepares students for exams, cultivates self-discipline, and expands their knowledge base through research and problem-solving tasks.

It reinforces study habits, encourages parental involvement, and enhances organizational and communication skills. By promoting perseverance, creativity, and preparation for real-world responsibilities, homework molds students into well-rounded individuals ready to face challenges.

Ultimately, homework serves as a valuable tool to reinforce classroom learning, extend education beyond the school walls, and set a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Embracing the benefits of homework, students can maximize their educational experience and emerge as confident, capable learners prepared for the demands of the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is homework always beneficial for students.

Homework can be beneficial when designed purposefully and aligned with the learning objectives. However, excessive or poorly designed homework may have limited benefits.

How much time should students spend on homework?

The amount of time students spend on homework can vary based on their grade level and the complexity of the assignments. As a general guideline, educators recommend allocating around 10 minutes per grade level for homework.

Does homework contribute to academic success?

Homework can contribute to academic success by reinforcing learning, promoting independent thinking, and developing crucial skills. However, its impact may vary among individuals and should be balanced with other aspects of a student’s life.

How can parents support their children with homework?

Parents can support their children with homework by providing a quiet and conducive study environment, offering guidance when needed, and showing interest in their child’s academic progress.

Are there alternatives to traditional homework assignments?

Yes, educators are exploring alternative approaches to homework, such as project-based learning and flipped classrooms, which aim to engage students in more interactive and practical learning experiences.

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20 Reasons Why Homework Is Good for Students

Homework has long been a topic of debate in the educational sphere, with arguments both for and against its effectiveness. While some may argue that homework adds unnecessary stress to students’ lives, there are numerous benefits that often go unnoticed. In this blog, we will explore 20 reasons why homework is good, shedding light on its positive impact on students’ academic development and overall well-being.

Why Do Students Hate Homework?

Students’ dislike for homework is a complex issue influenced by various factors. Some common reasons why students may express a dislike for homework include:

• Overwhelming Workload: Excessive amounts of homework can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed. When students have multiple assignments from different classes, it can become challenging to manage their time effectively.
• Lack of Relevance: Students may resist homework if they perceive it as irrelevant or disconnected from their interests and real-world applications. When they don’t see the purpose behind the tasks, motivation can diminish.
• Insufficient Understanding: If students struggle to grasp the concepts taught in class, homework can become a source of frustration. Feeling ill-equipped to complete assignments can lead to a negative attitude towards homework.
• Limited Free Time: With busy schedules filled with extracurricular activities, family commitments, and social engagements, students may perceive homework as an infringement on their limited free time.
• Repetition of Tasks: When homework assignments merely replicate what was covered in class without offering additional challenges or opportunities for creativity, students may find them monotonous and uninspiring.
• Family Dynamics: Students from homes with limited resources or unsupportive environments may find it difficult to complete homework. Factors such as a lack of quiet space, parental involvement, or access to necessary materials can contribute to negative perceptions.
• Teacher-Student Relationship: A strained relationship between students and teachers can impact how students perceive homework. A lack of clarity in expectations, communication issues, or an unsupportive atmosphere can contribute to a negative attitude.
• Learning Differences: Students with learning differences may find certain types of homework more challenging. When assignments don’t accommodate diverse learning styles, it can lead to frustration and a dislike for the tasks.
• Burnout: Continuous academic pressure, including homework, can contribute to burnout. If students feel constantly overwhelmed, it can result in a negative perception of all academic tasks, including homework.
• Lack of Autonomy: Students may resist homework when they feel they have little autonomy in the learning process. Assignments that allow for creativity, choice, and personalization can be more engaging.
• Development of Skills
• Improving Time Management Skills: Homework assignments necessitate careful planning and time allocation. Students learn to manage their time effectively, a skill that proves invaluable in various aspects of life.
• Enhancing Organizational Skills: Juggling multiple assignments and deadlines teaches students to organize their work, fostering habits that will benefit them beyond the classroom.
• Fostering Responsibility and Accountability: Homework instills a sense of responsibility in students, as they become accountable for completing tasks and meeting deadlines, preparing them for future challenges.
• Reinforcement of Classroom Learning
• Providing Additional Practice: Homework offers students extra practice on concepts learned in class, reinforcing their understanding and ensuring a more comprehensive grasp of the material.
• Reinforcing Important Skills and Knowledge: Regular homework assignments help consolidate crucial skills and knowledge, preventing gaps in understanding and promoting a strong foundation for further learning.
• Helping Solidify Understanding Through Repetition: Repetition is a key component of learning. Homework provides the necessary repetition to help students master new concepts and skills.
• Preparation for Tests and Exams
• Valuable Preparation for Assessments: Homework serves as a preparation ground for tests and exams, allowing students to review and apply what they have learned in a controlled setting.
• Identifying Areas of Weakness: Through homework, students can identify areas of weakness and seek additional help, ensuring they enter exams with a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
• Development of Critical Thinking
• Encouraging Independent Problem-Solving: Homework often requires students to think critically and solve problems independently, promoting the development of analytical skills.
• Promoting Analytical Thinking and Reasoning: Critical thinking and reasoning are essential skills in any field. Homework assignments encourage students to think beyond the surface and analyze information more deeply.
• Deepening Understanding of Subjects: Engaging with homework allows students to delve deeper into subjects, fostering a more profound understanding that goes beyond what is covered in class.
• Cultivation of a Strong Work Ethic
• Instilling the Value of Hard Work and Dedication: Completing homework assignments teaches students the value of hard work and dedication, essential qualities for success in academics and life.
• Preparing for Higher Education and the Workforce: The work ethic developed through homework prepares students for the demands of higher education and future careers, where discipline and commitment are key to success.
• Parental Involvement and Awareness
• Facilitating Communication Between Parents and Teachers: Homework serves as a bridge between parents and teachers, providing insights into a student’s progress and facilitating open communication about their academic journey.
• Active Parental Participation in Learning: Parents can actively participate in their child’s learning process by assisting with homework, creating a supportive learning environment at home.
• Bridging Gaps in Understanding
• Revisiting and Clarifying Class Material: Homework assignments offer an opportunity for students to revisit and clarify class material, ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of the curriculum.
• Seeking Clarification on Challenging Concepts: Students can use homework as a platform to seek clarification on concepts they find challenging, promoting a proactive approach to their education.
• Encouragement of Lifelong Learning
• Instilling a Love for Learning Beyond the Classroom: Homework fosters a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom, encouraging students to explore topics independently and pursue knowledge throughout their lives.
• Promoting a Mindset of Continuous Improvement: The habit of engaging with homework instills a mindset of continuous improvement, encouraging students to seek ways to enhance their skills and knowledge.
• Development of Research Skills
• Involvement in Research Assignments: Many homework assignments involve research, providing students with an opportunity to develop and refine their research skills, a valuable asset in academia and beyond.
• Promotion of Creativity
• Allowing for Creative Expression: Certain homework assignments, such as projects and essays, provide students with the chance to express their creativity, fostering innovation and out-of-the-box thinking.
• Fostering Innovation and Out-of-the-Box Thinking: By encouraging creative expression, homework helps students develop the ability to approach problems with innovative solutions, a skill highly sought after in today’s dynamic world.
• Preparation for Real-world Responsibilities
• Teaching the Importance of Meeting Deadlines: Completing homework assignments teaches students the importance of meeting deadlines, a crucial skill that prepares them for the responsibilities of the real world.
• Developing Skills Essential for Professional Life: Homework instills skills such as time management, organization, and responsibility, all of which are essential for success in professional life.
• Individualized Learning Opportunities
• Personalized Practice Based on Individual Needs: Homework allows for personalized practice, catering to individual learning styles and addressing specific needs, promoting a more tailored educational experience.
• Catering to Diverse Learning Styles and Paces: Recognizing that each student learns differently, homework provides opportunities for educators to tailor assignments to cater to diverse learning styles and paces.
• Building a Strong Foundation for Future Learning
• Laying the Groundwork for Advanced Topics: Homework assignments play a crucial role in laying the groundwork for more advanced topics, ensuring students have a solid foundation for future learning.
• Contributing to a Comprehensive Education: A balanced approach to homework contributes to a comprehensive education, offering students a well-rounded understanding of various subjects.
• Improvement of Communication Skills
• Involvement in Written and Oral Communication Assignments: Some homework assignments involve written or oral communication, honing students’ communication skills and enhancing their ability to express ideas clearly.
• Enhancing the Ability to Express Ideas Clearly: Through regular communication-focused assignments, students improve their ability to express ideas clearly and articulate their thoughts effectively.
• Encouragement of Discipline
• Requiring Discipline and Commitment: The completion of homework assignments requires discipline and commitment, instilling habits that contribute to academic success and personal growth.
• Building Habits for Academic Success: The discipline developed through homework builds habits that contribute to academic success, fostering a mindset of excellence and achievement.
• Assessment of Progress
• Providing a Measurable Way to Track Progress: Homework offers a measurable way to track academic progress, allowing both students and educators to assess performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Identifying Areas for Improvement: By reviewing completed homework assignments, students can identify areas for improvement and take proactive steps to enhance their understanding of specific topics.
• Promotion of Self-directed Learning
• Encouraging Initiative in Education: Homework encourages students to take initiative in their education, promoting a sense of ownership and self-directed learning.
• Developing a Sense of Autonomy and Self-reliance: Through self-directed learning, students develop a sense of autonomy and self-reliance, skills that serve them well in academia and beyond.
• Integration of Technology Skills
• Involvement in Technology-focused Assignments: Some homework assignments involve the use of technology, fostering digital literacy and preparing students for the demands of the modern world.
• Fostering Digital Literacy: Engaging with technology in the context of homework assignments enhances students’ digital literacy, a crucial skill in today’s technology-driven society.
• Encouragement of Peer Collaboration

Homework assignments often involve collaborative elements, encouraging students to work together to solve problems or complete projects. 

This fosters a sense of teamwork, enhances communication skills, and exposes students to diverse perspectives, preparing them for collaborative endeavors in their future academic and professional lives.

• Promotion of a Growth Mindset 

Engaging with challenging homework tasks promotes a growth mindset, where students view difficulties as opportunities for learning and improvement rather than insurmountable obstacles. 

This mindset not only enhances resilience but also contributes to a positive attitude towards academic challenges throughout their educational journey.

In conclusion, homework, when approached with a balanced perspective, offers a myriad of benefits (and 20 reasons why homework is good) that contribute significantly to students’ academic success and personal development. 

From the development of essential skills to the promotion of creativity and the preparation for real-world responsibilities, homework plays a crucial role in shaping well-rounded, capable individuals ready to face the challenges of the future. 

It is essential to recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of homework as an integral part of the educational journey.  As educators, parents, and students collaborate to create a supportive learning environment, the potential for harnessing the benefits of homework becomes even more profound, ultimately paving the way for a brighter and more successful academic future.

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Does Homework Really Help Students Learn?

A conversation with a Wheelock researcher, a BU student, and a fourth-grade teacher

“Quality homework is engaging and relevant to kids’ lives,” says Wheelock’s Janine Bempechat. “It gives them autonomy and engages them in the community and with their families. In some subjects, like math, worksheets can be very helpful. It has to do with the value of practicing over and over.” Photo by iStock/Glenn Cook Photography

Do your homework.

If only it were that simple.

Educators have debated the merits of homework since the late 19th century. In recent years, amid concerns of some parents and teachers that children are being stressed out by too much homework, things have only gotten more fraught.

“Homework is complicated,” says developmental psychologist Janine Bempechat, a Wheelock College of Education & Human Development clinical professor. The author of the essay “ The Case for (Quality) Homework—Why It Improves Learning and How Parents Can Help ” in the winter 2019 issue of Education Next , Bempechat has studied how the debate about homework is influencing teacher preparation, parent and student beliefs about learning, and school policies.

She worries especially about socioeconomically disadvantaged students from low-performing schools who, according to research by Bempechat and others, get little or no homework.

BU Today  sat down with Bempechat and Erin Bruce (Wheelock’17,’18), a new fourth-grade teacher at a suburban Boston school, and future teacher freshman Emma Ardizzone (Wheelock) to talk about what quality homework looks like, how it can help children learn, and how schools can equip teachers to design it, evaluate it, and facilitate parents’ role in it.

BU Today: Parents and educators who are against homework in elementary school say there is no research definitively linking it to academic performance for kids in the early grades. You’ve said that they’re missing the point.

Bempechat : I think teachers assign homework in elementary school as a way to help kids develop skills they’ll need when they’re older—to begin to instill a sense of responsibility and to learn planning and organizational skills. That’s what I think is the greatest value of homework—in cultivating beliefs about learning and skills associated with academic success. If we greatly reduce or eliminate homework in elementary school, we deprive kids and parents of opportunities to instill these important learning habits and skills.

We do know that beginning in late middle school, and continuing through high school, there is a strong and positive correlation between homework completion and academic success.

That’s what I think is the greatest value of homework—in cultivating beliefs about learning and skills associated with academic success.

You talk about the importance of quality homework. What is that?

Quality homework is engaging and relevant to kids’ lives. It gives them autonomy and engages them in the community and with their families. In some subjects, like math, worksheets can be very helpful. It has to do with the value of practicing over and over.

What are your concerns about homework and low-income children?

The argument that some people make—that homework “punishes the poor” because lower-income parents may not be as well-equipped as affluent parents to help their children with homework—is very troubling to me. There are no parents who don’t care about their children’s learning. Parents don’t actually have to help with homework completion in order for kids to do well. They can help in other ways—by helping children organize a study space, providing snacks, being there as a support, helping children work in groups with siblings or friends.

Isn’t the discussion about getting rid of homework happening mostly in affluent communities?

Yes, and the stories we hear of kids being stressed out from too much homework—four or five hours of homework a night—are real. That’s problematic for physical and mental health and overall well-being. But the research shows that higher-income students get a lot more homework than lower-income kids.

Teachers may not have as high expectations for lower-income children. Schools should bear responsibility for providing supports for kids to be able to get their homework done—after-school clubs, community support, peer group support. It does kids a disservice when our expectations are lower for them.

