homework Archives - City Dads Group

Summer Homework Spoils Fun for Kids, Parents Alike

Tobin Walsh — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000

The end of summer vacation is looming for us parents and our kids. And, as the start of the school year draws closer, I have begun my annual tradition: the daily nagging of my children to complete the summer homework mandated by their schools.

I am sure that I am annoying them.

And, of course, they are annoying me.

Their procrastination and “ho-hum” attitude when thinking about picking up their books and laptops again is driving me nuts. Just as it does every summer.

To help quell some of the household friction resulting from the impending assignments – from my 8-year-old reading a book and drawing a picture of the setting, to my 10-year-old’s storyboard of a book he’s read, to my high schoolers having two 300-page books each to read in the next 10 days – I started to devise a schedule to get the work completed by the first week of school.

As I worked on this, I realized why my kids don’t care about this mandated summer school work. This feels like A LOT of work for little (or no) return. For both of us.

I cannot blame them. Most of their friends don’t bother with it. Why? Because they’ve never had a teacher ask them to turn in their summer homework. The simple nature of this work indicates its lack of importance.

From my teenagers’ point of view, we are the only parents who give a crap about completing summer homework. While I’ll discount their claim of being the “only kids that have to do this,” their lethargy has been taught by past years of little or no value credit given by teachers for students who had completed their summer assignments by the first day of class. If there’s no reward for the work, why do it?

Summer homework or busy work?

For my younger kids, they see the “read a book and draw a picture” nature of their summer homework assignments and laugh at their simplicity. They feel intellectually patronized by a garbage assignment that wastes their time. Unlike my teens, though, their friends are participating (and complaining about the same BS work being asked).

What do parents do?

Do we stand with the schools and demand our kids complete the remedial work they have been assigned?

Do we ignore these inconsequential assignments that only seem to increase our household tension over these next few weeks?

I have decided to do the latter.

There will be no more laying out study schedules. No more checking daily reading logs. No more demanding that my teens prove they have been reading through selfies sent during my working hours. And, mercifully, no more watching my kids scramble at the last minute to complete an assignment that has awarded them little more than a pat on the head.

Enough.

Drawing the line on summer reading assignments

It is time, I think, to stop the practice of piling homework on kids during the few months of the year they have time to decompress. Summer homework is not only meaningless, but it also unnecessarily cuts into a remarkedly short few months away from the classroom.

What is wrong with kids (and parents) just chilling out?

Nothing.

Will reading that book and drawing its setting help my rising third grader springboard into a new school year?

No.

Is summer homework a function of needy parents who need the credibility associated with “your school requires this” behind them to get their kids off their phones?

I think so.

Unlike past years, my kids’ summer school work will not be done when they charge into their next classroom in a few weeks.

Maybe that puts them a bit behind but maybe it doesn’t.

No matter, it ensures that I will be spending the next few weeks helping them enjoy their fleeting freedom instead of annoying them with the structure that can certainly wait until the attendance bell rings.

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This blog post is part of the #NoDadAlone campaign. Fathering Together/City Dads Group, the National At-Home Dad Network, and Fathers Eve are joining forces to amplify messages that help dads recognize we are not alone! Follow #NoDadAlone on Instagram, and learn more at NoDadAlone.com.

Photo by Oleksandr P via Pexels.

Active Learning Helps Children Be Better at Math

Guest Contributor — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Every child learns math in their own way, but which is best?

Many children write down every word the teacher says. Some scribble sketches conveying the same information. Others gaze out the window, processing the lesson while in what appears to be a daydream. Children have different learning methods, but one style isn’t more effective than the other. The secret to maximizing their preferred method: participate in active learning.

Children can prefer visual learning, auditory learning or tactile learning. It depends on what excites their brain and memory most. Regardless of which style best suits an individual, participating in active learning helps children retain information for the future.

Before we can teach these strategies for mathematics, we need to investigate the concept of active learning. What is it, how do you use it, and why is it effective?

What is active learning?

Active learning is a time-tested, trusted method that helps students of all ages absorb information more effectively than passive listening. Although many of us think we are active listeners and learners, you might be surprised to discover how passive listening habits can get in the way of our memory and retention abilities.

