Why is homework important
Despite the numerous controversies surrounding homework, nobody has proved that it has zero impact on students’ development. Homework is believed to improve academic achievement, time management, and inculcate a sense of discipline into the student.
That is not to say that it is 100% perfect with no flaws. At least, there is proof that long hours of homework can cause stress and can result in drug use, among others. That notwithstanding, the few negatives should not override the positivity.
As a student, I developed a hostile attitude towards homework. I sat in the classroom from 8 am to 3 pm, and then did 2 hours of extra classes with a private teacher. I usually returned from school around 5 pm not to rest but to commit extra hours in doing assignments of different subjects. That notwithstanding, I still had to help my mum in home chores. This caused my detest for home assignments.
However, things could have been different if teachers considered the type of tasks and how much of it was assigned each day. Grown-up and working now, I have developed a different perspective on the home task. It is a very important aspect of education when well planned. Let’s answer the question why is homework important?
- Parents contribute to the child’s education
- It reinforces skills
- Improves self-discipline and independency
- Reduces screen times
- Prepares students for the next topic
Homework allows parents to monitor their children’s performance at school and contribute to their education. When a kid is assigned a home task beyond him/her, the first person they seek help from is the parent. This creates a special interaction between kids and parents. While helping in the assignment, they are also able to assess the kid’s performance. As an educator, you must try to assign individual tasks, which would need the involvement of parents.
Continuous practice brings perfection in all endeavors. We can sharpen skills and remember information through constant learning. With homework, students get to practice what they learned in school. Even if they didn’t understand a topic during class hours, through a home task, they can relearn, understand, and answer questions correctly.
Through home assignments, students can develop the habit of self-discipline, including how to manage their time. Every student knows the consequences of not submitting homework on time; as such, they can plan their day to include it. They may have to cut unimportant activities to focus on the assignment. Also, essential life skills like being independent and working with a little or no supervision are imbibed in them.
An average child would want to spend as much time as possible watching television, play games, or fidget with a phone. However, they can’t do this when they have something very important, like homework to do.
A preparatory type of homework prepares students for the next major topic. It introduces them to what is to the learned in subsequent days. With this type, the teacher assigns students to read a chapter of the learning material to be used in the next class. It also helps them to prepare their questions in advance.