The conversation around homework is to some extent a social class and social justice issue. If we eliminate homework for all children because affluent children have too much, we’re really doing a disservice to low-income children. They need the challenge, and every student can rise to the challenge with enough supports in place.

What did you learn by studying how education schools are preparing future teachers to handle homework?

My colleague, Margarita Jimenez-Silva, at the University of California, Davis, School of Education, and I interviewed faculty members at education schools, as well as supervising teachers, to find out how students are being prepared. And it seemed that they weren’t. There didn’t seem to be any readings on the research, or conversations on what high-quality homework is and how to design it.

Erin, what kind of training did you get in handling homework?

Bruce : I had phenomenal professors at Wheelock, but homework just didn’t come up. I did lots of student teaching. I’ve been in classrooms where the teachers didn’t assign any homework, and I’ve been in rooms where they assigned hours of homework a night. But I never even considered homework as something that was my decision. I just thought it was something I’d pull out of a book and it’d be done.

I started giving homework on the first night of school this year. My first assignment was to go home and draw a picture of the room where you do your homework. I want to know if it’s at a table and if there are chairs around it and if mom’s cooking dinner while you’re doing homework.

The second night I asked them to talk to a grown-up about how are you going to be able to get your homework done during the week. The kids really enjoyed it. There’s a running joke that I’m teaching life skills.

Friday nights, I read all my kids’ responses to me on their homework from the week and it’s wonderful. They pour their hearts out. It’s like we’re having a conversation on my couch Friday night.

It matters to know that the teacher cares about you and that what you think matters to the teacher. Homework is a vehicle to connect home and school…for parents to know teachers are welcoming to them and their families.

Bempechat : I can’t imagine that most new teachers would have the intuition Erin had in designing homework the way she did.

Ardizzone : Conversations with kids about homework, feeling you’re being listened to—that’s such a big part of wanting to do homework….I grew up in Westchester County. It was a pretty demanding school district. My junior year English teacher—I loved her—she would give us feedback, have meetings with all of us. She’d say, “If you have any questions, if you have anything you want to talk about, you can talk to me, here are my office hours.” It felt like she actually cared.

Bempechat : It matters to know that the teacher cares about you and that what you think matters to the teacher. Homework is a vehicle to connect home and school…for parents to know teachers are welcoming to them and their families.

Ardizzone : But can’t it lead to parents being overbearing and too involved in their children’s lives as students?

Bempechat : There’s good help and there’s bad help. The bad help is what you’re describing—when parents hover inappropriately, when they micromanage, when they see their children confused and struggling and tell them what to do.

Good help is when parents recognize there’s a struggle going on and instead ask informative questions: “Where do you think you went wrong?” They give hints, or pointers, rather than saying, “You missed this,” or “You didn’t read that.”

Bruce : I hope something comes of this. I hope BU or Wheelock can think of some way to make this a more pressing issue. As a first-year teacher, it was not something I even thought about on the first day of school—until a kid raised his hand and said, “Do we have homework?” It would have been wonderful if I’d had a plan from day one.

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Senior Contributing Editor

Sara Rimer A journalist for more than three decades, Sara Rimer worked at the Miami Herald , Washington Post and, for 26 years, the New York Times , where she was the New England bureau chief, and a national reporter covering education, aging, immigration, and other social justice issues. Her stories on the death penalty’s inequities were nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and cited in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision outlawing the execution of people with intellectual disabilities. Her journalism honors include Columbia University’s Meyer Berger award for in-depth human interest reporting. She holds a BA degree in American Studies from the University of Michigan. Profile

She can be reached at [email protected] .

Comments & Discussion

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There are 81 comments on Does Homework Really Help Students Learn?

Insightful! The values about homework in elementary schools are well aligned with my intuition as a parent.

when i finish my work i do my homework and i sometimes forget what to do because i did not get enough sleep

same omg it does not help me it is stressful and if I have it in more than one class I hate it.

Same I think my parent wants to help me but, she doesn’t care if I get bad grades so I just try my best and my grades are great.

I think that last question about Good help from parents is not know to all parents, we do as our parents did or how we best think it can be done, so maybe coaching parents or giving them resources on how to help with homework would be very beneficial for the parent on how to help and for the teacher to have consistency and improve homework results, and of course for the child. I do see how homework helps reaffirm the knowledge obtained in the classroom, I also have the ability to see progress and it is a time I share with my kids

The answer to the headline question is a no-brainer – a more pressing problem is why there is a difference in how students from different cultures succeed. Perfect example is the student population at BU – why is there a majority population of Asian students and only about 3% black students at BU? In fact at some universities there are law suits by Asians to stop discrimination and quotas against admitting Asian students because the real truth is that as a group they are demonstrating better qualifications for admittance, while at the same time there are quotas and reduced requirements for black students to boost their portion of the student population because as a group they do more poorly in meeting admissions standards – and it is not about the Benjamins. The real problem is that in our PC society no one has the gazuntas to explore this issue as it may reveal that all people are not created equal after all. Or is it just environmental cultural differences??????

I get you have a concern about the issue but that is not even what the point of this article is about. If you have an issue please take this to the site we have and only post your opinion about the actual topic

This is not at all what the article is talking about.

This literally has nothing to do with the article brought up. You should really take your opinions somewhere else before you speak about something that doesn’t make sense.

we have the same name

so they have the same name what of it?

lol you tell her

totally agree

What does that have to do with homework, that is not what the article talks about AT ALL.

Yes, I think homework plays an important role in the development of student life. Through homework, students have to face challenges on a daily basis and they try to solve them quickly.I am an intense online tutor at 24x7homeworkhelp and I give homework to my students at that level in which they handle it easily.

More than two-thirds of students said they used alcohol and drugs, primarily marijuana, to cope with stress.

You know what’s funny? I got this assignment to write an argument for homework about homework and this article was really helpful and understandable, and I also agree with this article’s point of view.

I also got the same task as you! I was looking for some good resources and I found this! I really found this article useful and easy to understand, just like you! ^^

i think that homework is the best thing that a child can have on the school because it help them with their thinking and memory.

I am a child myself and i think homework is a terrific pass time because i can’t play video games during the week. It also helps me set goals.

Homework is not harmful ,but it will if there is too much

I feel like, from a minors point of view that we shouldn’t get homework. Not only is the homework stressful, but it takes us away from relaxing and being social. For example, me and my friends was supposed to hang at the mall last week but we had to postpone it since we all had some sort of work to do. Our minds shouldn’t be focused on finishing an assignment that in realty, doesn’t matter. I completely understand that we should have homework. I have to write a paper on the unimportance of homework so thanks.

homework isn’t that bad

Are you a student? if not then i don’t really think you know how much and how severe todays homework really is

i am a student and i do not enjoy homework because i practice my sport 4 out of the five days we have school for 4 hours and that’s not even counting the commute time or the fact i still have to shower and eat dinner when i get home. its draining!

i totally agree with you. these people are such boomers

why just why

they do make a really good point, i think that there should be a limit though. hours and hours of homework can be really stressful, and the extra work isn’t making a difference to our learning, but i do believe homework should be optional and extra credit. that would make it for students to not have the leaning stress of a assignment and if you have a low grade you you can catch up.

Studies show that homework improves student achievement in terms of improved grades, test results, and the likelihood to attend college. Research published in the High School Journal indicates that students who spent between 31 and 90 minutes each day on homework “scored about 40 points higher on the SAT-Mathematics subtest than their peers, who reported spending no time on homework each day, on average.” On both standardized tests and grades, students in classes that were assigned homework outperformed 69% of students who didn’t have homework. A majority of studies on homework’s impact – 64% in one meta-study and 72% in another – showed that take home assignments were effective at improving academic achievement. Research by the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) concluded that increased homework led to better GPAs and higher probability of college attendance for high school boys. In fact, boys who attended college did more than three hours of additional homework per week in high school.

So how are your measuring student achievement? That’s the real question. The argument that doing homework is simply a tool for teaching responsibility isn’t enough for me. We can teach responsibility in a number of ways. Also the poor argument that parents don’t need to help with homework, and that students can do it on their own, is wishful thinking at best. It completely ignores neurodiverse students. Students in poverty aren’t magically going to find a space to do homework, a friend’s or siblings to help them do it, and snacks to eat. I feel like the author of this piece has never set foot in a classroom of students.

THIS. This article is pathetic coming from a university. So intellectually dishonest, refusing to address the havoc of capitalism and poverty plays on academic success in life. How can they in one sentence use poor kids in an argument and never once address that poor children have access to damn near 0 of the resources affluent kids have? Draw me a picture and let’s talk about feelings lmao what a joke is that gonna put food in their belly so they can have the calories to burn in order to use their brain to study? What about quiet their 7 other siblings that they share a single bedroom with for hours? Is it gonna force the single mom to magically be at home and at work at the same time to cook food while you study and be there to throw an encouraging word?

Also the “parents don’t need to be a parent and be able to guide their kid at all academically they just need to exist in the next room” is wild. Its one thing if a parent straight up is not equipped but to say kids can just figured it out is…. wow coming from an educator What’s next the teacher doesn’t need to teach cause the kid can just follow the packet and figure it out?

Well then get a tutor right? Oh wait you are poor only affluent kids can afford a tutor for their hours of homework a day were they on average have none of the worries a poor child does. Does this address that poor children are more likely to also suffer abuse and mental illness? Like mentioned what about kids that can’t learn or comprehend the forced standardized way? Just let em fail? These children regularly are not in “special education”(some of those are a joke in their own and full of neglect and abuse) programs cause most aren’t even acknowledged as having disabilities or disorders.

But yes all and all those pesky poor kids just aren’t being worked hard enough lol pretty sure poor children’s existence just in childhood is more work, stress, and responsibility alone than an affluent child’s entire life cycle. Love they never once talked about the quality of education in the classroom being so bad between the poor and affluent it can qualify as segregation, just basically blamed poor people for being lazy, good job capitalism for failing us once again!

why the hell?

you should feel bad for saying this, this article can be helpful for people who has to write a essay about it

This is more of a political rant than it is about homework

I know a teacher who has told his students their homework is to find something they are interested in, pursue it and then come share what they learn. The student responses are quite compelling. One girl taught herself German so she could talk to her grandfather. One boy did a research project on Nelson Mandela because the teacher had mentioned him in class. Another boy, a both on the autism spectrum, fixed his family’s computer. The list goes on. This is fourth grade. I think students are highly motivated to learn, when we step aside and encourage them.

The whole point of homework is to give the students a chance to use the material that they have been presented with in class. If they never have the opportunity to use that information, and discover that it is actually useful, it will be in one ear and out the other. As a science teacher, it is critical that the students are challenged to use the material they have been presented with, which gives them the opportunity to actually think about it rather than regurgitate “facts”. Well designed homework forces the student to think conceptually, as opposed to regurgitation, which is never a pretty sight

Wonderful discussion. and yes, homework helps in learning and building skills in students.

not true it just causes kids to stress

Homework can be both beneficial and unuseful, if you will. There are students who are gifted in all subjects in school and ones with disabilities. Why should the students who are gifted get the lucky break, whereas the people who have disabilities suffer? The people who were born with this “gift” go through school with ease whereas people with disabilities struggle with the work given to them. I speak from experience because I am one of those students: the ones with disabilities. Homework doesn’t benefit “us”, it only tears us down and put us in an abyss of confusion and stress and hopelessness because we can’t learn as fast as others. Or we can’t handle the amount of work given whereas the gifted students go through it with ease. It just brings us down and makes us feel lost; because no mater what, it feels like we are destined to fail. It feels like we weren’t “cut out” for success.

homework does help

here is the thing though, if a child is shoved in the face with a whole ton of homework that isn’t really even considered homework it is assignments, it’s not helpful. the teacher should make homework more of a fun learning experience rather than something that is dreaded

This article was wonderful, I am going to ask my teachers about extra, or at all giving homework.

I agree. Especially when you have homework before an exam. Which is distasteful as you’ll need that time to study. It doesn’t make any sense, nor does us doing homework really matters as It’s just facts thrown at us.

Homework is too severe and is just too much for students, schools need to decrease the amount of homework. When teachers assign homework they forget that the students have other classes that give them the same amount of homework each day. Students need to work on social skills and life skills.

I disagree.

Beyond achievement, proponents of homework argue that it can have many other beneficial effects. They claim it can help students develop good study habits so they are ready to grow as their cognitive capacities mature. It can help students recognize that learning can occur at home as well as at school. Homework can foster independent learning and responsible character traits. And it can give parents an opportunity to see what’s going on at school and let them express positive attitudes toward achievement.

Homework is helpful because homework helps us by teaching us how to learn a specific topic.

As a student myself, I can say that I have almost never gotten the full 9 hours of recommended sleep time, because of homework. (Now I’m writing an essay on it in the middle of the night D=)

I am a 10 year old kid doing a report about “Is homework good or bad” for homework before i was going to do homework is bad but the sources from this site changed my mind!

Homeowkr is god for stusenrs

I agree with hunter because homework can be so stressful especially with this whole covid thing no one has time for homework and every one just wants to get back to there normal lives it is especially stressful when you go on a 2 week vaca 3 weeks into the new school year and and then less then a week after you come back from the vaca you are out for over a month because of covid and you have no way to get the assignment done and turned in

As great as homework is said to be in the is article, I feel like the viewpoint of the students was left out. Every where I go on the internet researching about this topic it almost always has interviews from teachers, professors, and the like. However isn’t that a little biased? Of course teachers are going to be for homework, they’re not the ones that have to stay up past midnight completing the homework from not just one class, but all of them. I just feel like this site is one-sided and you should include what the students of today think of spending four hours every night completing 6-8 classes worth of work.

Are we talking about homework or practice? Those are two very different things and can result in different outcomes.

Homework is a graded assignment. I do not know of research showing the benefits of graded assignments going home.

Practice; however, can be extremely beneficial, especially if there is some sort of feedback (not a grade but feedback). That feedback can come from the teacher, another student or even an automated grading program.