Active learning is the concept of students being involved in the teaching process during class. This can be through question-and-answer sessions, relevant activities, group work and class discussions. Studies show this helps stimulate students’ brains and thought processes. It also reinforces understanding of more difficult mathematics course material.

Some examples of active learning in math class involve:

addition and subtraction games, and calculus challenges
peer-instruction groups
grading peers’ mathematics quizzes
team assignments
bonuses for hands-on problem-solving on extra credit assignments.

Using active learning techniques is a proven method for academic benefits. It also receives positive feedback from students. Teachers who practice such techniques make the lessons more engaging by:

dividing students into groups for collaborative work
guiding students through tough concepts
allowing for each individual to complete their respective worksheets

The combination of different approaches to the same lesson helps students interpret the information in multiple ways. This reinforces itself in the memory.

After discussing a topic in mathematics with your student, consider using an active teaching strategy. This could be a worksheet, interactive and math-based game, or team project to stimulate collaboration and sharing of information. Several more examples are listed at the end of this article.

By combining “traditional” teaching methods with interactive practices, teachers help keep students focused and interested in the task at hand. Studies show active learning leads to more consistent grades, higher average test scores, greater class participation, and increased classroom focus.

So why isn’t everybody teaching this way?

Simply put, it requires more work. Teaching active learning requires educators to develop a dynamic set of activities for every lesson. Likewise, students need to work hard to engage with all the activities taught in a typical lesson. Instead of passively listening to a lecture, when information can go in one ear and out the other, active learning participation takes more energy.

It also takes more energy to tune out distractions. Getting rid of distractions, such as online computer games, phones, friends sitting nearby and other assignments can be tough. Students today are masters at multitasking, but that can be detrimental for the learning experience. Multitasking can take away from comprehension because students who divide their focus can easily tune out the lesson –– even if it is taught actively.

Teachers and parents need to understand how their extra effort to activate lessons can make a monumental impact on student success. Not only will it spur better test scores and class participation, but can it help students ignore distractions and refocus on what matters during class time.

If your child is unable to concentrate in class, even if the Albert Einstein of active learning were their teacher, consider hiring a math tutor. One-on-one lessons help students stay focused, understand tough concepts, and feel confident during school. Plus, they can cater active learning techniques specific to your child’s interests for the best learning experience possible.

Five active learning games to try

Word-Exercise Association

If you want your children or students to move their bodies while they study, this is a great game. For each word or concept your student needs to remember for the lesson, create an exercise to match it. These exercises could be a workout like pushups or jumping jacks. Or they could be small “Simon says” tasks like standing on one foot or snapping your fingers.

When students integrate information with a physical activity, they better remember the information come test time. You can quiz your child/student by performing one of the exercises and then asking them to recall the associated word and explain it.

Math Hopscotch

Similar to word-exercise association, this game gets the mind and body moving. Start by placing numbers and mathematical symbols on the ground into a hopscotch pattern. You could use a chalk drawing on the pavement or scattered printer paper on a carpeted floor. The space between numbers or symbols should be “jumping distance” apart from each other.

Ask your student to leap from one side of the hopscotch field to the other, alternating between numbers and mathematical symbols. Then, see if they can solve the path they took if it were rewritten as a math equation. Students who can make it across the field AND solve the equation earn points. Make it interesting by adding extra rules for landing on two numbers at once or making the equation longer.

Live Reactions

If your student has to watch video courses from home, live reactions can make the material more engaging. Leaving time-stamped comments on the video to share with the class is exciting because students can see how their classmates reacted to different parts of the video. This can spark discussion, answer questions, or help students bond over the material as they share similar reactions.

One way to make this fun is to integrate Live-Tweeting, reaction emojis or hashtags that students can pin onto the lesson as it’s being taught.

Cross the Line

Provide the classroom with a statement then have the students organize themselves depending on how much they agree or disagree with the statement. You can use lines on the ground to separate “strongly disagree,” “disagree,” “undecided,” “agree” and “strongly agree” sections of the classroom.

Students will be able to see where their classmates stand on a topic and a teacher can engage with them by asking individuals to defend their position. If the debate sways a student’s opinion, they can ‘cross the line’ to join a different group. The game ends when every student is confident in their opinion and does not want to move anymore. Then the teacher can pose a new statement to continue the game.

