I was talking with my niece the other day and she was telling me about her homework.  That got me to wondering about homework in general for children in elementary school, so I posed the following question to our contributor about education, Mary Cantafio:

How can you tell if your child’s teacher is giving an appropriate amount of homework?  What, in your opinion, is the right amount of homework for a child in grades 1 through 5?

Here’s what she told me:

Homework is a wonderful tool for parents and students.  It gives parents the opportunity to see what their child is learning in school and students the opportunity to see if the lesson that was taught in school was retained for later use.

Let me explain my feelings concerning homework.  First of all, I believe in it.  I feel it is an extension of school, where a child should be able to complete work without a teacher present.  Whether your child is in first grade or fifth grade, he/she should always have reading, math, and spelling homework every school night.   Throw in reading and math flash cards for first, second, and third graders, and occasional projects for third, fourth, and fifth graders, along with multiplication and division flash cards.  When I say every school night I mean Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  The weekend should be free for the family to enjoy being together as a family without the stress of worrying about completing homework assignments.

Homework should always be covered by the teacher in school so that the child knows what to do with the assignment.  Parents should NOT have to sit next to the child while the work is being completed, or actively do the work with him/her, even a first grader.  Going over the directions and checking a completed paper is the extent of parental involvement.  If the child has a problem and cannot complete the work on his/her own, the parent should write about the struggle right on the paper so that the teacher can see it.  Remember, if your child has a problem with a homework assignment, chances are other children have the same problem.  The teacher will need to review the assigned work with the class the next school day. If your child has a problem EVERY night with the homework, that is a “red flag” and I suggest you set up a parent/teacher conference as soon as possible.

Some children have a problem doing homework right after school.  Many parents believe that a child should come home from school, do homework, and then go out to play.  However, some children “need to get away” from school when they get home.  For children that have a problem with “starting” homework, a perfect solution would be for him/her to eat a snack, then go outside and play.  Homework time will be right after supper (however, it is best to have an early supper, around 5:00).   If your child is still taking a long time to complete the work, and you KNOW your child is capable of doing the work but just doesn’t seem to want to do it, give your child a time period in which he/she must be done.  For example, set a clock for 45 minutes, or one hour.  Tell your child that when the alarm goes off he/she must be done.  The work that isn’t completed goes to school that way and the child must take the punishment given by the teacher.  Again, if you see stress with your child concerning the work, that is a red flag and no amount of time will get the work done.  You must meet with the teacher as soon as possible.

Be creative with reading and math flash cards.  You can practice math facts in the car riding to the practice field, or on your way to school in the morning.  Same with reading a story.  If your child has a reading assignment he/she can read to you while you are doing the dishes or the laundry.

As far as the amount of time your child should be working on his/her homework, that time will vary around the grade your child is in.  A first grader should have a total of 15-20 minutes to cover all the required work. Add five minutes for second grade, another five for third, and so on.  A fourth and fifth grade student should work on the “average” of 30 to 45 minutes every night, depending on the assignments.  For example, if a “project” is due in a week or so, your child may need to work a little on it every night, along with the usual reading, spelling, and math.  Never allow him/her to let a project go until the last minute and complete all the work in one night!

Continue to read to your child, or have him/her read to you, before bedtime.  This is a perfect way for you to spend quality time with your child.  Some parents may need to do flash cards at this time.  No problem, just try to read a story every few days.  Again, if your child never wants to read, or can’t read a word (even a first grader by the middle of the school year)  keep a close eye, for it may be an indication of a problem.

Homework should be a time where your child has a set place to go and do the required work, a reasonable amount of time to complete the work, and very little stress, if any, placed on the family members.  Getting the family organized is the key to success.

I think that it’s good to know what to expect when your child comes home with their books and assignments.  Homework is a good thing, but can be problematic for some children.  Being informed and ready to help your child is a good way to address this issue.