Homework: Two sides to the story

A parent's sigh of relief as cool evenings claim September is often tempered by the word "homework," the word that often strikes terror into the hearts and souls of both children and parents alike. Parents often ask me about the purpose of homework. Well, my answer, because I work with children with disabilities and children at-risk for school failure is likely to differ from other teachers. I think, and this is my opinion, is that the purpose of homework is to reinforce that which has already been taught and learned in school. It is not to add new knowledge. Notice that I said, "Taught and learned." I say this because if the content has not been originally taught, then kids cannot be expected to do it. And even if the content has been taught but kids haven't learned it, then they can't be expected to do it either. Homework that is new information places the parent and the child in untenable positions, forcing the parent into the role of the teacher or the child failing in class. (I think about the evenings struggling over science projects or new math and smile inwardly.) So, the first thing a parent wants to know is whether anything that comes home has already been taught and learned in class. Here's just a little caveat. Homework can be a thermometer. It can tell a parent how well a child is learning. If a child is needing excessive help or is struggling inordinately over certain concepts, don't wait for the report card. There could be a problem. There might be a mismatch between the child's skills and what is demanded in the classroom. That should be an immediate heads up. So, be alert, parents, and watch how your kids do their homework. Since this is the season, I'll talk a little bit more about this tomorrow.