Deficient Discussion

Deficiency might sound like a bad thing, but this game turns it into a positive. When discussing a lesson with a student or group of students, add restrictions to the conversations such as “everyone has to speak in the form of a question, Jeopardy-style!” or “you aren’t allowed to use words that start with the same letter as your name!”

While these restrictions make classroom discussions a bit more difficult, they also make them way more fun. Students have to reconsider their thoughts a few times before speaking to make sure they stay in the game. This helps reorganize and reinterpret the lesson for better memory. To encourage students to participate in a deficient discussion game, you might offer incentives to the students who make the fewest mistakes.

About the author

Andy Earle is a researcher who studies parent-teen communication and adolescent risk behaviors. He is the co-founder of talkingtoteens.com and host of the Talking to Teens podcast, a free weekly talk show for parents of teenagers.

Photo: © Tom Wang / Adobe Stock.

Studying Tips to Get Your Children Their Best Grades Yet

Guest Contributor — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 12:00:25 +0000

Does getting your kid to study feel like pulling teeth? Do you bite your tongue to stop yourself from admitting they’re right when they scream “It’s boring” and “I don’t want to do it!” Studying is simply no fun. But if they want to pass their tests and earn better grades you know they’re capable of, they have to do it.

If you have a child who has all the potential in the world but struggles with test taking, it probably has nothing to do with their intelligence. It might be that they never learned the right strategies for studying effectively. So here are six of the best studying tips for preparing your kid for the big test.

Six Studying Tips for Your Kid

1. Go Over Their Notes
This may seem self-explanatory but reviewing notes before beginning any assignment is extremely important. Have your child do a thorough re-read of all their notes to make sure they understand a concept before starting an assignment. If they are working on an essay, review the prompt together. Make sure they know how long the essay needs to be and what concepts need to be included. This prevents your child from making silly mistakes, like writing about the wrong chapters or forgetting the word count.

2. Plan a Study Schedule
When preparing for a test, you may think the main priority should be reviewing the concepts they struggle with the most. But if they focus too much on this, they might forget to review everything else. To avoid this, have your child draw out a study schedule. Make sure it gives them added time to focus on the most challenging concepts but still allows them time to review the rest of the material. Of our studying tips, this one ensures your child is prepared for everything and won’t be caught off guard by a test question about a concept they forgot.

If your kid has three and a half hours to review for a Spanish test, and they struggle the most with verb conjugation, here’s a plan they could use:

Present Tense Verbs: 30 minutes
Verb Conjugation: 50 minutes
Singular and Plural Adjectives: 35 minutes
Indefinite Articles: 20 minutes
Pronouns: 30 minutes
Re-review Verb Conjugation: 45 minutes

3. Create Essay Outlines
When writing a paper, it’s easy for your kid to feel confused about where to start. Having multiple concepts to cover and a high word count is daunting enough to make them avoid the task altogether. While you can’t write the essay for them, you can help them gather their ideas in an outline. Creating an outline helps organize the information essential to their essay and determine where it all needs to go. Break down the information into related groups and sort them into introductory, body, and conclusion paragraphs. Help them come up with strong topic sentences, recurring themes, and transitions to link all their ideas together. Now that you’ve given your kid some direction with these studying tips, all they need to do is piece it together with words. Try the program Scribbr to show your kid how to write the perfect outline.

4. Make Practice Tests
Before test day, make sure your kid is in the right headspace. To do this, have them craft weekly quizzes that’ll help them review the subjects they’ve been learning. Review your kids notes with them and help them identify the main concepts that are going to be on the test. Then write up a multiple choice test on the computer and have them practice taking it. You can also use websites like Complete Test Preparation to find sample tests for science, math and more.

5. Manage their Distractions
If your student devoted as much time to studying as to their phone, they’d be acing all their tests. Of course you understand how easy it is to get distracted by Instagram and TikTok, but it’s frustrating to see how much it’s impacting their grades. When they are constantly disrupting study time to check texts and apps, it feels like the only solution is taking away their phone altogether. However, preventing them from taking breaks or checking their phone is not the answer. Instead, create a reward system. For every hour and a half of studying they complete, reward them with a 10-minute break to do whatever they want. This’ll give them an incentive to buckle down and hit the books.