As a former band director, I assigned daily practice. I never once thought it would be appropriate for me to require the students to turn in a recording of their practice for me to grade. Instead, I had in-class assignments/assessments that were graded and directly related to the practice assigned.

I would really like to read articles on “homework” that truly distinguish between the two.

oof i feel bad good luck!

thank you guys for the artical because I have to finish an assingment. yes i did cite it but just thanks

thx for the article guys.

Homework is good

I think homework is helpful AND harmful. Sometimes u can’t get sleep bc of homework but it helps u practice for school too so idk.

I agree with this Article. And does anyone know when this was published. I would like to know.

It was published FEb 19, 2019.

Studies have shown that homework improved student achievement in terms of improved grades, test results, and the likelihood to attend college.

i think homework can help kids but at the same time not help kids

This article is so out of touch with majority of homes it would be laughable if it wasn’t so incredibly sad.

There is no value to homework all it does is add stress to already stressed homes. Parents or adults magically having the time or energy to shepherd kids through homework is dome sort of 1950’s fantasy.

What lala land do these teachers live in?

Homework gives noting to the kid

Homework is Bad

homework is bad.

why do kids even have homework?

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15 Surprising Benefits of Homework for Students

• The importance of homework for students
• 3 Helpful tips to do your homework effectively
• 15 benefits of homework

Homework is an important component of the learning and growing process. It is a common practice for students to develop their skills and learn new information.

Homework is simply a general term that we use to describe work that you have to do at home. Typically, it’s assigned by the teacher during school hours and meant to be completed after school in the evenings or weekends.

Homework is loved and hated by many, but it is an integral part of education. It is not just a boring part of the learning process. It has a lot to offer!

The Importance of Homework for Students

So, why should students have homework? According to research conducted by Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper , there was a positive relation between homework and student achievement. He found out that homework can help students perform better in school.

This shows the importance of homework in a student’s life. Homework is not always popular with students because it takes away their free time at home.

However, there are many benefits associated with homework.  Homework helps students understand the material in greater depth. Moreover, it allows teachers to assess how much the student has learned.

Tips for Doing Your Homework Faster

It is important to have a homework routine. A routine will help you know what to expect at the end of the day, and it will give you time to digest what you learned.

In addition, a routine will help you to be stress-free because you won’t be worrying about when to start your homework or whether you’re going to finish it on time.

So, here are some tips on how to set up a good homework routine:

• Find a place in the house where you can study without interruption.
• Set a timer for how long each assignment should take.
• Make sure your table is neat and that you have all of your materials ready before starting.

These tips will surely make your student life easier and put you on the right track towards higher grades!

The Benefits of Homework for Students

There are numerous reasons why homework is given in schools and colleges. Students can reap the benefits even in their professional lives.

But what exactly are the benefits of homework and how can it help students? Let us take a look at some of them:

1. Students Learn the Importance of Time Management

They will learn to balance play and work. Students will also learn to complete assignments within deadlines by learning to prioritize their time.

It helps them understand the importance of time management skills . When they are assigned a project or a test, they will know when it is due, how much time they have to complete it, and what they need to do.

This also helps them in their future careers. Employees must be able to manage their time efficiently in order to be successful.

If a project is due soon, employees should take effective steps to get it done on time. Homeworks in the schooling years teaches this practice of time management.

2. Promotes Self-Learning

Students get more time to review the content and this promotes self-learning . This is a big advantage of homework.

It also promotes continuous learning as students can revise their syllabus on their own. Homework gives them an opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities.

3. Helps Teachers Assess a Student’s Learning

Homeworks help teachers track how well the students are grasping the content . They can modify their teaching methods based on the responses they receive from their students.

4. Teaches Students to Be Responsible

Students learn to become independent learners as they do their homework without any help from the teacher.

Studying at home also motivates students to study harder in order to achieve better results. This encourages them to take up more responsibilities at home too.

5. Boosts Memory Retention

Homework provides practice time to recall concepts discussed in class, thereby enabling students to memorize facts and figures taught at school.

One of the advantages of homework is that it sharpens memory power and concentration.

6. Enables Parents to Track a Student’s Performance

Parents can assess how well their children are doing with regard to academic performance by checking their homework assignments.

This gives parents a chance to discuss with teachers about improving their child’s performance at school .

7. Allows Students to Revise Content

Revising together with other students can also help with understanding  information because it gives you another perspective, as well as an opportunity to ask questions and engage with others.

8. Practice Makes Perfect

Doing homework has numerous benefits for students. One of them is that it helps students learn the concepts in depth.

Homework teaches them how to apply the concepts to solve a problem. It gives them experience on how to solve problems using different techniques.

9. Develops Persistence

When students do their homework, they have to work hard to find all the possible solutions to a problem.

They have to try out different methods until they reach a solution that works. This teaches them perseverance and helps them develop their determination and grit to keep working hard.

10. Helps Them to Learn New Skills

Homework is important because it helps students to learn new and advanced skills. It promotes self-study, research and time management skills within students.

It also builds their confidence in tackling problems independently without constant help from teachers and parents.

11. Helps in Building a Positive Attitude Towards Learning

12. Students Can Explore Their Areas of Interest

Homework helps in building curiosity about a subject that excites them. Homework gives students an opportunity to immerse themselves in a subject matter.

When they become curious, they themselves take the initiative to learn more about it.

13. Encourages In-Depth Understanding of The Concepts

Homeworks allow students to learn the subject in a more detailed manner. It gives students the chance to recall and go over the content.

This will lead to better understanding and they will be able to remember the information for a long time.

14. Minimizes Screen Time:

Homework is not only a great way to get students to do their work themselves, but it can also encourage them to reduce screen time.

Homework gives students a good reason to stay off their computers and phones. Homework promotes the productive use of time .

15. Helps Develop Good Study Habits

The more they do their homework, the better they will get it. They will learn to manage their time in a more effective way and be able to do their work at a faster rate.

Moreover, they will be able to develop a good work ethic, which will help them in their future careers.

We all know that too much of anything can be bad. Homework is no different. If the workload of the students is too much, then it can lead to unnecessary stress .

Therefore, it is necessary for teachers to be mindful of the workload of students. That way, students will be able to enjoy their free time and actually enjoy doing homework instead of seeing it as a burden.

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Why homework matters

Homework is the perennial bogeyman of K–12 education. Any given year, you’ll find people arguing that students, especially those in elementary school, should have far less homework—or none at all . I have the opposite opinion. The longer I run schools—and it has now been more than sixteen years—the more convinced I am that homework is not only necessary, but a linchpin to effective K–12 education.

It is important to remember that kids only spend a fraction of their time in school. The learning that does or does not take place in the many hours outside of school has a monumental effect on children’s academic success and is a root cause of educational inequity.

The pandemic gave us a stark demonstration of this reality. Achievement gaps widened between affluent and low-income children not only because low-income students received less in-person or high-quality online instruction during the years of disrupted school, but also because children of college-educated and affluent parents were already less dependent on schools for learning. Affluent children are far more likely to have the privilege of tutors or other types of supplementary instruction, as well as a family culture of reading, and opportunities to travel, visit museums, and more. Homework is a powerful tool to help narrow these inequities, giving children from all backgrounds the opportunity to keep learning when they are not in school.

At Success Academy, the charter school network I founded and lead, we seek to develop students as lifelong learners who have the confidence and curiosity to pursue and build knowledge in all facets of their lives. Homework cultivates these mindsets and habits. Indeed, when teachers don’t assign homework, it reflects an unconscious conviction that kids can’t learn without adults. Kids internalize this message and come to believe they need their teacher to gain knowledge. In reality, they are more than capable of learning all sorts of things on their own. Discovering this fact can be both incredibly exciting and deeply empowering for them.

We also know that none of these benefits accrue when homework is mere busywork. Low-quality homework is likely what drives the mixed research evidence on the impact of homework on student achievement. It also sends the message to kids that doing it is simply an exercise in compliance and not worth their time. Homework must be challenging and purposeful for kids to recognize its value.

For this reason, at Success, we take great care with the design of our homework assignments, ensuring they are engaging and relevant to what takes place in class the next day. When done well, homework can be a form of the “flipped classroom”—a model developed by ed tech innovators to make large college lecture classes more engaging. In flipped classrooms, students learn everything they can on their own at home (in the original conception, via recorded lectures); class time builds on what they learned to address confusion and elevate their thinking to a more sophisticated level. It’s an approach that both respects kids’ capacity to learn independently, and assumes that out-of-class learning will drive the content and pace of the in-person lesson. 

Students always need a “why” for the things we ask them to do, and designing homework this way is motivating for them because it gives them that clear why. Class is engaging and interesting when they are prepared; when they aren’t, they won’t have the satisfaction of participating.

At this point, some teachers may be saying, “I can’t get my kids to hand in a worksheet, let alone rely on them to learn on their own.” And of course, effective use of homework in class relies on creating a strong system of accountability for getting kids to do it. This can be hard for teachers. It’s uncomfortable to lean into students’ lives outside of school, and many educators feel they don’t have that right. But getting over that discomfort is best for kids.

Educators should embrace setting an exacting norm for completing homework. This should include a schoolwide grading policy—at Success schools, missing and incomplete homework assignments receive a zero; students can get partial credit for work handed in late; and middle and high schoolers can revise their homework for a better grade—as well as consistently and explicitly noticing when kids are or are not prepared and offering praise and consequences. Enlisting parents’ help in this area is also highly effective. I guarantee they will be grateful to be kept informed of how well their children are meeting their responsibilities!

Ultimately, minimizing homework or getting rid of it entirely denies children autonomy and prevents them from discovering what they are capable of. As we work to repair the academic damage from the last two-plus years, I encourage educators to focus not on the quantity of homework, but instead on its quality—and on using it effectively in class. By doing so, they will accelerate kids’ engagement with school, and propel them as assured, autonomous learners and thinkers who can thrive in college and beyond.

Eva Moskowitz is the CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools .

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Curriculum and Instruction

Key Lessons: What Research Says About the Value of Homework

Whether homework helps students — and how much homework is appropriate — has been debated for many years. Homework has been in the headlines again recently and continues to be a topic of controversy, with claims that students and families are suffering under the burden of huge amounts of homework. School board members, educators, and parents may wish to turn to the research for answers to their questions about the benefits and drawbacks of homework. Unfortunately, the research has produced mixed results so far, and more research is needed. Nonetheless, there are some findings that can help to inform decisions about homework. What follows is a summary of the research to date:

There is no conclusive evidence that homework increases student achievement across the board. Some studies show positive effects of homework under certain conditions and for certain students, some show no effects, and some suggest negative effects (Kohn 2006; Trautwein and Koller 2003).

Some studies have shown that older students gain more academic benefits from homework than do younger students, perhaps because younger students have less-effective study habits and are more easily distracted (Cooper 1989; Hoover-Dempsey et al. 2001; Leone and Richards 1989; Muhlenbruck et al. 2000).

Some researchers believe that students from higher-income homes have more resources (such as computers) and receive more assistance with homework, while low-income students may have fewer resources and less assistance and are therefore less likely to complete the homework and reap any related benefits (McDermott, Goldmen and Varenne 1984; Scott-Jones 1984).

Students with learning disabilities can benefit from homework if appropriate supervision and monitoring are provided (Cooper and Nye 1994; Rosenberg 1989).

A national study of the influence of homework on student grades across five ethnic groups found that homework had a stronger impact on Asian American students than on students of other ethnicities (Keith and Benson, 1992).

Certain nonacademic benefits of homework have been shown, especially for younger students. Indeed, some primary-level teachers may assign homework for such benefits, which include learning the importance of responsibility, managing time, developing study habits, and staying with a task until it is completed (Cooper, Robinson and Patall 2006; Corno and Xu 2004; Johnson and Pontius 1989; Warton 2001).

While research on the optimum amount of time students should spend on homework is limited, there are indications that for high school students, 1½ to 2½ hours per night is optimum. Middle school students appear to benefit from smaller amounts (less than 1 hour per night). When students spend more time than this on homework, the positive relationship with student achievement diminishes (Cooper, Robinson, and Patall 2006).

Some research has shown that students who spend more time on homework score higher on measures of achievement and attitude. Studies that have delved more deeply into this topic suggest, however, that the amount of homework assigned by teachers is unrelated to student achievement, while the amount of homework actually completed by students is associated with higher achievement (Cooper 2001; Cooper, Lindsay, Nye, and Greathouse 1998).

Studies of after-school programs that provide homework assistance have found few definite links to improved student achievement. Several studies, however, noted improvements in student motivation and work habits, which may indirectly affect achievement (Cosden, Morrison, Albanese, and Macias 2001; James-Burdumy et al. 2005).

Homework assignments that require interaction between students and parents result in higher levels of parent involvement and are more likely to be turned in than noninteractive assignments. Some studies have shown, however, that parent involvement in homework has no impact on student achievement. Other studies indicate that students whose parents are more involved in their homework have lower test scores and class grades — but this may be because the students were already lower performing and needed more help from their parents than did higher-performing students. (Balli, Wedman, and Demo 1997; Cooper, Lindsay, and Nye 2000; Epstein 1988; Van Voorhis 2003).

Most teachers assign homework to reinforce what was presented in class or to prepare students for new material. Less commonly, homework is assigned to extend student learning to different contexts or to integrate learning by applying multiple skills around a project. Little research exists on the effects of these different kinds of homework on student achievement, leaving policymakers with little evidence on which to base decisions (Cooper 1989; Foyle 1985; Murphy and Decker 1989).

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Balli, S. J., Wedman, J. F., & Demo, D. H. (1997). Family involvement with middle-grades homework: Effects of differential prompting. Journal of Experimental Education, 66, 31-48.

Cooper, H. (1989). Homework. White Plains, N.Y.: Longman.

Cooper, H. (2001). Homework for all — in moderation. Educational Leadership, 58, 34-38.

Cooper, H., Lindsay, J. J, Nye, B., & Greathouse, S. (1998). Relationships among attitudes about homework, amount of homework assigned and completed, and student achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(1), 70-83.

Cooper, H., & Nye, B. (1994). Homework for students with learning disabilities: The implications of research for policy and practice. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 27, 470-479.

