The Elementary School Homework Debate

Background

Elementary school dumps homework and tells kids to play.

The end of homework? Why some schools are banning homework 

Homework could have an effect on kids’ health. Should schools ban it?

Elementary school dumps homework and tells kids to play instead

Homework in elementary school divides educators 

Banning of homework for elementary school students?

The Homework Debate: A Review of the Literature

Pro Homework Ban

The research is clear, let’s ban elementary homework

Done with homework!

Here’s why I said no to homework for my elementary-aged kids 

Should schools ban homework?

Homework in elementary schools is wrecking our kids. Let’s ban it.

Elementary school homework should be banned

Homework in elementary school is useless

Homework is wrecking our kids 

The case against homework 

Con Homework Ban

Homework could have an effect on kids’ health. Should schools ban it?

Why we shouldn’t ban homework 

Homework — is it really that useless? 

 New York public school abolishes homework

Homework in America

Presentations

Additional Bibliography

The Homework Debate: A Review of the Literature 

Bempechat, J. (2004, Summer). The motivational benefits of homework: A social-cognitive perspective. Theory Into Practice, 43 (3), 189-196.

Cameron, L., & Bartel, L. (2008, February). Homework realities: A Canadian study of parental opinions and attitudes. Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto; Bartel, Cameron & Associates.

Canadian Council on Learning. (2007). 2007 Survey of Canadian attitudes toward learning: Results for elementary and secondary school learning. Ottawa.

Cooper, H. (2001, April). Homework for all–In moderation. Educational Leadership, 58 (7), 34.

Cooper, H., & Valentine, J. C. (2001, Summer). Using research to answer practical questions about homework. Educational Psychologist, 36 (3), 143-153.

Cooper, H., Robinson, J. C., & Patall, E. A. (2006, Spring). Does homework improve academic achievement? A synthesis of research, 1987-2003. Review of Educational Research, 76 (1), 1- 62.

Corno, L., Xu, J. (2004, Summer). Homework as the job of childhood. Theory Into Practice, 43 (3), 227-233.

Coutts, P. M. (2004, Summer). Meanings of homework and implications for practice. Theory Into Practice, 43 (3), 182-188.

de Jong, R., Westerhof, K.J., & Creemers, B. P. M. (2000, June). Homework and student math achievement in junior high schools. Educational Research & Evaluation, 6 (2), 130-157.

Educational Research Service (2004). ERS Focus on Homework – Research and Best Practice. Arlington, VA.

Farrow, S., Tymms, P., & Henderson, B. (1999, June). Homework and attainment in primary schools. British Educational Research Journal, 25 (3), 323.

Gill, B. P., Schlossman, S. L. (2004, Summer). Villain or savior? The American discourse on homework, 1850-2003. Theory Into Practice, 43 (3), 174-181.

Kohn, A. (2007, Spring). The truth about homework. Our Schools, Our Selves, 16, (3), 77-84.

Marzano, R. (2007). The art and science of teaching: A comprehensive framework for effective instruction. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

Marzano, R. J., & Pickering, D., J. (2007, March). The case for and against homework. Educational Leadership, 64 (6), 74-79. Simplicio, J. S. C. (2005, Fall). Homework in the 21st century: The antiquated and ineffectual implementation of a time honored educational strategy. Education, 126 (1), 138.

Simplicio, J. S. C. (2005, Fall). Homework in the 21st century: The antiquated and ineffectual implementation of a time honored educational strategy. Education, 126 (1), 138.

Skaggs, A. N. (2007, August). Homework: A nightly ritual beginning in the elementary grades. Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Education, School of Education, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA.

Sullivan, Mary H.; Sequeira, Paul V. The impact of purposeful homework on learning. Clearing House; Jul/Aug 1996, Vol. 69 Issue 6, p346, 3p

Trautwein, U., & Koller, O. (2003, June). The relationship between homework and achievement- -Still much of a mystery. Educational Psychology Review; 15 (2), 115.

Trautwein, U., Lüdtke, O., Kastens, C., & Köller, O. (2006, July). Effort on homework in grades 5–9: Development, motivational antecedents, and the association with effort on classwork. Child Development, 77 (4), 1094-1111.

Yau, M., & O’Reilly, J. (2007, October). 2006 Student census, grades 7-12: System overview. Toronto, ON: Toronto District School Board.