Homework: Helpful Practice or Just Another Nightly Battle?

It's 5:30 p.m. You've just walked through the door, dinner needs to be made, someone has hockey practice, and there's a permission form buried somewhere in a backpack.

And then you hear those dreaded words.

"I have homework."

Or maybe it's the opposite. Your child hasn't brought home a single worksheet since September, and you're starting to wonder if they're actually learning anything.

As an elementary teacher for over 20 years, I've seen both sides. Some parents want more homework. Others would happily never see another worksheet again.

So, how much homework do elementary students actually need?

Well, I have some thoughts on that!

Think about what children do during a typical school day.

They're reading, writing, solving math problems, learning new concepts, navigating friendships, following routines, and trying to stay focused for hours at a time.

That's a lot, especially for our youngest learners.

Personally, I've never been a big believer in sending children home with a pile of worksheets after they've already spent six hours at school.

By the time most families get home, evenings are busy enough. There's dinner, activities, baths, lunches to pack, and hopefully a little time to relax.

And let's be realistic. A tired eight-year-old sitting at the kitchen table at 7 p.m. isn't necessarily in the best frame of mind to learn something new.

That doesn't mean learning should stop when the school bell rings. But there's a big difference between meaningful practice and assigning work simply for the sake of having homework.

One child comes home with a weekly homework package. Another child, in the same grade, brings home almost nothing.

Does that mean one teacher is doing more than the other?

Not at all.

Teachers have different approaches to homework. Some believe regular practice reinforces learning and develops good study habits. Others prefer optional activities or targeted practice when a student needs additional support.

And yes, sometimes teachers feel pressure to assign homework because parents expect it.

But preparing, checking, and following up on homework takes time. As teachers, we want that time to be spent on things that genuinely help students learn.

More homework doesn't automatically mean more learning.

Here's something that might surprise you.

Ontario doesn't have one universal rule requiring elementary teachers to send home worksheets every night. School boards establish their own homework policies and expectations.

For example, the Durham District School Board suggests approximately 10 to 20 minutes of homework for students in Grades 1 to 3 on most evenings.

But here's the interesting part.

Reading independently, reading aloud, and being read to can all count as homework.

And here's something else parents might not realize.

Under Ontario's assessment policies, homework itself isn't included in the calculation of a student's academic grade.

As a teacher, that makes perfect sense to me.

When a child completes work at home, I can't always know how independently they completed it. Did a parent explain every question? Correct the answers? Help them through the assignment?

Homework can be useful practice, but when I'm evaluating what a student actually knows and can do, I need reliable evidence of their own learning.

Homework habits may still be reflected in the Learning Skills section of the report card, but that's different from grading academic achievement.

So if your child's teacher isn't sending home a steady stream of assignments, it doesn't mean your child isn't being challenged.

The research on homework is interesting, and it might surprise you.

Studies have generally found that homework has a stronger impact on academic achievement in secondary school than in elementary school.

But more recent research suggests that homework can benefit younger children too, particularly when it involves practising specific skills.

A 2024 systematic review found that homework could improve academic performance in primary school, especially in math. However, researchers couldn't determine exactly how much homework children should be doing.

And another 2024 study involving Grade 8 students found that shorter homework assignments could be just as effective as longer ones.

So what's the takeaway?

Practice matters. But more isn't necessarily better.

I'd much rather a child spend ten focused minutes practising a skill they need to strengthen than 45 minutes struggling through a worksheet they don't understand.

And if homework regularly ends in tears or arguments, I think it's worth asking whether it's accomplishing what we hoped it would.

I understand why some parents appreciate homework. It's often one of the few ways they get a glimpse into what their child is learning at school.

And I think that's a very reasonable thing to want!

In my own classroom, I try to keep parents informed without necessarily sending home a weekly homework package.

I might share a short video in Google Classroom demonstrating a math strategy we're working on, along with some optional practice questions.

I also use programs like Prodigy and Reading Eggs, where children can practise math and literacy skills through games.

If a student is struggling with something specific, I might suggest a few simple strategies their family can try at home.

I'd much rather a child spend five or ten minutes working on a skill they need to strengthen than complete pages of worksheets simply because it's Tuesday.

Of course, as children get older, homework begins to look different. In the junior and intermediate grades, students may have longer projects, unfinished assignments, or tests to prepare for.

Learning to manage time and responsibilities matters too.

But even then, I believe homework should have a clear purpose.

If your child regularly spends an hour crying over homework, refuses to start, or needs you beside them for every question, something isn't working.

And the answer isn't necessarily to push harder.

Sometimes the work is too difficult. Sometimes the child hasn't understood the lesson. And sometimes they're simply exhausted.

My advice? Let the teacher know.

Tell them how long the work is taking, what your child is struggling with, and how much help they need.

That information is genuinely useful.

If I've assigned something that should take 15 minutes and it's taking a child an hour, I want to know!

And please don't feel you need to become your child's second teacher every evening.

If your child doesn't understand something, it's okay to stop and let the teacher know.

If there's one thing I wish every family could make time for, it's reading.

Let your child choose a book they're excited about. Read a bedtime story together. Visit the library. Talk about the characters or wonder what might happen next.

And please don't stop reading aloud just because your child can read independently. Older children benefit from being read to as well.

For children still learning to read, a little practice with the sounds and words they're learning at school can also be valuable.

But it doesn't need to become another formal lesson.

And remember, children learn all sorts of things outside the classroom.

Cooking involves measuring and following instructions. Board games encourage problem-solving. Conversations build language skills. Outdoor play, friendships, sports, and music all contribute to a child's development.

Not everything valuable needs to come with a worksheet.

I know parents want to make sure their children are learning, keeping up, and developing good habits.

I completely understand that.

But I also think we need to give children permission to be children.

They spend a significant part of their day working hard at school.

Sometimes the most productive thing they can do when they get home is put down the pencil, head outside, play with a friend, or curl up with a good book.

And that's perfectly okay.

Talk soon,

Susie

School, Decoded is an independent publication reflecting my own views and experiences as an educator. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by my employer or any school board.