6. Get Help From the Teacher
It’s good to encourage your kid to ask questions during class. It ensures they’re getting the answers they need when they don’t understand a subject. However, it’s important to encourage them not to take too much of their teachers time in class. When they habitually ask long questions in class, they might be taking time away from others kids who also need help. It’s important to teach your kids to be considerate of other students and not monopolize their teachers ability to help all students. Instead, encourage them to talk to their teacher after class and determine times when they can get one-on-one help.

If your child’s teacher can tutor your kid, make time in your schedule to accompany your student. This shows your child that you and their teacher want them to succeed. Additionally, it allows you to get a firmer grasp on their learning style so you can better help them study at home.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andy Earle is a researcher who studies parent-teen communication and adolescent risk behaviors. He is the co-founder of TalkingToTeens.com and host of the Talking to Teens podcast, a free weekly talk show for parents of teenagers.

Best studying tips photo: © Odua Images / Adobe Stock.

Virtual School: ‘Almost School’ or Online Lesson for the Future

Tobin Walsh — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 14:43:52 +0000

Based on my parenting experience, I immediately associate the word “virtual” with meaning “almost.” That there’s been a diminished effort, something watered down or, very simply, done half-assed.

And, to date, my inclination to disregard anything my kids say is virtual has been proven right. Virtually every time.

Everett, my 5-year-old “picked up virtually all the LEGOs.” Then, after tucking him in, my bare footsteps entirely on one of those little, yellow character heads.

Yosef, my oldest, said he “did virtually all of my math.” Never mind his weekly progress reports littered with the word “incomplete.”

My 3-year-old says she ate “virtually all of my green beans.” She says it emphatically as if she has earned the right to move on to dessert. Meanwhile, four lonely beans grow cold next to her plate.

This is why I quickly dismissed the concept of my fifth grader, Lynden, attending advanced math class via a virtual school setting this semester. I was fine with the, pardon the term, old-school, brick-and-mortar structure my kids attend – no need for any virtual school here, thank you very much and good day, sir!

But, like most modern parents, I shelved my initial hesitation to make sure Lynden had access to an opportunity I didn’t. We decided to give the virtual school a try and, to date, my preconceived notions of it being “almost school” have been entirely wrong. Virtually.

Virtual math class has been tough for my son. An otherwise good student who rarely needs to expend too much effort, Lynden cries every day about something related to the online class: misunderstanding concepts, complaints about poor example problems given, or his failed attempts at using alternative methods to solve problems. My wife and I are constantly fielding questions from Lynden – often as he fights back tears – seeking clarity on topics covered in the course materials that he skimmed through too quickly.

In general, I don’t enjoy seeing any of my kids struggle, but, in this case, I kind of like it. Success at his elementary school has come easy for Lynden and I fear he has started figuring out that a 90 percent yields the same grade as a 100 percent. So why put in the extra effort? Having him pound us with questions for his online class has made it clear that in school he is spoon-fed concepts by a teacher ready to swoop in when a student hits a speed bump.

This virtual school experience has shaken his complacency and is forcing him to use (or develop) skills that the traditional, classroom setting is not:

Virtual Lesson #1: Keeping pace on one’s own

Lynden must manage his schedule to meet deadlines without a plan that has been laid out for him. The virtual school provides guidance regarding keeping up and milestones to make sure students remain on pace. In school, though, adults tell the students exactly what today’s work will be, remind them of impending deadlines and often give the test’s content in advance.

As he progresses through higher grades and into the workforce, no one will tell Lynden the sequence of steps needed to be successful. Rather, deadlines will exist and the path to those due dates will be irrelevant.

Virtual Lesson #2: Figure it out for yourself

Lynden came into the virtual school needing a constant lifeline – an on-call expert who would appear at his side during any times of ambiguity or struggle. That mentality doesn’t work in a virtual learning setting. Whether in school, at work or in the arena, no one should get 100 on everything the first time. Missing problems and grinding through the rework to find the solution is a critical life lesson.

Virtual Lesson #3: Work well with others even if they aren’t in the room

The virtual classroom mandates healthy, online collaboration with other students. Watching Lynden learn how to work with others online intrigues me. I’m convinced this is a necessary skill he must develop. Working remotely with colleagues of varying experience levels and with differing viewpoints will be the way of getting things done in the future. Virtual school is teaching Lynden this lesson for the first time in fifth grade.