Cooper, H., Nye, B.A., & Lindsay, J.J. (2000). Homework in the home: How student, family and parenting style differences relate to the homework process. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(4), 464-487.

Cooper, H., Robinson, J. C., & Patall, E. A. (2006). Does homework improve academic achievement? A synthesis of research. Review of Educational Research, 76, 1-62.

Corno, L., & Xu, J. (2004). Homework as the job of childhood. Theory Into Practice, 43, 227-233.

Cosden, M., Morrison, G., Albanese, A. L., & Macias, S. (2001). When homework is not home work: After-school programs for homework assistance. Educational Psychologist, 36(3), 211-221.

Epstein, J. L. (1998). Homework practices, achievements, and behaviors of elementary school students. Baltimore: Center for Research on Elementary and Middle Schools. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED301322]

Foyle, H. C. (1985). The effects of preparation and practice homework on student achievement in tenth-grade American history (Doctoral dissertation, Kansas State University, 1985). Dissertation Abstracts International, 45, 8A.

Hoover-Dempsey, K. V., Battiato, A. C., Walker, J. M. T., Reed, R. P., DeJong, J. M. & Jones, K. P. (2001). Parental involvement in homework. Educational Psychologist, 36, 195-209.

James-Burdumy, S., Dynarski, M., Moore, M., Deke, J., Mansfield, W., Pistorino, C. & Warner, E. (2005). When Schools Stay Open Late: The National Evaluation of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education/Institute of Education Sciences National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance.

Johnson, J. K., & Pontius, A. (1989). Homework: A survey of teacher beliefs and practices. Research in Education, 41, 71-78.

Keith, T. Z., & Benson, M. J. (1992). Effects of manipulable influences on high school grades across five ethnic groups. Journal of Educational Research, 86, 85-93.

Kohn, A. (2006, September). Abusing research: The study of homework and other examples. Phi Delta Kappan, 8-22.

Leone, C. M., & Richards, M. H. (1989). Classwork and homework in early adolescence: The ecology of achievement. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 18, 531-548.

McDermott, R. P., Goldman, S. V., & Varenne, H. (1984). When school goes home: Some problems in the organization of homework [Abstract]. Teachers College Record, 85, 391-409.

Muhlenbruck, L., Cooper, H., Nye, B., & Lindsay, J. J. (2000). Homework and achievement: explaining the different strengths of relation at the elementary and secondary school levels. Social Psychology of Education, 3, 295-317.

Murphy, J. & Decker, K. (1989). Teachers’ use of homework in high schools. Journal of Educational Research, 82(5), 261-269.

Rosenberg, M. S. (1989). The effects of daily homework assignments on the acquisition of basic skills by students with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 22, 314-323.

Scott-Jones, D. (1984). Family influences on cognitive development and school achievement. Review of Research in Education, 11, 259-304.

Trautwein, U., & Koller, O. (2003). The relationship between homework and achievement — still much of a mystery. Educational Psychology Review, 15, 115-145.

Van Voorhis, F. L. (2003). Interactive homework in middle school: Effects on family involvements and science achievement. Journal of Educational Research, 96(6), 323-338.

Warton, P. M. (2001). The forgotten voice in homework: Views of students. Educational Psychologist, 36, 155-165.

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The Value of Homework

Are teachers assigning too much homework.

Posted September 5, 2016 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

• Studies show that the benefits of homework peak at about one hour to 90 minutes, and then after that, test scores begin to decline.
• Research has found that high school teachers (grades 9-12) report assigning an average of 3.5 hours’ worth of homework a week.
• While homework is necessary, there needs to be balance as well as communication between teachers about the amount of homework being assigned.

The value of homework has been the subject of debate over the years. In regards to research, the jury is still out as to whether homework positively impacts a student's academic achievement.

In the past, I have written a couple of posts on homework and whether or not it is being used or abused by educators. I am always amazed at what some of my young readers share about sleepless nights, not participating in extracurricular events, and high levels of stress —all of which are attributed to large and daunting amounts of homework .

There have been studies that show that doing homework in moderation improves test performance. So we can’t rule out the value of homework if it’s conducive to learning. However, studies have also shown that the benefits of homework peak at about one hour to 90 minutes, and then after that, test scores begin to decline.

Now, while looking at data, it’s important to review the standard, endorsed by the National Education Association and the National Parent-Teacher Association , known as the "10-minute rule" — 10 minutes of homework per grade level per night. That would mean there would only be 10 minutes of homework in the first grade, and end with 120 minutes for senior year of high school (double what research shows beneficial). This leads to an important question: On average, how much homework do teachers assign?

Typical homework amounts

A Harris Poll from the University of Phoenix surveyed teachers about the hours of homework required of students and why they assign it. Pollsters received responses from approximately 1,000 teachers in public, private, and parochial schools across the United States.

High school teachers (grades 9-12) reported assigning an average of 3.5 hours’ worth of homework a week. Middle school teachers (grades 6-8) reported assigning almost the same amount as high school teachers, 3.2 hours of homework a week. Lastly, K-5 teachers said they assigned an average of 2.9 hours of homework each week. This data shows a spike in homework beginning in middle school.

Why homework is assigned

When teachers were asked why they assign homework, they gave the top three reasons:

• to see how well students understand lessons
• to help students develop essential problem-solving skills
• to show parents what's being learned in school

Approximately, 30 percent of teachers reported they assigned homework to cover more content areas. What’s interesting about this poll was the longer an educator had been in the field the less homework they assigned. Take a look at the breakdown below:

• 3.6 hours (teachers with less than 10 years in the classroom)
• 3.1 hours (teachers with 10 to 19 years in the classroom)
• 2.8 hours (teachers with more than 20 years in the classroom)

The need for balance

While many agree that homework does have a time and place, there needs to be a balance between life and school. There also needs to be communication with other teachers in the school about assignments. Oftentimes, educators get so involved in their subject area, they communicate departmentally, not school-wide. As a result, it’s not uncommon for teens to have a project and a couple of tests all on the same day. This dump of work can lead to an overwhelming amount of stress.

Questions for educators

Educators, how can you maximize the benefit of homework? Use the questions below to guide you in whether or not to assign work outside of the classroom. Ask yourself:

• Do I need to assign homework or can this be done in class?
• Does this assignment contribute and supplement the lesson reviewed in class?
• Do students have all of the information they need to do this assignment? In others words, are they prepared to do the homework?
• What are you wanting your students to achieve from this assignment? Do you have a specific objective and intended outcome in mind?
• How much time will the assignment take to complete? Have you given your students a sufficient amount of time?
• Have you taken into account other coursework that your students have due?
• How can you incorporate student choice and feedback into your classroom?
• How can you monitor whether or not you are overloading your students?

What kids think of homework

Educators: As a conclusion, I have provided a few of the many comments, that I have received below. I think it’s important to look at the age/grade level and messages these teens have shared. Take time to read their words and reflect on ways you can incorporate their perspective into course objectives and content. I believe the solution to the homework dilemma can be found in assigning work in moderation and finding a balance between school, home, and life.

“I am a 7th grader in a small school in Michigan. I think one of the main problems about what teachers think about homework is that they do not think about what other classes are assigned for homework. Throughout the day, I get at least two full pages of homework to complete by the next day. During the school year, I am hesitant to sign up for sports because I am staying up after a game or practice to finish my homework.”

“I'm 17 and I'm in my last year of high school. I can honestly tell you that from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. (sometimes 1 or 2 a.m.) I am doing homework. I've been trying to balance my homework with my work schedule, work around my house, and my social life with no success. So if someone were to ask me if I think kids have too much homework, I would say yes they do. My comment is based solely on my personal experience in high school.”

“I am 13 and I have a problem: homework. I can’t get my homework done at home because it is all on my school MacBook. I don’t own my own personal computer, only an Amazon Fire tablet. What’s the problem with my tablet? There are no middle or high school apps for it. You are might be wondering, “Why not bring the MacBook home?” Well, I am not allowed to, so what is the punishment ? Four late assignments, and 1 late argument essay. And 90% of the homework I get is on my MacBook. This is a mega stresser!"

Raychelle Cassada Lohman n , M.S., LPC, is the author of The Anger Workbook for Teens .

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Is Homework Good or Bad for Students?

It's mostly good, especially for the sciences, but it also can be bad

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Homework isn't fun for students to do or for teachers to grade, so why do it? Here are some reasons why homework is good and why it's bad.

Why Homework Is Good

Here are 10 reasons why homework is good, especially for the sciences, such as chemistry:

• Doing homework teaches you how to learn on your own and work independently. You'll learn how to use resources such as texts, libraries, and the internet. No matter how well you thought you understood the material in class, there will be times when you'll get stuck doing homework. When you face the challenge, you learn how to get help, how to deal with frustration, and how to persevere.
• Homework helps you learn beyond the scope of the class. Example problems from teachers and textbooks show you how to do an assignment. The acid test is seeing whether you truly understand the material and can do the work on your own. In science classes, homework problems are critically important. You see concepts in a whole new light, so you'll know how equations work in general, not just how they work for a particular example. In chemistry, physics, and math, homework is truly important and not just busywork.
• It shows you what the teacher thinks is important to learn, so you'll have a better idea of what to expect on a quiz or test .
• It's often a significant part of your grade . If you don't do it, it could cost you , no matter how well you do on exams.
• Homework is a good opportunity to connect parents, classmates, and siblings with your education. The better your support network, the more likely you are to succeed in class.
• Homework, however tedious it might be, teaches responsibility and accountability. For some classes, homework is an essential part of learning the subject matter.
• Homework nips procrastination in the bud. One reason teachers give homework and attach a big part of your grade to it is to motivate you to keep up. If you fall behind, you could fail.
• How will you get all your work done before class? Homework teaches you time management and how to prioritize tasks.
• Homework reinforces the concepts taught in class. The more you work with them, the more likely you are to learn them. 
• Homework can help boost self-esteem . Or, if it's not going well, it helps you identify problems before they get out of control.

Sometimes Homework Is Bad

So, homework is good because it can boost your grades , help you learn the material, and prepare you for tests. It's not always beneficial, however. Sometimes homework hurts more than it helps. Here are five ways homework can be bad:

• You need a break from a subject so you don't burn out or lose interest. Taking a break helps you learn.
• Too much homework can lead to copying and cheating.
• Homework that is pointless busywork can lead to a negative impression of a subject (not to mention a teacher).
• It takes time away from families, friends, jobs, and other ways to spend your time.
• Homework can hurt your grades. It forces you to make time management decisions, sometimes putting you in a no-win situation. Do you take the time to do the homework or spend it studying concepts or doing work for another subject? If you don't have the time for the homework, you could hurt your grades even if you ace the tests and understand the subject.
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The Pros and Cons of Homework

The dreaded word for students across the country—homework. 

Homework has long been a source of debate, with parents, educators, and education specialists debating the advantages of at-home study. There are many pros and cons of homework. We’ve examined a few significant points to provide you with a summary of the benefits and disadvantages of homework.

Check Out The Pros and Cons of Homework

Pro 1: Homework Helps to Improve Student Achievement

Homework teaches students various beneficial skills that they will carry with them throughout their academic and professional life, from time management and organization to self-motivation and autonomous learning. 

Homework helps students of all ages build critical study abilities that help them throughout their academic careers. Learning at home also encourages the development of good research habits while encouraging students to take ownership of their tasks.

If you’re finding that homework is becoming an issue at home, check out this article to learn how to tackle them before they get out of hand.

Con 1: Too Much Homework Can Negatively Affect Students 

You’ll often hear from students that they’re stressed out by schoolwork. Stress becomes even more apparent as students get into higher grade levels. 

A study conducted on high school student’s experiences found that high-achieving students found that too much homework leads to sleep deprivation and other health problems such as: 

• Weight loss 
• Stomach problems 

More than half of students say that homework is their primary source of stress, and we know what stress can do on our bodies.

It’s been shown that excessive homework can lead to cheating. With too much homework, students end up copying off one another in an attempt to finish all their assignments.

Pro 2: Homework Helps to Reinforce Classroom Learning

Homework is most effective when it allows students to revise what they learn in class. Did you know that students typically retain only 50% of the information teachers provide in class?

Students need to apply that information to learn it.

Homework also helps students develop key skills that they’ll use throughout their lives: 

• Accountability 
• Time management
• Self-direction
• Critical thinking
• Independent problem-solving

The skills learned in homework can then be applied to other subjects and practical situations in students’ daily lives.

Con 2: Takes Away From Students Leisure Time

Children need free time. This free time allows children to relax and explore the world that they are living in. This free time also gives them valuable skills they wouldn’t learn in a classroom, such as riding a bike, reading a book, or socializing with friends and family. 

Having leisure time teaches kids valuable skills that cannot be acquired when doing their homework at a computer.

Plus, students need to get enough exercise. Getting exercise can improve cognitive function, which might be hindered by sedentary activities such as homework.

Pro 3: Homework Gets Parents Involved with Children’s Learning

Homework helps parents track what their children are learning in school. 

Also allows parents to see what their children’s academic strengths and weaknesses are. Homework can alert parents to any learning difficulties that their children might have, enabling them to provide assistance and modify their child’s learning approach as necessary.

Parents who help their children with homework will lead to higher academic performance, better social skills and behaviour, and greater self-confidence in their children.

Con 3: Homework Is Not Always Effective

Numerous researchers have attempted to evaluate the importance of homework and how it enhances academic performance. According to a study , homework in primary schools has a minimal effect since students pursue unrelated assignments instead of solidifying what they have already learned.

Mental health experts agree heavy homework loads have the capacity to do more harm than good for students. But they also say the answer may not be to eliminate homework altogether. So, unfortunately for students, homework is here to stay.

You can learn more about the pro and cons of homework here.

Need Help with Completing Homework Effectively?  

There are many pros and cons of homework, so let our tutors at Oxford Learning can help your family create great homework habits to ensure students are successful at homework.

