Topic 4: Homework and Study Habits

The purpose of this topic is to discuss parental engagement in the customary educational practice of homework. Before doing so, some basics are provided. Homework can be defined as learning tasks assigned for completion outside of the classroom. Both parents and teachers generally expect that students will have homework, and that homework is beneficial (Bempechat, 2004; Warton, 2001).

Numerous studies have been conducted about possible benefits of homework but have tended to focus on achievement alone and ignore other expected outcomes. Studies on achievement (Cooper, Robinson, & Patall, 2006) found that more time doing homework actually predicted lower achievement for elementary school students. Middle school students doing less than 90 minutes of homework per night did better academically than students who did no homework; however, those doing more than 90 minutes a night did worse than students who did less. One explanation might be that students who spent more time were probably struggling academically. The more time high school students spent doing homework, the higher their achievement, with benefits leveling out at 2 hours per day.