On the 21st May Parent Ping, a daily survey app for parents, reported that only 9% of parents of primary-aged children would like no homework set for their child. However, they also found that only 2% of parents strongly agreed that homework was a rewarding and enjoyable time for their child.
If so many parents want to receive homework but it is not having a positive impact on children’s learning at home, then a new approach to homework is needed.
I can sympathise with these statistics. When working as a primary school teacher, setting and marking homework was time consuming. I would often find myself explaining how to find equivalent fractions to anxious parents at the school gates and writing out ‘steps to success’ in homework books. It was clear that all parents wanted to be part of their child’s education but I felt the worksheets we set as a school did little to support children’s learning at home.
When I went to work in an international school, I made the bold decision to ban homework in my classroom which had mixed reviews from parents. Parents told me they wanted homework as it helped them feel part of their child’s school life. They were right. By taking homework away I wasn’t utilising a valuable tool that could do so much to strengthen that link between home and school.
How can your homework policy support parental engagement?
Parent Ping also found that only 18% of parents of primary aged children do not want to do homework together with their child.
At Learning with Parents we have seen that when parental engagement is at the heart of a homework policy it does so much to empower parents, support learning in the classroom and help children find enjoyment in the curriculum.
Here are the principles we use when developing our programmes and some useful tips for schools to consider when reflecting on their homework policy:
Activities should allow families to find enjoyment in learning at home
According to Parent Ping only 11% of parents eligible for free school meals strongly agree that they feel confident supporting their child’s homework using the methods taught in school. Think about home learning activities in the same way you would about activities in a lesson. Have you given families the tools to do the activity independently and confidently? Will the activity help them find enjoyment in the subject? Is the activity purposeful and does it link to the real world?
Time scales - take the pressure off
Giving parents a week to do homework could add to the pressure to an already busy and stressful home life. Think about giving parents at least two weeks to do a choice of activities. This will not only ease anxieties but by giving parents a choice you are taking an important step to empowering them to engage in their child’s education.
Teacher workload
At Learning with Parents, we believe homework should not add to the workload of teachers. If you are a school leader and writing a homework policy, ensure activities are straightforward for teachers to set and include activities which require little or no marking.
Celebrate home-learning
Giving value to the learning children do at home and celebrating family success will do a lot to encourage positive learning behaviours at home. Think about what you are celebrating too – celebrating effort rather than quantity will help motivate families who are particularly short on time.
Allow children and parents to give feedback on home-learning
Giving value to the learning children do at home and celebrating family success will do a lot to encourage positive learning behaviours at home. Think about what you are celebrating too – celebrating effort rather than quantity will help motivate families who are particularly short on time.
At Learning with Parents we support schools and parents through our Maths with Parents and English with Parents programmes. We provide schools with child-led videos for families as well as offline activities for them to do together.
Are you a parent? Parent Ping is a daily survey app that helps you learn how other parents are dealing with life – all in just 2 minutes a day! Download the Parent Ping app >>