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10+ Proven Reasons Why Homework Is Good For Students

• Post author By admin
• October 13, 2022

What’s more important than getting good grades? Many students will say that nothing is better than good academic marks. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, good grades are a prize. Secondly, it is the symbol that you have accomplished something. Lastly, it is essential because they can indicate that you have earned the respect of your teacher.

There must be a connection between homework and higher accomplishments in Maths, Science, and English. In the United Kingdom, the Department of Education thinks that doing homework brings many benefits. If a student understands the value of homework, then homework can help increase productivity and motivate you.  

This blog will help you understand why homework is good and discuss all its benefits. But let’s first know what homework is.

Table of Contents

What is Homework?

Homework is defined as tasks students assign as an extension or elaboration of a classroom work that students do outside of class, either at home or in the library. In other words, it is the school work that a student is required to do at home.

Homework serves various educational needs such as an intellectual discipline, reinforces work done in school, establishes study habits, helps you learn time management, and many more. Below are the ten benefits of why homework is suitable for students. 

10 Beneficial Reasons Why Homework Is Good for Students

Homework is an integral part of your life because it develops core skills in young children that will serve them throughout school and their lives. According to a study, if you do homework regularly, it is considered an investment in your child’s future. Some vital life skills like improved grades, time management, discipline, using some resources, and improving communication can help your children succeed in their careers. 

By encouraging regular homework and supporting students with their assignments, you can expect to see the following benefits why homework is good:

• Increase Memory Power.
• Enhances Concentration. 
• Homework Strengthens Problem-Solving. 
• Helps in Developing Analytical Skills.
• Discipline Skills.
• Develops Time Management. 
• Better Understanding of Study. 
• Develop Better Future.
• Homework Helps Students Get Better Grades.
• Better Preparation for Exams.

Increase Memory Power

Homework is a great tool to practice something. The students use it to remember what they have learned in school. When students revise the same lesson taught in school at home, it will help them remember better. 

If you revise or do your homework repetitively, this will help you with long-term memory. Homework can be used to improve a student’s memory power. This is the first reason why homework is good.

Enhances Concentration

Students who spend more time on their homework without any distractions can focus better on what they are doing. Once you can concentrate better, it will also help you in exams. This is the second reason why homework is good.

Homework Strengthens Problem-Solving

Assignments are given as homework to help students solve problems on their own instead of asking for help from others which is very embarrassing. After solving many problems, students learn how to manage their time and find solutions to any problem on their own that they only encounter while working on homework. This is the third reason why homework is good.

Develops Time Management

As we mentioned earlier, students who spend time on their homework assignments have a better understanding of time management. After you better understand time management, getting better marks in exams is straightforward. As a result, homework plays a crucial role in developing time management skills. This is the fourth reason why homework is good.

Homework Helps Students Get Better Grades

The main aim of education is to receive better academic marks, which will further help you get the job of your dreams. Higher academic marks can open up several opportunities in the future. Many teachers use homework as a tool for students who are not that good at studying. Teachers often give relevant homework to the students to add to the future exam. As a result, if you revise your homework before an exam, getting better marks is high. This is the fifth reason why homework is good.

Develop Better Future

As we mentioned above, if students do well in their homework assignments, it will automatically boost their grades. If a student can do well in their homework, it will reflect that they are capable of handling challenging tasks given to them in the future. As a result, if you have better grades in school or university, the chances of getting the highest paying job are much higher. This is the sixth reason why homework is good.

Discipline Skills

Students who do their homework without any complaints are likely to develop discipline. Discipline is an important life skill that will help you in school and help you further in the future. This is the seventh reason why homework is good.

Discipline will help you when you have to work for someone else because discipline is first noticed. This is the most valuable quality employers would look for while choosing between candidates. 

Better Understanding of Study

When students revise the lessons again and again that they have learned in school at home, it helps them understand the subject better. If a student practices the same topic twice or more, then it is easier for the student to get an idea about the relevant topic. This is the eighth reason why homework is good.

Better Preparation for Exams

Studying for the exams can be a difficult task for the students. But if they revise the lessons that they have learned in school at home, it is easier for the students to learn and memorize the subject better. As a result, it will give you more confidence for the exam. This is the ninth reason why homework is good.

 Read our other blog to learn about the different facts about homework .

Helps in Developing Analytical Skills

When students are given homework that requires them to analyze information, it will help develop their analytical skills. It is the most valuable quality that students can possess. In other words, homework helps the students develop the analytical skills necessary for solving problems in the future. This is the last reason why homework is good.

Bonus Tips For Homework For Parents

• Make sure that your child has a quiet place to do homework if your children are doing homework in front of the television or in an area with other distractions. Then make sure to either turn off the tv or tell the kid to move somewhere with no distraction.  
• Always be optimistic about the homework, and tell your child how vital homework assignment is. Express a positive attitude regarding the task. 
• Establish a set timetable for each day for your children. Help your child to maintain time. Don’t let your child leave homework until it’s done. 
• Somehow, if your children ask for help, provide guidance, not answers.
• When the teacher says that you (parents) play an important role in homework, please cooperate with the teacher. Follow the directions that the teacher gives.
• Too much parent involvement is bad. If homework is meant to be done alone, please stay away from your children.
• Let your child take a short break. 
• If your child is getting better marks due to homework, reward them for those things they like. If they get better academic marks, then you can celebrate that success with a small event.

What is the importance of homework to school students?

Improves students’ knowledge 

Homework is a type of practice that needs to be done to achieve better results. If students get homework regularly, they become intelligent and answer questions effectively. 

Have a chance to explore

To complete the homework, students must solve the problems by researching them. Students have to search for an answer from different sources. Students get to explore new things while working from home in this process.

Make you Responsible

Apart from increasing study skills, homework helps build a sense of responsibility in the students. It means students take responsibility for their work to ensure it is complete and submitted before the last date. 

Brings Families Together

When students have homework, they usually ask their parents to help with the assignment. As a result, this allows the student to understand the work better. Asking for help from your parents or siblings will bring the family together. 

Why Homework Should Be Banned

After learning about why homework is good for students here you will get some reasons why homework should be banned .

• Homework Restricts A Student’s Freedom
• No Time For Exercises
• No Time To Play Outdoor Games
• Often Breaks Students’ Confidence
• Homework Doing Not An Achievement

Conclusion: Why Homework is Good

This blog provides you with ten reasons why homework is good.

Homework has many benefits for students. If they can complete all their homework seriously, it would help them improve their academic marks.

They can also prepare better for exams by studying the homework at home with the help of their parents. Overall, homework is an integral part of a student’s education, and it should not be taken lightly.

Also, Read: Is Homework Good or Bad

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fact about homework.

A study by a top renowned university, Stanford University, found that 56% of the students or pupils say that the main cause of their stress is homework.

Does homework help in life?

Yes, homework helps students in life. Homework develops a good study habits among students and develop that sense of responsibility as students become responsible for completing their homework.

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Is Homework Good for Kids? Here's What the Research Says

A s kids return to school, debate is heating up once again over how they should spend their time after they leave the classroom for the day.

The no-homework policy of a second-grade teacher in Texas went viral last week , earning praise from parents across the country who lament the heavy workload often assigned to young students. Brandy Young told parents she would not formally assign any homework this year, asking students instead to eat dinner with their families, play outside and go to bed early.

But the question of how much work children should be doing outside of school remains controversial, and plenty of parents take issue with no-homework policies, worried their kids are losing a potential academic advantage. Here’s what you need to know:

For decades, the homework standard has been a “10-minute rule,” which recommends a daily maximum of 10 minutes of homework per grade level. Second graders, for example, should do about 20 minutes of homework each night. High school seniors should complete about two hours of homework each night. The National PTA and the National Education Association both support that guideline.

But some schools have begun to give their youngest students a break. A Massachusetts elementary school has announced a no-homework pilot program for the coming school year, lengthening the school day by two hours to provide more in-class instruction. “We really want kids to go home at 4 o’clock, tired. We want their brain to be tired,” Kelly Elementary School Principal Jackie Glasheen said in an interview with a local TV station . “We want them to enjoy their families. We want them to go to soccer practice or football practice, and we want them to go to bed. And that’s it.”

A New York City public elementary school implemented a similar policy last year, eliminating traditional homework assignments in favor of family time. The change was quickly met with outrage from some parents, though it earned support from other education leaders.

New solutions and approaches to homework differ by community, and these local debates are complicated by the fact that even education experts disagree about what’s best for kids.

The research

The most comprehensive research on homework to date comes from a 2006 meta-analysis by Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper, who found evidence of a positive correlation between homework and student achievement, meaning students who did homework performed better in school. The correlation was stronger for older students—in seventh through 12th grade—than for those in younger grades, for whom there was a weak relationship between homework and performance.

Cooper’s analysis focused on how homework impacts academic achievement—test scores, for example. His report noted that homework is also thought to improve study habits, attitudes toward school, self-discipline, inquisitiveness and independent problem solving skills. On the other hand, some studies he examined showed that homework can cause physical and emotional fatigue, fuel negative attitudes about learning and limit leisure time for children. At the end of his analysis, Cooper recommended further study of such potential effects of homework.

Despite the weak correlation between homework and performance for young children, Cooper argues that a small amount of homework is useful for all students. Second-graders should not be doing two hours of homework each night, he said, but they also shouldn’t be doing no homework.

Not all education experts agree entirely with Cooper’s assessment.

Cathy Vatterott, an education professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, supports the “10-minute rule” as a maximum, but she thinks there is not sufficient proof that homework is helpful for students in elementary school.

“Correlation is not causation,” she said. “Does homework cause achievement, or do high achievers do more homework?”

Vatterott, the author of Rethinking Homework: Best Practices That Support Diverse Needs , thinks there should be more emphasis on improving the quality of homework tasks, and she supports efforts to eliminate homework for younger kids.

“I have no concerns about students not starting homework until fourth grade or fifth grade,” she said, noting that while the debate over homework will undoubtedly continue, she has noticed a trend toward limiting, if not eliminating, homework in elementary school.

The issue has been debated for decades. A TIME cover in 1999 read: “Too much homework! How it’s hurting our kids, and what parents should do about it.” The accompanying story noted that the launch of Sputnik in 1957 led to a push for better math and science education in the U.S. The ensuing pressure to be competitive on a global scale, plus the increasingly demanding college admissions process, fueled the practice of assigning homework.

“The complaints are cyclical, and we’re in the part of the cycle now where the concern is for too much,” Cooper said. “You can go back to the 1970s, when you’ll find there were concerns that there was too little, when we were concerned about our global competitiveness.”

Cooper acknowledged that some students really are bringing home too much homework, and their parents are right to be concerned.

“A good way to think about homework is the way you think about medications or dietary supplements,” he said. “If you take too little, they’ll have no effect. If you take too much, they can kill you. If you take the right amount, you’ll get better.”

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27 Top Homework Pros and Cons

There are both pros and cons of homework. This makes whether schools should assign homework a great debating topic for students.

On the side of the pros, homework is beneficial because it can be great for helping students get through their required coursework and reinforce required knowledge. But it also interferes with life outside of school.

Key arguments for homework include the fact it gives students structure, improves their learning, and improves parent-teacher relationships.

Arguments for the cons of homework include the fact it interferes with playtime and causes stress to children, leading to arguments that homework should be banned .

Pros and Cons of Homework (Table Summary)

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Pros of Homework

1. homework teaches discipline and habit.

Discipline and habit are two soft skills that children need to develop so they can succeed in life.

Regular daily homework is a simple way that discipline and habit are reinforced. Teachers can talk to students about what they do when they get home from school.

They might develop a habit like getting changed into a new set of clothes, having an afternoon snack, then getting out their homework.

Teachers can also help students visualize these habits and disciplines by talking about where they will do their homework (kitchen table?) and when .

2. Homework helps parents know what’s being learned in class

Parents often appreciate being kept in the loop about what is going on in their child’s classroom. Homework is great for this!

Teachers can set homework based on the current unit of work in the classroom. If the students are learning about dinosaurs, the homework can be a task on dinosaurs.

This helps the teachers to show the parents the valuable learning that’s taking place, and allows parents to feel comfortable that the teacher is doing a great job.

3. Homework teaches time management

Children often have a wide range of after school activities to undertake. They need to develop the skill of managing all these activities to fit homework in.

At school, children’s time is closely managed and controlled. Every lesson ends and begins with a bell or a teacher command.

At some point, children need to learn to manage their own time. Homework is an easy way to start refining this important soft skill.

4. Homework gives students self-paced learning time

At school, a lesson has a clear beginning and end. Students who are struggling may be interrupted and need more time. Homework allows them to work on these tasks at their own pace.

When I was studying math in high school, I never got my work done in time. I understood concepts slower than my peers, and I needed more time to reinforce concepts.

Homework was my chance to keep up, by studying at my own pace.

5. Homework can reduce screen time

Paper-based homework can take students away from their afternoon cartoons and video games and get them working on something of more value.

Screen time is one of the biggest concerns for educators and parents in the 21 st Century. Children spend approximately 5 to 7 hours in front of screens per day.

While screens aren’t all bad, children generally spend more time at screens than is necessary. Homework tasks such as collecting things from the yard or interviewing grandparents gets kids away from screens and into more active activities.

6. Homework gives students productive afternoon activities

Too often, children get home from school and switch off their brains by watching cartoons or playing video games. Homework can be more productive.

Good homework should get students actively thinking. A teacher can set homework that involves creating a product, conducting interviews with family, or writing a story based on things being learned in class.

But even homework that involves repetition of math and spelling tasks can be far more productive than simply watching television.

7. Homework reinforces information taught in class

For difficult tasks, students often need to be exposed to content over and over again until they reach mastery of the topic .

To do this, sometimes you need to do old-fashioned repetition of tasks. Take, for example, algebra. Students will need to repeat the process over and over again so that they will instinctively know how to complete the task when they sit their standardized test.

Of course, the teacher needs to teach and reinforce these foundational skills at school before independent homework practice takes place.

8. Homework helps motivated students to get ahead

Many students who have set themselves the goal of coming first in their class want to do homework to get an advantage over their peers.

Students who want to excel should not be stopped from doing this. If they enjoy homework and it makes them smarter or better at a task, then they should be allowed to do this.

