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op quiz! Growing up, what type of “homeworker” were you? A) I did every assignment right away . . . no goofing off for me! B) I made sure to unwind a bit at first, but I didn’t wait long to dive in. C) I was pretty busy with sports, music, or having fun, but I eventually got the work done. D) I waited until the last possible minute. No matter how you answered, now that young minds are in your charge, it’s time to help them build a solid foundation of study skills and academic responsibility, and homework is a key opportunity to do just that. The trouble is, how do you help your kids create healthy homework habits? Should you insist on their doing it right after school, or let them have some down time first? Should you hover and “help” them complete every assignment or let them work through problems on their own? And when do you say “enough is enough,” and help them advocate for a lighter load from their teachers? We’ve talked to a few homework and study skills experts to learn a bit more about homework to find out what students of all ages can do, and how parents can help them be efficient and confident learners at home.
How Much Homework?
Research suggests students should get about “ten minutes of homework each night for each grade,” says Dr. Harris Cooper, Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University. So, 10 minutes for 1st grade, 20 for 2nd, and so on. Others say there’s really no right answer to how much time per day a student should be studying. Kathy McIntosh, founder of Capital Learners, a tutoring service in the greater metro D.C. area says homework is a complex issue, and the “right” amount varies by student. “Some students need to combine some type of enrichment as
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chesapeakefamily.com
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SEPTEMBER 2019
