Is Homework Beneficial

for K-3 Students?

By Heather Comstock and Erica Navarrette

February 2019
 Debate Issue:
Is homework beneficial for students in grades
Kindergarten through 3rd grade?

Two Perspectives:
● The debate around homework has been one that has taken place for decades. Homework
continues to strengthen study skills for students, grow perseverance, allow for parent
involvement in the classroom, and for students to learn valuable time management skills.

● Many educators are beginning to understand that homework may not be the best for young
students. Homework leads to stress, parent conflict, and segregates low-income and under-
performing students significantly.
 Historical Significance of the
Homework Debate
The debate dates all the way back to the beginning of the 20th century. Within the first few
decades of the 20th century, educators believed that homework helped create disciplined minds
(Marzano, Pickering 2007). As the time went on, educators become more concerned that maybe
homework interfered with students’ home lives and therefore educators were against it
(Marzano, Pickering 2007). As time progressed and the 1950s, 60s, and 70s passed educators felt
their instruction was lacking rigor and an increase was needed, therefore, homework was yet
again given. In addition to the need for an increase in rigor, school failure was a real fear for
many educators. The publication of A Nation at Risk in the 80’s; it reported schools were failing
and in order to combat the “rising tide of mediocrity” students needed to work harder, and this
included homework (Hough, 2012). Educators are feeling the pressure of No Child Left Behind,
increased pressure for their students to perform well on tests, and the reality that all students
need to be “proficient” leaving their classroom. However, there are also many educators that feel
their students are more than a label of proficient and that these young learners need time to be
kids, and truly are beginning to value the whole child.
 Against Homework For K-3 Students
Overview

Homework should NOT be given to K-3 students for the following reasons:

● There is more to every student than just their academic abilities

● There is no clear connection between homework and student achievement
● Low-income and under-performing students do not benefit
● Parents are not always informed of the newest teaching techniques
and methods used in our classrooms today
 Against Homework For K-3 Students
The Whole Child
According to Victoria Kidwell who wrote an academic text titled “Homework,” she believes
that students perform better in the classroom when they engage in various activities
outside of their school day. “Students need time to relax, engage in sports they enjoy, and
spend time with friends in an environment outside of schools (Kidwell, 2004).”

Our students need to spend time participating in activities that they love. In particular,
authentic environments that promote crucial skills for building democratic citizens.

Educators need to realize that students spend a lot of time after school engaging in these
activities. We need to also value their sleep, time with families, and their time to just be
kids.
 Against Homework For K-3 Students
Clear Connection?

According to The Center for Public Education, the link between homework
and student achievement is far from clear (2012). Many researchers have
engaged in studies in attempts to conduct a clear answer around is
homework beneficial for elementary students. However, researchers have
not been successful in their studies.
 Against Homework For K-3 Students
Low-income and Under-Performing Students
According to American Psychological Association, many educators feel that homework does not benefit every
students growth or development. In particular, students in low-income households or those students that are
underperforming have shown substantial negative side effects due to large amount of homework (Weir, 2016).

These side effects are:

-increased stress

-increased negative feelings around school

-the feeling of being “singled-out” or “different” than one's peers

-necessary resources are not always available

Students of lower performing abilities are spending a large amount of time on their homework with little to no success. This
is leading to increased stress, frustration, and ultimately, a negative feeling towards school (Kidwell, 2004).
Against Homework For K-3 Students
Parents
Parents are wonderful, however, parents were in elementary
school years ago when teaching methods were very different.
Teachers need to take into account that the way their
student’s parents were taught is very different from how the
kids are being taught today.

Parents try to help, but how can they when often times
parents are unsure of how to complete the homework
assigned to their children? This uncertainty automatically
leads to fighting, stress, and frustration for all involved
(parents and students).