9. Homework gives parents and children time together

When a parent helps their child with homework (by educating and quizzing them, not cheating!), they get a chance to bond.

Working together to complete a task can be good for the relationship between the parent and the child. The parents can also feel good that they’re supporting the child to become more educated.

10. Homework improves parent-teacher relationships

Parents get an inside look at what’s happening at school to improve their trust with the teacher, while also helping the teacher do their job.

Trust between parents and teachers is very important. Parents want to know the teacher is working hard to support students and help them learn. By looking at their children’s homework, they get a good idea of what’s going on in the classroom.

The parent can also feel good about helping the teacher’s mission by sitting with the child during homework and helping to reinforce what’s been learned at school.

11. Homework helps teachers get through the crowded curriculum

Teachers are increasingly asked to teach more and more content each year. Homework can be helpful in making sure it all gets done.

Decades ago, teachers had time to dedicate lessons to repeating and practicing content learned. Today, they’re under pressure to teach one thing then quickly move onto the next. We call this phenomenon the “crowded curriculum”.

Today, teachers may need to teach the core skills in class then ask students to go home and practice what’s been taught to fast-track learning.

12. Homework provides spaced repetition for long-term memorization

Spaced repetition is a strategy that involves quizzing students intermittently on things learned in previous weeks and months.

For example, if students learned division in January, they may forget about it by June. But if the teacher provides division questions for homework in January, March, and May, then the students always keep that knowledge of how to do division in their mind.

Spaced repetition theory states that regularly requiring students to recall information that’s been pushed to the back of their mind can help, over time, commit that information to their long-term memory and prevent long-term forgetting.

13. Homework supports a flipped learning model to make the most of time with the teacher

Flipped learning is a model of education where students do preparation before class so they get to class prepared to learn.

Examples of flipped learning include pre-teaching vocabulary (e.g. giving children new words to learn for homework that they will use in a future in-class lesson), and asking students to watch preparatory videos before class.

This model of homework isn’t about reinforcing things learned in class, but learning things before class to be more prepared for lessons.

14. Homework improves student achievement

An influential review of the literature on homework by Mazano and Pickering (2007) found that homework does improve student achievement.

Another review of the literature by Cooper, Robinson and Patall (2006) similarly found that homework improves achievement. In this review, the authors highlighted that homework appeared more beneficial for high school students’ grades than elementary school students’ grades.

Several progressive education critics , especially Alfie Kohn , have claimed that homework does not help student grades. We have not found the critics’ evidence to be as compelling.

15. Homework helps the education system keep up with other countries’ systems

All nations are competing with one another to have the best education system (measured by standardized tests ). If other countries are assigning homework and your country isn’t, your country will be at a disadvantage.

The main way education systems are compared is the OECD ranking of education systems. This ranking compared standardized test scores on major subjects.

Western nations have been slipping behind Asian nations for several decades. Many Asian education systems have a culture of assigning a lot of homework. To keep up, America may also need to assign homework and encourage their kids to do more homework.

See Also: Homework Statistics List

Cons of Homework

1. homework interferes with play time.

Play-based learning is some of the best learning that can possibly occurs. When children go home from school, the play they do before sunset is hugely beneficial for their development.

Homework can prevent children from playing. Instead, they’re stuck inside repeating tasks on standardized homework sheets.

Of course, if there is no homework, parents would have to make sure children are engaging in beneficial play as well, rather than simply watching TV.

2. Homework interferes with extracurricular activities

After school, many children want to participate in extracurricular activities like sporting and community events.

However, if too much homework is assigned to learners, their parents may not be able to sign them up to co-curricular activities in the school or extracurricular activities outside of the school. This can prevent students from having well-rounded holistic development.

3. Homework discourages students from going outside and getting exercise

Homework is usually an indoors activity. Usually, teachers will assign spelling, math, or science tasks to be repeated through the week on paper or a computer.

But children need time to go outside and get exercise. The CDC recommends children ages 6 to 17 need 60 minutes of moderate to intense exercise per day.

Unfortunately, being stuck indoors may prevent children from getting that much needed exercise for well-rounded development.

4. Homework leads to unsupervised and unsupportive learning

When students get stuck on a task at school, the teacher is there to help. But when students are stuck on a homework task, no support is available.

This leads to a situation where students’ learning and development is harmed. Furthermore, those students who do understand the task can go ahead and get more homework practice done while struggling students can’t progress because the teacher isn’t there to help them through their hurdles.

Often, it’s down to parents to pick up the challenge of teaching their children during homework time. Unfortunately, not all students have parents nearby to help them during homework time.

5. Homework can encourage cheating

When children study without supervision, they have the opportunity to cheat without suffering consequences.

They could, for example, copy their sibling’s homework or use the internet to find answers.

Worse, some parents may help their child to cheat or do the homework for the child. In these cases, homework has no benefit of the child but may teach them bad and unethical habits.

6. Homework contributes to a culture of poor work-life balance

Homework instils a corporate attitude that prioritizes work above everything else. It prepares students for a social norm where you do work for your job even when you’re off the clock.

Students will grow up thinking it’s normal to clock off from their job, go home, and continue to check emails and complete work they didn’t get done during the day.

This sort of culture is bad for society. It interferes with family and recreation time and encourages bosses to behave like they’re in charge of your whole life.

7. Homework discourages children from taking up hobbies

There is an argument to be made that children need spare time so they can learn about what they like and don’t like.

If students have spare time after school, they could fill it up with hobbies. The student can think about what they enjoy (playing with dolls, riding bikes, singing, writing stories).

Downtime encourages people to develop hobbies. Students need this downtime, and homework can interfere with this.

8. Homework creates unfairness between children with parents helping and those who don’t

At school, students generally have a level playing field. They are all in the same classroom with the same resources and the same teacher. At home, it’s a different story.

Some children have parents, siblings, and internet to rely upon. Meanwhile, others have nothing but themselves and a pen.

Those children who are lucky enough to have parents helping out can get a significant advantage over their peers, causing unfairness and inequalities that are not of their own making.

9. Homework causes stress and anxiety

In a study by Galloway, Connor and Pope (2013), they found that 56% of students identified homework as the greatest cause of stress in their lives.

Stress among young people can impact their happiness and mental health. Furthermore, there is an argument to “let kids be kids”. We have a whole life of work and pressure ahead of us. Childhood is a time to be enjoyed without the pressures of life.

10. Homework is often poor-quality work

Teachers will often assign homework that is the less important work and doesn’t have a clear goal.

Good teachers know that a lesson needs to be planned-out with a beginning, middle and end. There usually should be formative assessment as well, which is assessment of students as they learn (rather than just at the end).

But homework doesn’t have the structure of a good lesson. It’s repetition of information already learned, which is a behaviorist learning model that is now outdated for many tasks.

11. Homework is solitary learning

Most education theorists today believe that the best learning occurs in social situations.

Sociocultural learning requires students to express their thoughts and opinions and listen to other people’s ideas. This helps them improve and refine their own thinking through dialogue.

But homework usually takes place alone at the kitchen table. Students don’t have anyone to talk with about what they’re doing, meaning their learning is limited.

12. Homework widens social inequality

Homework can advantage wealthier students and disadvantage poorer students.

In Kralovec and Buell’s (2001) book The End of Homework: How Homework Disrupts Families, Overburdens Children, and Limits Learning , the authors argue that poorer students are less likely to have the resources to complete their homework properly.

For example, they might not have the pens, paper, and drawing implements to complete a paper task. Similarly, they might not have the computer, internet connection, or even books to do appropriate research at home.

Parents in poorer households also often work shift work and multiple jobs meaning they have less time to help their children with their homework.

Homework can be both good and bad – there are both advantages and disadvantages of homework. In general, it’s often the case that it depends on the type of homework that is assigned. Well-planned homework used in moderation and agreed upon by teachers, parents and students can be helpful. But other homework can cause serious stress, inequality, and lifestyle imbalance for students.

Cooper, H., Robinson, J. C., & Patall, E. A. (2006). Does homework improve academic achievement? A synthesis of research, 1987–2003.  Review of educational research ,  76 (1), 1-62.

Galloway, M., Conner, J., & Pope, D. (2013). Nonacademic effects of homework in privileged, high-performing high schools.  The journal of experimental education ,  81 (4), 490-510. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2012.745469

Kralovec, E., & Buell, J. (2001).  The end of homework: How homework disrupts families, overburdens children, and limits learning . Beacon Press.

Pressman, R. M., Sugarman, D. B., Nemon, M. L., Desjarlais, J., Owens, J. A., & Schettini-Evans, A. (2015). Homework and family stress: With consideration of parents’ self confidence, educational level, and cultural background.  The American Journal of Family Therapy ,  43 (4), 297-313. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2015.1061407

Ren, H., Zhou, Z., Liu, W., Wang, X., & Yin, Z. (2017). Excessive homework, inadequate sleep, physical inactivity and screen viewing time are major contributors to high paediatric obesity.  Acta Paediatrica ,  106 (1), 120-127. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.13640

Yeo, S. C., Tan, J., Lo, J. C., Chee, M. W., & Gooley, J. J. (2020). Associations of time spent on homework or studying with nocturnal sleep behavior and depression symptoms in adolescents from Singapore.  Sleep Health ,  6 (6), 758-766. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2020.04.011

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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10 Homework Benefits (Purpose & Facts)

Homework isn’t just additional learning content but an effective strategy to test students’ comprehension of taught concepts. Since its introduction in the 16th century, homework has elicited various reactions with some advocating for it while others condemning it. Here, I will be highlighting the top 10 benefits of homework to convince you that homework has its place in education.

The top 10 benefits of homework:

• Students learn about time management
• Homework provides a measurement of students’ learning for teachers
• Trains students to solve problems
• Gives students another opportunity to review class material
• Parents get to see the content being taught in school
• Students learn to take responsibility for their part in the educational process
• Students learn to do things even if they don’t want to
• Trains students to work independently
• Students learn to stay organized, act and plan
• Deepens students’ understanding of a subject matter

Download, print & share this Edugage designed “ 10 Homework Benefits (Purpose & Facts) “. Add a little inspiration to your study room or classroom.

Below, I have broken down each benefit of homework. Hopefully, they will provide you the insight of homework’s importance and relevance in education. So, the next time you see your child doing their homework, remember that they are undergoing a learning transformation part of the education process.

1) Students learn about time management

Homework is an effective tool when teaching your child about time management. This means that time management should extend beyond the classroom and into your home. Whether your child needs to play or complete some light chores, it’s in your best interest to provide your child with ample time to complete their homework. Homework demands a fresh mind and complete concentration. So, you should make it your mission to ensure that your child is well fed and refreshed before beginning any assignment.

When you supervise your child to complete their homework, you subconsciously instill a sense of responsibility and prioritization in them. Your child should be in a unique position to prioritize on tasks with your guidance. This strategy makes it much easier to complete multiple tasks within a specific duration with ease.

2) Homework provides a measurement of students’ learning for teachers

Have you ever wondered whether your students have understood your content? Then consider giving them homework. Based on the responses obtained from the assignment, you will be able to tell how well your students learned the content. If the responses are unsatisfactory, then be prepared to revisit the chapter and break it down to simpler subtopics that can be understood with relative ease.

Chances are your students might not have understood complex terminologies that proved frustrating to recall when completing their homework. More importantly, encourage your students to follow up with questions on concepts that are ambiguous to understand and explain.

Also, feel free to introduce various types of learning styles to ensure that the specific content is understood. For instance, musical lessons are best taught with the aid of musical instruments. On the other hand, visual lessons are best taught with the aid of sample objects.

3) Trains students to solve problems

Problem solving is a critical aspect of the learning process and it evaluates your child’s capacity to reason and make informed decisions. When in a classroom setting, your child is given the unique advantage of problem-solving various questions with the assistance of their teacher. But when at home, they must rely on recalled information to execute ideal solutions to the problems at hand.

Implementing this strategy is no easy task. It demands concentration and the ability to seek immediate clarification on solutions that are difficult to understand. If your child can successfully learn how to solve questions in class, they are in ideal position to replicate this strategy at home with the proficiency it deserves.

As a parent, it’s imperative to instill confidence in your child from an early age. Confidence is crucial in building up self-esteem and helping them raise questions without experiencing doubt and scrutiny from their classmates.

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4) Gives students another opportunity to review class material

If you thought that learning ends in school, then you are sadly mistaken. Learning extends to the home environment for any serious students. When your child completes homework regularly, they are given a unique opportunity to review class material. This constant revision not only builds on their knowledge but also expounds on their ability to recall information fast and identify alternative solutions to the same problem.

When your child does their homework, the learnt information is ingrained in their mind based on multiple revision exercises. The more exercises that they complete, the easier it is to approach such questions in future.

5) Parents get to see the content being taught in school

Homework isn’t just beneficial to the student. It is equally useful to the parent, especially when they are interested in their child’s progress and performance in various subjects. A brief 10- or 20-minutes skim of your child’s homework brings you up to speed on the specific content taught in school.

From your evaluation, you can assist your child in identifying alternative solutions to specific sets of questions. However, it’s advisable to encourage your child to identify solutions by themselves in preparation for examinations that are tested on individual comprehension.

6) Students learn to take responsibility for their part in the educational process

Homework is widely considered to be an ideal way to instill responsibility in students. By enforcing homework regularly, students are subconsciously informed on the need to take education seriously. Each assignment completed brings your child a step closer to achieving their educational goals and taking responsibility for their life decisions.

In short, homework prepares your child to take responsibility for much bigger tasks later in life that are more challenging and demanding than school content. This perspective equips your child with a growth mindset that is crucial in overcoming setbacks and realizing their set goals and objectives.

7) Students learn to do things even if they don’t want to

It’s a fact that most students don’t like homework especially when they must forego their favorite hobbies at home. But enforcing homework on your child is advantageous in teaching them that they must do things even when they don’t want to. Your child should be prepared to do such things that will become prevalent in adulthood.

It revolves around embracing sacrifice and foregoing instant gratification for delayed gratification. Being prepared to make sacrifices that will yield remarkable results isn’t reserved only for parents but for their children as well.