While I’ve come around on the benefits of young kids learning remotely, I’ll stop short of saying virtual school is a 1-to-1 substitute for the standard elementary school experience. Kids do need the socialization and face-to-face interactions that a school day provides. However, they also need to understand how to work with people in other places, to manage their schedule and to develop the persistence needed to grind through lessons without the crutch of a teacher there to clear up any immediate confusion.

Online learning is here to stay – in my house and, if it isn’t already, in yours soon. That should excite, not scare, us parents. I’m virtually certain of it.

Photo: Tobin Walsh

Be a Good ‘School Parent’ with These Helpful Tips

Jason Greene — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 13:48:22 +0000

I wasn’t sure what to expect or do when I first became a parent of a school-age child. Now I’ve been “school parent” for some time, I think I have a handle on it. Here are some suggestions for parents who have recently started their own journey.

As soon as the kids come home from school, check their backpacks. Many times, kids don’t even think they have homework when they do. They’re not trying to get out of it, although some do try, they simply do not realize they have to turn something in the next day.
Fill out and sign papers right away. Don’t be that school parents who fools him/herself by thinking, “Oh, I’ll sign it later or turn it in by the deadline.” You might forget. I have. Then you’re scrambling through a giant stack of papers looking for that one small piece you need.
No screen time until their homework is done. The sooner they get it done the better.
Get involved in the PTA. Someone stepped down from their position during my son’s first year of school and I jumped in to fill the role. It was one of the best things I have ever done. Holding a PTA office helped me get to know the teachers, faculty and staff in ways that I wouldn’t have normally been able to do. And in return, they got to know me and my kids better.
Go on field trips. I know it is hard for a lot of parents to get out of work, but if you can, you should do it. Watching your children in a school setting with other kids is a lot of fun.
Don’t give your kids a sugary breakfast. On occasion, I break this rule, but if you do it on a consistent basis, you’re setting your kids up to have a huge crash in the second half of their day. And it isn’t healthy.
Let your kids play at the nearest playground after school. Playing there helps enforce the friendships they’re making during the school day. Obviously, you can’t do this every day, but try to do it at least once a week. You’ll also get to know your children’s friends and their parents.
Get the kids to tell you all about their day. Keep talking to them until they open up. One of my kids tells me everything and the other says only a few words. But pestering them with questions not only shows them you’re interested, but it also helps you identify potential issues like bullies, teacher problems, school difficulties, etc.
Once in a while, splurge for the cool supplies. I understand this can be difficult if you’re strapped for cash. But if you can, those local sports team pencils or the Barbie eraser can bring some enjoyment to their stationary positions in the classroom. And if money isn’t an issue, send a few extra erasers or pencils so that they can spread the joy to their friends.
Try not to get too angry about issues. Yes, they are our children and everything that happens to them puts us on high alert. But take it easy at first and go into meetings with patience and understanding. If things continue, then pursue them with greater intensity.

A version of ‘school parent tips’ first appeared on One Good Dad. Photo: Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Forgotten Homework: Come to the Rescue or Teach a Lesson?

Pete Gilbert — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:09:21 +0000

Forgotten homework causes one dad to make a hard decision. What would you do? (Photo: Antoine Dautry on Unsplash)

I’m sitting at my kitchen table, cleaning up breakfast dishes when I see it — my daughter’s math notebook. There’s a sinking feeling in my stomach.

You see, she’s at school right now. She left her homework at home. She can be disorganized at times, and she also gets very afraid and nervous if she doesn’t have her homework turned in on time.

I could solve this problem for her and take her the homework she left behind. I’m going to be driving right by her school in a few minutes anyway. It wouldn’t be that much of an inconvenience for me. It would calm her down and make her feel way less anxious. If I took it in, it would also keep her from getting a bad grade and possibly a lunch detention.

Ultimately it would make her very happy. It would make me feel good too. Dad to the rescue!

Like I said, I COULD solve this problem for her, but I’m not going to.

And it hurts like hell.

Forgotten homework is a teachable moment

All I want is for my kids to be happy. Yet in this situation, my daughter’s happiness is taking a backseat to what hopefully amounts to a teachable moment.

By not taking my daughter’s homework to her, she’s learning a lesson. She learns she needs to be more organized, and she needs to get her school things packed up the night before. She learns there are negative consequences to forgetting homework such as lower grades and not being able to sit with friends at lunch for a day.

