Ch. 5: Homework and Practice

The authors suggest that assigning homework has a greater positive effect on student achievement at the upper grades that at the elementary grades. They also suggest that teachers design homework that requires a minimum of parental involvement - students should learn by doing the assignment. The reasons for assigning homework must be made clear to the students. Homework should not be 'busy work;' it should be meaningful and an integral part of the learning process. Finally, teachers should always comment on homework that is assigned - without personalized feedback on each homwork assignment, the homework becomes meaningless to the student and its benefit to student achievement is also reduced.

When assigning homework, teachers should first set a firm and consistent homework policy that is communicated to parents on the first day of class. As stated above, the purpose for each assignment should be made very clear to the students, along with its expected outcome. Last, feedback should be should be varied and include both positive messages and suggestions for improvement.