By embracing sacrifices, your child is in an elevated position to weed out distractions and focus on the task at hand. It isn’t easy but turning off the TV and cellphone is a great way to test their concentration and threshold for sacrifice.

8) Trains students to work independently

If you’ve ever wondered how you can test your child’s independence to complete assignments, then setting homework questions is a great strategy to begin with. As a parent, it’s imperative to give your child ample time to do their homework before rushing in to assist them. This allocated time is crucial in recalling learnt information and identifying effective alternatives to various questions.

Providing your child with ample time to do their homework speaks volumes about your level of trust in them. This level of independence and trust assist your child in making informed decisions on what makes sense in their future career aspirations.

9) Students learn to stay organized, act and plan

Completing homework effectively is a systematic process that entails following the assignment’s instructions, doing research from various sources and taking notes from various publications. Such guidelines can only be completed when your child practices organization, takes notes and plans their work. It is important early enough to ensure that the task is completed within the set time.

Failing to plan accordingly puts the quality of the assignment at risk by affecting its relevance and length. Such issues can be avoided by taking the time to organize, research and complete their assignment to ensure that relevant information is obtained.

10) Deepens students’ understanding of a subject matter

Understanding concepts from a classroom setting is admirable but taking the time to complete assignments speaks volumes about your capacity to go the extra mile in deepening your understanding. Often, homework breaks down complex terminologies and concepts to make the learning process effective. Based on proven research, students that cherished doing homework exhibited advanced understanding of various topics compared to those that shunned assignments.

Regardless of what naysayers might say, homework has transformed the learning process in multiple ways. Apart from simplifying the learning process, school assignments have also improved students’ problem-solving skills beyond the arithmetic requirements. Thus, homework has its place in the education process.

Related Questions

Is homework only beneficial to students? Homework does not only benefit students. It helps teachers and parents to nurture trust and cooperation with the students. This will help to develop successful students.

Is homework mandatory? Most schools have taken the initiative to make homework mandatory in their curriculum. Its implementation came in the reforms and modernization policies designed to yield optimal benefits to students.

Additional Reads For Teachers

How Does Growth Mindset Help Students?

How To Use Six Thinking Hats In The Classroom?

Additional Reads For Parents

How To Motivate A Child To Study?

What Are The Good Habits For Kids?

Factors Affecting Growth And Development Of A Child

How To Encourage My Kid To Read? (12 Tips)

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The Pros and Cons of Homework

Homework is a word that most students dread hearing. After hours upon hours of sitting in class , the last thing we want is more schoolwork over our precious weekends. While it’s known to be a staple of traditional schooling, homework has also become a rather divise topic. Some feel as though homework is a necessary part of school, while others believe that the time could be better invested. Should students have homework? Have a closer look into the arguments on both sides to decide for yourself.

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Why should students have homework.

• Homework Encourages Practice Many people believe that one of the positive effects of homework is that it encourages the discipline of practice. While it may be time consuming and boring compared to other activities, repetition is needed to get better at skills. Homework helps make concepts more clear, and gives students more opportunities when starting their career .
• Homework Gets Parents Involved Homework can be something that gets parents involved in their children’s lives if the environment is a healthy one. A parent helping their child with homework makes them take part in their academic success, and allows for the parent to keep up with what the child is doing in school. It can also be a chance to connect together.
• Homework Teaches Time Management Homework is much more than just completing the assigned tasks. Homework can develop time management skills , forcing students to plan their time and make sure that all of their homework assignments are done on time. By learning to manage their time, students also practice their problem-solving skills and independent thinking. One of the positive effects of homework is that it forces decision making and compromises to be made.
• Homework Opens A Bridge Of Communication Homework creates a connection between the student, the teacher, the school, and the parents. It allows everyone to get to know each other better, and parents can see where their children are struggling. In the same sense, parents can also see where their children are excelling. Homework in turn can allow for a better, more targeted educational plan for the student.
• Homework Allows For More Learning Time Homework allows for more time to complete the learning process. School hours are not always enough time for students to really understand core concepts, and homework can counter the effects of time shortages, benefiting students in the long run, even if they can’t see it in the moment.
• Homework Reduces Screen Time Many students in North America spend far too many hours watching TV. If they weren’t in school, these numbers would likely increase even more. Although homework is usually undesired, it encourages better study habits and discourages spending time in front of the TV. Homework can be seen as another extracurricular activity, and many families already invest a lot of time and money in different clubs and lessons to fill up their children’s extra time. Just like extracurricular activities, homework can be fit into one’s schedule.

The Other Side: Why Homework Is Bad

• Homework Encourages A Sedentary Lifestyle Should students have homework? Well, that depends on where you stand. There are arguments both for the advantages and the disadvantages of homework. While classroom time is important, playground time is just as important. If children are given too much homework, they won’t have enough playtime, which can impact their social development and learning. Studies have found that those who get more play get better grades in school , as it can help them pay closer attention in the classroom. Children are already sitting long hours in the classroom, and homework assignments only add to these hours. Sedentary lifestyles can be dangerous and can cause health problems such as obesity. Homework takes away from time that could be spent investing in physical activity.
• Homework Isn’t Healthy In Every Home While many people that think homes are a beneficial environment for children to learn, not all homes provide a healthy environment, and there may be very little investment from parents. Some parents do not provide any kind of support or homework help, and even if they would like to, due to personal barriers, they sometimes cannot. Homework can create friction between children and their parents, which is one of the reasons why homework is bad .
• Homework Adds To An Already Full-Time Job School is already a full-time job for students, as they generally spend over 6 hours each day in class. Students also often have extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or art that are just as important as their traditional courses. Adding on extra hours to all of these demands is a lot for children to manage, and prevents students from having extra time to themselves for a variety of creative endeavors. Homework prevents self discovery and having the time to learn new skills outside of the school system. This is one of the main disadvantages of homework.
• Homework Has Not Been Proven To Provide Results Endless surveys have found that homework creates a negative attitude towards school, and homework has not been found to be linked to a higher level of academic success. The positive effects of homework have not been backed up enough. While homework may help some students improve in specific subjects, if they have outside help there is no real proof that homework makes for improvements. It can be a challenge to really enforce the completion of homework, and students can still get decent grades without doing their homework. Extra school time does not necessarily mean better grades — quality must always come before quantity. Accurate practice when it comes to homework simply isn’t reliable. Homework could even cause opposite effects if misunderstood, especially since the reliance is placed on the student and their parents — one of the major reasons as to why homework is bad. Many students would rather cheat in class to avoid doing their homework at home, and children often just copy off of each other or from what they read on the internet.
• Homework Assignments Are Overdone The general agreement is that students should not be given more than 10 minutes a day per grade level. What this means is that a first grader should be given a maximum of 10 minutes of homework, while a second grader receives 20 minutes, etc. Many students are given a lot more homework than the recommended amount, however. On average, college students spend as much as 3 hours per night on homework . By giving too much homework, it can increase stress levels and lead to burn out. This in turn provides an opposite effect when it comes to academic success.

The pros and cons of homework are both valid, and it seems as though the question of ‘‘should students have homework?’ is not a simple, straightforward one. Parents and teachers often are found to be clashing heads, while the student is left in the middle without much say.

It’s important to understand all the advantages and disadvantages of homework, taking both perspectives into conversation to find a common ground. At the end of the day, everyone’s goal is the success of the student.

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20 Reasons Why Homework Is Good For Students: Best Guide

Are you interested to know the benefits of homework? If yes, this blog is for all of you. We will discuss the top 20 reasons why homework is good for students. 

Homework has always been a part of education, with students completing assignments outside of school hours. Although it may not always be enjoyable, homework serves a valuable purpose in the learning process. 

In this blog, we will discuss the 20 reasons why homework is beneficial to students. Homework enhances learning and understanding, while also fostering important skills such as responsibility and critical thinking. 

It plays a significant role in a student’s educational development. Overall, homework should be seen as an integral component of the learning experience. So, let’s start the topic 20 reasons why homework is good for students. But before this, you need to know why homework is good for the brain.

Also Like To Read: how to study for a final exam

Table of Contents

Who Invented Homework For School Students

Homework as a formal educational tool has been around for centuries, but pinpointing exactly who invented it is difficult. Here’s a quick overview of the history and origins of who created homework

• Organized homework is believed to have started in the early 19th century, becoming progressively more common through the 1800s. However, the ancient Greeks and Romans had early versions of homework aimed at reinforcing learning.
• In the United States, the development of public education and compulsory attendance laws in the 19th century helped establish homework as an educational standard.
• Horace Mann, an American educational reformer and politician who founded the Common School Movement, is sometimes credited with introducing widespread homework in the U.S. in the 1830s-40s.
• The Italian teacher Roberto Nevilis is often attributed as the first to formally assign homework in 1095 at a school in Venice. This claim has been disputed by historians though.
• In the 1890s, the famous pedagogue Edward Bok emphasized the value of homework in his popular magazine, further establishing it as a staple educational practice in America.
• Many educators contributed to the growth of homework through the 20th century, establishing guidelines and best practices. There was no single “inventor”.

Top 6 Reasons Why Is Homework Good For Your Brain

Completing homework offers multiple benefits for the brain, promoting growth, development, and overall cognitive abilities. Here are some reasons why homework is good for your brain: 

#Reason 1:- Improved Neural Connections

Engaging in homework creates and reinforces neural connections, which strengthen the pathways between brain cells. This leads to more efficient information processing and improved cognitive function. 

#Reason 2:- Executive Function Skills

Homework helps develop executive function skills, which are essential for planning, organizing, and completing tasks. These skills involve goal setting, time management, prioritization, and self-regulation. Engaging in homework exercises these cognitive processes, strengthening the brain’s executive function abilities. 

#Reason 3:- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

Homework assignments often require critical thinking, analyzing information, and problem-solving. Engaging in these cognitive processes stimulates the brain, enhances problem-solving abilities, and develops critical thinking skills necessary for academic success and real-life situations. 

#Reason 4:- Attention and Focus

Homework tasks demand concentration and sustained attention, contributing to the development of focused cognitive abilities. Regularly practicing sustained attention during homework improves the brain’s ability to concentrate on tasks, leading to improved academic performance and increased productivity in various aspects of life. 

#Reason 5:- Memory Consolidation

Homework involves reviewing and practicing learned material, which aids in memory consolidation. Retrieving information from memory and applying it during homework tasks strengthens memory recall and retention, improving overall learning outcomes. 

#Reason 6:- Metacognition

Homework prompts students to reflect on their own learning process, identify strengths and weaknesses, and develop self-awareness. This metacognitive practice enhances the brain’s ability to monitor and regulate its own thinking, leading to improved self-directed learning and metacognitive skills that are transferable to other areas of life.

#Reason 7:- Creativity and Innovation

Certain homework assignments, such as open-ended projects or creative tasks, stimulate the brain’s creativity and innovation. These activities encourage students to think outside the box, generate unique ideas, and explore alternative solutions. Engaging in creative thinking during homework exercises the brain’s imaginative capacities , fostering a more innovative mindset.

20 Reasons Why Homework Is Good For Students

Here are 20 reasons why homework is good for students.

1. Reinforces Learning

Homework provides students with the opportunity to reinforce what they’ve learned in the classroom. It solidifies their understanding of the material and helps them retain knowledge for the long term.

2. Develops Time Management

Completing assignments on time teaches students valuable time management skills. They learn to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines, which are essential life skills.

3. Encourages Responsibility

Homework fosters a sense of responsibility in students. They must take ownership of their work, ensuring it’s completed accurately and submitted on time.

4. Builds Self-Discipline

Consistently tackling homework assignments builds self-discipline. Students learn to focus, avoid procrastination, and stay organized.

5. Enhances Problem-Solving Skills

Many homework assignments involve problem-solving tasks. These challenges encourage students to think critically and find creative solutions. It is one of the 20 reasons why homework is good. 

6. Prepares for Tests

Homework serves as excellent preparation for exams. It allows students to practice what they’ve learned, identify areas of weakness, and seek clarification from teachers.

7. Promotes Independence

Working on homework assignments independently helps students become more self-reliant and confident in their abilities.

8. Expands Knowledge

Homework often requires students to research topics beyond the classroom curriculum, broadening their knowledge base.

9. Supports Different Learning Styles

Homework can be tailored to accommodate various learning styles, ensuring that all students have an opportunity to excel.

10. Strengthens Study Habits

Regularly completing homework reinforces good study habits that are essential for academic success. It is also one of the 20 reasons why homework is good. 

11. Encourages Critical Thinking

Assignments that require analysis and evaluation encourage critical thinking skills, preparing students for complex challenges.

12. Boosts Confidence

Successfully completing homework assignments boosts students’ confidence in their abilities and motivates them to excel academically.

13. Fosters Perseverance

Facing challenging assignments teaches students the value of perseverance and the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles.

14. Connects Home and School

Homework provides a bridge between home and school, allowing parents to engage in their child’s education and monitor their progress.

15. Encourages Research Skills

Research-based homework tasks help students develop strong research skills, which are valuable in the information age. It is also one of the top 20 reasons why homework is good. 

16. Improves Communication

Some assignments involve presentations or written reports, honing students’ communication skills.

17. Prepares for College and Career

Homework prepares students for the rigors of higher education and future careers, where self-directed learning is crucial.

18. Builds a Strong Work Ethic

The commitment to completing homework fosters a strong work ethic that will serve students well throughout their lives.

19. Instills Perfectionism

While not always ideal, striving for perfection in homework assignments can teach students the importance of attention to detail.

20. Celebrates Achievements

Homework allows students to track their progress, celebrate their achievements, and take pride in their academic journey.

So, these are the top 20 reasons why homework is good for students. 

