Learn How Much Homework is Too Much and Get Tips to Minimize Homework Struggles
In the traditional educational model, students spent time in class learning new concepts and time at home practicing those lessons and reinforcing them in a relevant and contextual way. However, while this model is one that has proven successful over many decades, it seems that students today are receiving more homework than ever -- creating greater stress levels and bigger time commitments.
While a large amount of homework might seem good in theory because it allows students to better cement lessons they learn in school, there is a new belief in the world of academia that says there might be such thing as too much homework. Indeed, it is possible for a student's workload to reach a level that stops being helpful and starts being counterproductive for a students' personal and academic wellbeing. For a better understanding of homework today and how students can better overcome their homework struggles, check out the information below.
How Much Homework Do Students Receive Today?
According to a study by Metlife, students in third to 12th grade spend more than an hour doing homework every weeknight. This means that on average, students of nearly all ages spend an average of about 7 hours per week doing homework. However, as students get older, the amount of homework they're assigned increases. According to a report called "Homework in America," about 15% of 17 year olds spend two hours per night doing homework, while 27% of them spend one to two hours per night. According to a survey of teachers, some high school students spend as many as 17.5 hours per week doing homework.
How Much is Too Much?
Homework is a helpful activity to reinforce learning, but is it possible for students to have too much homework? While there is no conclusive study determining how much homework is too much, many researchers believe that too much homework can have a negative effect on students. Researchers at Stanford believe that the positive benefits of homework plateau at two hours per night, and thus, homework should never take students longer than about 90 minutes per night. Amounts greater than 90 minutes led students to having higher stress levels, reduced emotional and physical health, fewer friendships, and less time for extracurricular activities.
Tips for Getting Homework Done
For students with homework struggles, there are some solutions to help make a large homework load more manageable. First, parents can ensure workspaces are quiet and dedicated solely to homework, preventing easy distractions and ultimately minimizing the amount of time it takes to do work. Next, parents can help students stick to a schedule, getting into a homework routine and ensuring that other activities don't interfere with the flow of getting work done -- ultimately extending its duration. Also, parents can offer help to students when necessary; having academic support when they encounter a tough challenge can help ensure that they do not get stuck on an assignment too long and complete their work within a reasonable time frame. Finally, parents can also consider getting a tutor to help children better manage a big load of difficult work.
While homework is a useful way for students to ensure they learn all the necessary lessons schooling provides, it is possible that homework can be harmful to the learning process. Be mindful of a student's workload, and help them develop strategies to keep it under control to ensure you are nurturing the happiest and healthiest students possible.
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