Also, by not taking her homework to school, I’m not perpetuating this problem so it happens again and again. I would hate to be the parent of a middle (or high) school student that runs his or her kid’s assignment to the office because it was forgotten at home.

Chalk this up to a parent trying to do what’s best in the long-term for a child, not necessarily what’s best for her today.

How would you react to a similar situation? Curious if I’m alone on this one…

A version of “Forgotten Homework” first appeared on Indy’s Child.

Helping with Math Homework Benefits Parent as Well as Student

Creed Anthony — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 13:44:43 +0000

Math was not this dad’s strong subject in school, but helping his child with her math is his job today.

I have been doing a lot of math homework lately. With my daughter moving into the first grade, homework was inevitable.

It’s not a lot, don’t get me wrong, but it is math. Math and I don’t get along. I was so bad at math in high school that they begged me not to take it my senior year. I was given a wood workshop class and study hall instead. True story.

And yet, here I sit every night working on my tally marks, counting by ten, counting by five, counting clocks, counting thermometers.

And it’s a little fun. Shhh.

It’s weird being on the third side of the desk. Everyone sits on the student side to begin with. Some of us, like myself, sit on the teacher side. And some of us are fortunate enough to sit on the parent side.

I would be lying if I said it wasn’t difficult at times. It is tempting to just do her homework for her. It’s easier. It’s faster. But then I would be robbing her of so much. I’d be robbing her of a good learning experience. Robbing her of a good teacher (and her teacher is, thankfully, awesome). Robbing her of developing independence.

And so I do math, or actually I help her do hers. I read directions. I ask questions. I check answers. But I let her do the work.

The third side of the desk is a challenge, and a joy. It’s an opportunity to recall all that was good and bad about that first seat at the desk, but, more importantly, it is an opportunity to witness something amazing — on a nightly basis.

A version of this first appeared on Tales from the Poop Deck.

Raising Tweens, Teens with Wisdom from Dads Who Have Done It

Matt Schneider — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 13:41:03 +0000

You finally master diaper changes, swaddling and burping then you turn around and — WHAM! Now you have to conquer the art of raising tweens and teens.

We have five City Dads Group members on the new Modern Dads Podcast who will put you a little more at ease by sharing their tales of raising tweens and teens in today’s crazy world.

City Dads columnist Whit Honea, a member of our L.A. Dads Group and the author of The Parents’ Phrase Book, discusses dealing with the excessive homework his 11-year old son receives from one of his teachers.

City Dads columnist Seth Taylor, a California-based college professor and writer, worries about the possible negative reaction his daughter will receive from classmates to her very public support of the gay community.

City Dads columnist Vincent O’Keefe, an at-home dad and parenting writer who is a member of our Cleveland Dads Group, remembers how he reacted when he realized his tween daughter had became a teen.

Leadership coach, speaker and NYC Dads Group member Devon Bandison recalls the exact moment he knew his 15-year old son was watching his every move.

And finally, blogger and photographer Jeff Bogle, a Philly Dads Group member, encourages dads to break down tropes and embrace being the fathers of daughters living in a modern world.

Ban Homework? Studies Say Yes; This Parent Says No

Larry Bernstein — Mon, 02 May 2016 13:30:38 +0000

Is excessive homework a threat to our children’s well-being? (Photo: PublicDomainPictures.net)

I come to you in defense of homework. It seems to have gotten a bad reputation, and some even believe we should ban homework in elementary school. I beg to differ.

The Today Parents website recently posted an article by Heather Shumaker entitled “Here’s why I said no to homework for my elementary-aged kids.” She makes a persuasive argument to ban homework, citing a Duke University report that reviewed 180 research studies and found homework has no evidence of academic benefit for elementary school students.

This seems overwhelming. However, not all homework is created equal. There are many instances when it is mere busy work with no clear educational goal or purpose. Oftentimes, school administration and parents look askance at teachers who do not give homework. The question goes – How could a teacher be challenging his/her students to reach their full potential if he or she does not give homework?

So, if teachers could give homework as they see fit without fear of administration and parents, the amount and frequency of homework would lessen. However, the homework that remains would have an educational benefit. I’m confident future studies will confirm this.

Shumaker also argues that her 6-year-old needed time to play after school and simply be a kid. Point taken – childhood should be a fun time full of all kinds of growth.

