Instructional vigor.  Right on!  School is for learning, education prepares you for life, etc., etc., etc.  Part of that picture includes homework, lots and lots of homework.  Some schools really believe in it ... and that's good, right?  Well, maybe ....

My daughter Katelyn "the Gator" attends7th grade at Riverside Christian School and she is loaded with homework.  I enjoy studying with her, playing memory games, working out problems, researching the topics to help provide a context for some of the information. It helps keep me connected to her and we have a lot of fun in the process. BUT...She feels stressed out by the workload and has complained that she doesn't have any time for fun.  There has been numerous studies about the impact of homework.

Does Homework Result In Better Grades?

"In the mid-2000s, a Duke researcher named Harris Cooper led up one of the most comprehensive looks at homework efficacy to-date. The research set out to explore the perceived correlation between homework and achievement. The results showed a general correlation between homework and achievement. Cooper reported, “No strong evidence was found for an association between the homework–achievement link and the outcome measure (grades as opposed to standardized tests)." 

Is There A Better Way?

The research indicates that the connection between homework and good greades strengthens after 7th grade—"but it’s likely not a causal relationship."

Researchers are looking at ways to make homework more useful for kids. Some supprt the idea that its easier to learn material that's reviewed several times in short bursts rather than during long study sessions.  Another thought is that at-home assignments should appeal to a child’s natural curiosity.

READ MORE: Here are 50 ways you can improve your work from home lifestyle

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