10 Reasons Why Homework Should Be Banned

Here are some common arguments for why homework should be banned:

• It creates stress and anxiety in students. Too much homework can overwhelm students, leading to burnout.
• It takes away free time needed for rest, creative activities, family time, and exploring personal interests.
• Research shows homework has minimal impact on academic performance in elementary school. The benefits only begin in middle school.
• Poorly designed homework assignments don’t effectively reinforce learning. Busy work can make students resent schoolwork.
• It puts students from disadvantaged backgrounds at a further disadvantage if they lack proper study environments at home.
• Parent involvement with homework can confuse students if teaching methods differ from the classroom.
• It can incentivize cheating, as students copy off one another to finish quickly. This undermines learning.
• Modern research questions the usefulness of homework. Countries like Finland have top educational systems with little to no homework.
• Teachers often lack training in assigning skillful, purposeful homework. So assignments are ineffective.
• It monopolizes family time in the evenings that could be better spent on activities like conversation, exercise, etc.

Why Should Homework Not Be Banned

However, there are also arguments against banning homework:

• For secondary students, homework develops important skills in independent study and time management.
• Homework allows teachers to give feedback outside limited class time.
• Eliminating homework may put American students at a disadvantage to peers globally.
• Lack of homework could undermine the development of discipline, responsibility,, and learning habits.

Some Other Benefits Of Homework

Here are some other benefits of homework.

• Reinforcement of Learning
• Development of Responsibility
• Practice and Skill Development
• Preparation for Assessments
• Time Management
• Skill Building
• Extended Learning
• Critical Thinking and Independent Learning
• Improve Life Skills

Final Remarks

In this blog, we have discussed the top 20 reasons why homework is good for students. Homework offers many benefits for students, like reinforcing learning, developing crucial skills like time management and responsibility, and preparing them for assessments. 

It fosters independence, critical thinking, and self-discipline, all of which are vital for academic success and personal growth. Homework also strengthens the connection between home and school, involving parents in the learning process. 

Ultimately, it plays a vital role in a student’s educational journey and contributes to their overall development. I hope you liked this post about the 20 reasons why homework is good for students. 

Is homework necessary for academic success?

Yes, homework plays a crucial role in reinforcing learning and improving academic performance.

Are there any downsides to homework?

While homework offers numerous benefits, excessive or overly challenging assignments can lead to stress.

Can homework assignments be fun?

Yes, some homework can be designed to be enjoyable and engaging, promoting a positive attitude towards learning.

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Student Opinion

Should We Get Rid of Homework?

Some educators are pushing to get rid of homework. Would that be a good thing?

By Jeremy Engle and Michael Gonchar

Do you like doing homework? Do you think it has benefited you educationally?

Has homework ever helped you practice a difficult skill — in math, for example — until you mastered it? Has it helped you learn new concepts in history or science? Has it helped to teach you life skills, such as independence and responsibility? Or, have you had a more negative experience with homework? Does it stress you out, numb your brain from busywork or actually make you fall behind in your classes?

Should we get rid of homework?

In “ The Movement to End Homework Is Wrong, ” published in July, the Times Opinion writer Jay Caspian Kang argues that homework may be imperfect, but it still serves an important purpose in school. The essay begins:

Do students really need to do their homework? As a parent and a former teacher, I have been pondering this question for quite a long time. The teacher side of me can acknowledge that there were assignments I gave out to my students that probably had little to no academic value. But I also imagine that some of my students never would have done their basic reading if they hadn’t been trained to complete expected assignments, which would have made the task of teaching an English class nearly impossible. As a parent, I would rather my daughter not get stuck doing the sort of pointless homework I would occasionally assign, but I also think there’s a lot of value in saying, “Hey, a lot of work you’re going to end up doing in your life is pointless, so why not just get used to it?” I certainly am not the only person wondering about the value of homework. Recently, the sociologist Jessica McCrory Calarco and the mathematics education scholars Ilana Horn and Grace Chen published a paper, “ You Need to Be More Responsible: The Myth of Meritocracy and Teachers’ Accounts of Homework Inequalities .” They argued that while there’s some evidence that homework might help students learn, it also exacerbates inequalities and reinforces what they call the “meritocratic” narrative that says kids who do well in school do so because of “individual competence, effort and responsibility.” The authors believe this meritocratic narrative is a myth and that homework — math homework in particular — further entrenches the myth in the minds of teachers and their students. Calarco, Horn and Chen write, “Research has highlighted inequalities in students’ homework production and linked those inequalities to differences in students’ home lives and in the support students’ families can provide.”

Mr. Kang argues:

But there’s a defense of homework that doesn’t really have much to do with class mobility, equality or any sense of reinforcing the notion of meritocracy. It’s one that became quite clear to me when I was a teacher: Kids need to learn how to practice things. Homework, in many cases, is the only ritualized thing they have to do every day. Even if we could perfectly equalize opportunity in school and empower all students not to be encumbered by the weight of their socioeconomic status or ethnicity, I’m not sure what good it would do if the kids didn’t know how to do something relentlessly, over and over again, until they perfected it. Most teachers know that type of progress is very difficult to achieve inside the classroom, regardless of a student’s background, which is why, I imagine, Calarco, Horn and Chen found that most teachers weren’t thinking in a structural inequalities frame. Holistic ideas of education, in which learning is emphasized and students can explore concepts and ideas, are largely for the types of kids who don’t need to worry about class mobility. A defense of rote practice through homework might seem revanchist at this moment, but if we truly believe that schools should teach children lessons that fall outside the meritocracy, I can’t think of one that matters more than the simple satisfaction of mastering something that you were once bad at. That takes homework and the acknowledgment that sometimes a student can get a question wrong and, with proper instruction, eventually get it right.

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

Should we get rid of homework? Why, or why not?

Is homework an outdated, ineffective or counterproductive tool for learning? Do you agree with the authors of the paper that homework is harmful and worsens inequalities that exist between students’ home circumstances?

Or do you agree with Mr. Kang that homework still has real educational value?

When you get home after school, how much homework will you do? Do you think the amount is appropriate, too much or too little? Is homework, including the projects and writing assignments you do at home, an important part of your learning experience? Or, in your opinion, is it not a good use of time? Explain.

In these letters to the editor , one reader makes a distinction between elementary school and high school:

Homework’s value is unclear for younger students. But by high school and college, homework is absolutely essential for any student who wishes to excel. There simply isn’t time to digest Dostoyevsky if you only ever read him in class.

What do you think? How much does grade level matter when discussing the value of homework?

Is there a way to make homework more effective?

If you were a teacher, would you assign homework? What kind of assignments would you give and why?

Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column . Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Jeremy Engle joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2018 after spending more than 20 years as a classroom humanities and documentary-making teacher, professional developer and curriculum designer working with students and teachers across the country. More about Jeremy Engle

20 Reasons Is Homework Good or Bad For Students

Teachers assign Homework to students because they believe that it is good for them. Besides, it is one of the things that students despise the most. In addition, Homework is a series of school assignments that teachers offer to their students in order to prepare them for the topic better. However, many students and even teachers think that Homework is useless and just causes problems. In this blog, we will look at 20 different reasons why is Homework good or bad for students.

Well, before knowing the good and bad reasons for homework, it is important to know what homework is and why it is needed.

Table of Contents

What is Homework?

Homework is a set of tasks assigned by a teacher to students to complete outside the classroom. This is done on weekends and outside of school, during holidays.

However, homework is a way for teachers to check if students have learned something in class.

Moreover, it is usually a set of tasks assigned to students by their teachers to be completed outside of the school. Homework teaches responsibility and helps students to remember what they learn in the classroom.

Furthermore, this blog about is homework good or bad.

Why is Homework needed for students?

Homework is necessary for students because it teaches them to become more responsible, self-sufficient, and independent.

Besides, it is an essential part of school because it allows the teachers to reinforce the classroom lessons. Additionally, it also helps students remember what they learn during the day.

So what’s the purpose of homework? Well, it’s there to help you learn. Homework can help you improve on areas you struggle in and further test your knowledge. Only through learning can you improve.

Does Homework help students learn more in school?

According to the MetLife Foundation national homework survey, three out of five parents believe their children have the proper amount of homework. One talked too much, while the other said too little. That study is a few years old, but I doubt anything has changed.

Why is Homework good or bad?

Sometimes homework is bad because it hurts more than it helps. However, too much homework can lead to cheating and copying.

On the other hand, sometimes homework is good because it can increase your grades. It also helps to prepare you for the test.

Well, here are some reasons is homework good or bad.

Good reasons: Is Homework Good or Bad?

Promotes the discipline of practice.

Well, repeating the same problems, again and again, can be very complex and boring, but it also reinforces the practice of discipline. However, to obtain good at a skill, repetition is a must. You obtain good with every repetition.

Completing homework every night, especially with a hard subject or topic, makes it much easier to grasp concepts. This is the reason that homework is good for the students.

Homework teaches time management skills

Students by doing homework will understand and learn time management skills. This is also a good reason for students.

Furthermore, homework will learn to prioritize activities and divide different tasks based on the time.

Along with homework, students will also learn to complete their schoolwork within the time limit by learning to give importance to time. This is a good reason for homework.

Encourages self-learning

Homework is a self-learning task. Once the students successfully work on the homework task, they can remember the work done in class.

Once students complete the home tasks on their own, they feel enlightened, which sparks independence.

Moreover, homework also boosts continuous learning as students can revise their syllabus independently.

Besides, it allows students to develop their problem-solving abilities and essential thinking skills.

Creates a communication network

Indeed, homework creates a connection between the teacher, the students, and the parents.

In other words, it is a bridge that opens lines of communication between the teacher, the students, and the parents.

Furthermore, With homework, everyone gets to know each other in a better way. Along with this, it helps the teachers understand their students’ needs in a better way.

Homework helps teachers evaluate a student’s learning

Homework teaches students how to set priorities. Additionally, it also helps teachers determine how well their students understand the lessons.

In other words, homework teaches students how to problem-solve. The teacher can change their teaching strategies based on the responses they receive from their students.

Allows for more learning time

Homework permits more time to complete the learning process.

In addition, it gives you the time to practice the skills you are learning in class. If you don’t have time to do your homework, try scheduling time in your calendar to allow you to do it.

Homework improved academic outcomes

Homework has been shown in studies to boost student accomplishment in terms of improved grades, exam outcomes, and the chance of attending college. The Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) discovered that more homework resulted in higher GPAs.

It has also been shown that students who complete their homework regularly do better on test examinations than those who do not do any homework.

Reduce screen Time

Screen time is one of the most pressing problems for parents and teachers in the twenty-first century. Children spend about 5 to 7 hours every day in front of devices.

When children do homework, they spend less time on screen. So similarly, homework reduces screen time.

Homework Helps Motivated Students To Get Ahead

Students do not always desire homework. However, it is among the best ways to improve your performance in the classroom. Additionally, it helps you to stay on top of things.

If you have a teacher who assigns homework regularly, you will learn a lot more.

Gives parents and children time together

When a parent helps their kid with homework, they have an opportunity to bond.

Indeed, working together to finish the work may benefit the parent-child bond. Parents might also feel good about helping their kids in becoming more educated.

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Bad reasons: Is Homework Good or Bad?

Homework cause unnecessary stress.

With its heavy workload and tough responsibilities, homework makes students worried and stressed. Unnecessary stress demotivates students. Homework may even be given during term breaks or the summer vacation in some cases.

Some children experience extreme stress as a result of this, resulting in concerns such as sleep deprivation.

It interferes with Playtime

Play-based learning is some of the most effective learning that can take place. When children go home from school, the time they spend playing before nightfall is significant to their development.

Homework might keep kids from playing. Instead, students are forced to repeat assignments on standardised homework papers.

Eats up Free Time

Children may use their free time to not only relax but also explore the world. Students spend hours finishing assignments, which takes away vital time spent with family, attending extracurricular activities , and catching up with friends. During that period, children can learn to ride a bike, read novels, participate in social activities, attend family functions, etc.

Promotes a Sedentary Lifestyle

Students are given more homework; it takes a long time to finish them. When students are assigned more homework, they have less time for extracurricular activities, which impacts their social development. Sedentism is harmful and can lead to health issues such as obesity.

Homework causes health problems

The bad reason for homework causes health problems.

Health issues are a direct result of homework-related stress. Students who have extra homework frequently have health issues. Headaches, loss of sleep, tiredness, stomachaches, and other symptoms. While these health issues may appear minor at first, they might lead to chronic diseases in the long term.

Encourage cheating

When children study unsupervised, they have the ability to cheat without consequences.

They may, for example, copy their sibling’s schoolwork or look up answers on the internet.

However, some parents may encourage their children to cheat or do their homework. In many situations, homework provides no use for the child and may even teach them harmful and immoral practices.

Homework interferes with extracurricular activities

After school and college, many students & children wish to participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, hobbies, community service, etc.

Indeed, if too much homework is given to students & children, their parents may not be able to do extracurricular activities. Thus, too much homework is bad for students.

Homework consumes free time

According to the experts, excessive homework indicates that students are unable to achieve their developmental needs or grow other essential life skills simultaneously.

In other words, students are more likely to discontinue extracurricular activities and spend less time with friends and family.

It is often poor-quality work

Teachers frequently give homework that is unimportant and has a precise aim.

A good teacher understands that a lesson must have a beginning, middle, and end. Formative assessment, or assessing students as they learn, is also generally included.

But homework doesn’t have the structure of a good lesson.

It adds to an already full-time job

Students already have full-time jobs since they spend more than 6 hours every day in class. Students frequently have extracurricular activities that are just as significant as their standard classes, such as athletics, music, or painting.

Thus, these are good and bad reasons that clearly is homework good or bad.

We hope you enjoyed our article about is homework good or bad. We know that you can make the most of your homework time with this knowledge.

Homework is a controversial topic that can make many parents and students question its value. However, many teachers feel that homework is good for students. The main reason for assigning homework is to practice what is taught in class.

It can also help students learn about time management skills, which can be very useful for growing up. On the other hand, others feel it can be detrimental. Because it causes stress, anxiety, consuming free time, and more. Several reasons are used to defend the use of homework.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why having no homework is good.

By giving students less homework, you will likely discover that they like studying better, getting more sleep, enjoying more outside activities, being less overworked, and spending more time with family.

Does no homework improve grades?

Unlike much-published research, a regression study of homework time and final class grade revealed no significant difference in grades between students who completed homework and those who did not.

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