Some of these needs used to be filled in school. Remember when schools had recess? Today, there is less time for recess, and some schools have canceled it altogether.

Ban homework for more play time?

What has caused this dubious decision? I believe a contributing factor is the mass amount of standardized testing. Preparing students for tests is an addition to the already growing list of learning requirements. The added workload leaves teachers scrambling to find time to get to all the requirements. Besides the time crunch created by excessive testing, teachers and administrators are under intense pressure to raise test scores. Using my children as a sample study, excessive testing also causes stress on the students.

Due to the time crunch, teachers may simply need to assign homework in order to ensure their students keep up with the curriculum. Sadly, this is a double whammy when it comes to kids being kids: it has forced some schools to cancel or reduce recess and made homework even more necessary.

Shumaker also says homework delays the development of responsibility, and it’s a theft of time. I beg to differ.

Homework can help a child learn about responsibility. A child, with the help of his/her parent, can learn how to manage his/her time. They want to go out and play or watch their favorite YouTube video or go to soccer practice. All fine and good. However, homework needs to be taken care of as well. Together with a parent, the child can decide when each activity will be done. Of course there will be bumps along the way and maybe even a tantrum or two, but that is part of the learning process.

I believe that teachers have a right to give a reasonable amount of homework that serves an educational purpose. The amount of homework might have to grow due to the ever-rising learning requirements and excessive standardized testing.

Ultimately, if we as a society want to ban homework, then we must re-evaluate other choices we have made.

Home is Not for Homework – Ban It!

Whit Honea — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 13:00:46 +0000

Homework is starting to become a thing of the past, especially for younger children. Should schools ban homework completely? (Photo: PublicDomainPictures.net)

Editor’s Note: A recent American Journal of Family Therapy concluded that schools may be demanding children do far more homework than is generally recommended. L.A. Dads Group member Whit Honea weighs in on whether schools should ban homework.

I must admit, I am not a fan of homework. My wife isn’t either, and our kids love that about us.

It’s not that we have an issue with the needs of education, far from it. We have devoted our lives to a constant quest for knowledge and the science that is wonderment. But childhood is short and the days are shorter still, what with kids in school for seven to eight hours at a time, often far longer than state requirements dictate for educational instruction, followed by an extracurricular activity or two. Throw in dinner, a chore if they have one, and we are often pushing bedtime long before anyone cracks a textbook to start homework. And that cracking that can last three or four hours, depending on the subject, and all of this without baths, reading, or any semblance of quality time with the family.

Busy work wastes time, opportunities

That doesn’t seem right. Our time together sharing their childhood is fleeting fast. I would much rather my kids spend these golden hours in a game of catch or deep conversation, walks or anything that keeps that “cat’s in the cradle” song from echoing through my head.

That said, should a larger project require attention at home that is understandable. If something isn’t done in class despite sufficient time allowed, then by all means, bring it home and finish it. But to give kids extra homework that has no bearing on the coursework at hand amounts to busy work, especially if the child has proven themselves beyond the need for such assignments.

While most teachers, overworked as they are, understand this, there are the few who wield homework like a power play, which seems unimaginative at best and often uncaring. Generally speaking, adults don’t care to bring work home with them once they leave the office, so why should a 10-year-old? Maybe a homework ban is the solution.

Ban homework, preserve childhood

The popular argument is that children need to experience hardship and obstacles to prepare for such things in real life. I understand the theory, but I cannot endorse the practice. Aren’t they living real life now, and shouldn’t childhood err on the side of magic? Life most assuredly will have hardships and obstacles ahead that a level of preparedness would help them over, but why worry about a swiftly shutting window when the world outside isn’t going anywhere? Learning is everywhere, and there is as much education in baking, hiking or watching the tide roll in as there is in a packet of worksheets and the things gained by rote.

Perhaps that is the difference. I care little for a letter grade, the value assigned by one person upon the work of another. I want my children to learn: right, wrong, and the reasons for each. I hope they swell with knowledge because they know nothing but to crave it, not because someone shoved nightly down their throat.

Education does not stop when the school bell rings. Rather it expands and grows to fit the vessel we give it to fill. Give it everything and put the pencils down. They’ll be sharper still come morning.

* * Listen to Whit discuss his parenting book on The Modern Dads Podcast * *