“It is possible for parents to intervene in either appropriate or

inappropriate ways (Kidwell, 2004).”
 In Favor of Homework For K-3 Students
Overview

Homework should be given to K-3 students for the following reasons:

● It promotes Independent learning and problem solving

● Can be an opportunity for parents to get involved and leads to
stronger home and school communication
● Provides a bonding time for child and parents
● Builds life skills such as perseverance, time management and meeting
a deadline
● Homework can be done in a comfortable and relaxed environment in
flexible intervals at the student’s pace
In Favor of Homework For K-3 Students
LIfe Skills

Life skills are fostered through homework practice

● Autonomous learners can transfer their knowledge and work

ethic across a variety of topics
● Independent learning promotes problem-solving
In Favor of Homework For K-3 Students
Practice and Perseverance

Repetition is a necessary part of improvement and

by practicing and completing homework each
night students build perseverance and enjoy
success as topics become easier (Lombardo, 2018).
In Favor of Homework For K-3 Students
Accountability

Completing homework expands time management skills

Meeting deadlines is a life skill

Prioritizing and developing positive decision-making skills

In Favor of Homework For K-3 Students
Communication

Homework is a “bridge that opens lines of communication between

the school, the teacher, and the parent” (Lambardo, 2018).

Homework in elementary school can be a bonding time for parents

and children.

Enjoy the following 4 minute video with K-12 Instructional Math

Coach Tamara Bane as she shares a district commitment to
communication through homework.
In Favor of Homework For K-3 Students
Interview with Winterset CSD K-12 Instructional Math Coach Tamara Bane
 In Favor of Homework For K-3 Students
Adaptable to the Needs of All Students

Homework is adaptable to meet the needs of all students

Homework allows students to learn in a comfortable environment.

Practice at home gives students a chance to learn in intervals (Perez,

2018).

Homework can be tailored to the student’s pace of learning.

Over time students can overcome deficiencies in core areas (Tynan-

Wood, 2018).
In Favor of Homework For K-3 Students
Added Benefits

Added Benefits of Homework

● Working on homework lessens screen time, or time spent

watching television and playing on cell phones (Lombardo,
2018).
● Homework builds better skills and discourages poor habits.
Conclusion

“At best, homework shows only an association, not a causal

relationship, with academic achievement...it’s hard to tease out how
homework is really affecting test scores and grades” (Hough, 2012).
Many variables determine the effectiveness of homework such
as some teachers may give better homework, some teachers may
be more effective in the classroom, some students may test better
or try harder. Therefore, teachers have to really figure out what it is
that they value for their students and make decisions based off of
their own beliefs.
Conclusion
Erica believes that homework is not
beneficial to student success due to the high
demands their young lives entail. Several of my
students are involved in basketball, dance,
gymnastics, swim, etc. and are gone for 2-3
hours multiple nights a week. When they arrive
home they eat dinner and go to bed. It is
imperative that students get enough sleep in
order to function in the classroom the next day.
It is important to me that my students are able
to be kids and enjoy their young years with
their families.
Heather believes that homework that is
reflective of what students are practicing in the
classroom can be valuable and builds life skills.
Homework can strengthen bonds between
parents and their children and teach
responsibility. Parents want to know what their
children are doing and this is a great way to be
involved in their child’s day. Homework can be
adapted to meet the needs of all students.
Heather believes homework is a positive
opportunity for students and families.
Resources

Homework at Winterset Elementary with Math Coach Tamara Bane [Personal interview]. (2019, January 28).

Hough, L. (2012, January). Are You Down With or Done With Homework? Retrieved January 25, 2019, from

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/ed/12/01/are-you-down-or-done-homework

Kidwell, Victoria. Homework. 2004. Accessed January 27, 2019

Resources, continued

Lombardo, C. (2018, December). Crystal Lombardo. Retrieved January 24, 2019, from https://vittana.org/20-pros-and-cons-of-homework

Marzano, R. J., & Pickering, D. J. (2007). Special Topic: The Case For and Against Homework. Educational Leadership, 64(6), 74-79.

Retrieved January 24, 2019.

Perez, T. K. (2018, December 11). Should homework be assigned in elementary school? Retrieved January 24, 2019, from

https://www.theperspective.com/debates/living/homework-assigned-elementary-school

Rogozinsky, D. (2018, July). The Pros and Cons of Homework Bans. Retrieved from https://study.com/blog/the-pros-cons-of-homework-

bans.html
Resources, continued

The Center for Public Education. (2012). Key Lessons: What Research Says About the Value of Homework. Reading Rockets.

Retrieved January 24, 2019.

Tynan-Wood, C. (2018, October 16). The great homework debate. Retrieved January 24, 2019, from

https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/homework-debate/

Weir, K. (2016). Is Homework a Necessary Evil? American Psychological Association, 47(3), 36. Retrieved January 24, 2019.