With school beginning in just over one week for many Scurry County students, parents will be looking for ways to get their children ready to tackle homework.
Homework was the one word that I always dreaded. It seemed like it took forever to get it done. If we had weekend homework, then it seemed especially time consuming. But I got through it like most students.
Studies regarding how much homework is being assigned to teenagers are somewhat outdated, which makes it difficult to determine how much work kids are being asked to do after school lets out. A 2014 survey from the University of Phoenix found that high school teachers assign, on average, 3½ hours of homework per week. Multiply that figure by five, which is the number of different teachers many high school students have in a typical school day, and the survey concluded that high school students may be expected to complete as much as 17½ hours of homework per week.
Though the study is older, it was the only one of its kind to be conducted in recent years and there’s little reason to suspect today’s high school students are being asked to do any less than their predecessors were in 2014. In fact, they are probably being asked to do more since many high school students are now taking dual-credit classes.
While parents might not be able to do much to lighten their children’s homework load, they can take steps to ensure their homes are as homework-friendly as possible. The following are three ways to do that:
• Create a communal homework table. The Harvard Graduate School of Education noted that youngsters who seem reluctant to do their homework may benefit from doing their afterschool work at a communal table. With parents nearby, students may feel less lonely and may be less likely to procrastinate if they know mom or dad are nearby. Students who are not reluctant to do their homework may benefit from working quietly in their bedrooms.
• Clear the area of distractions. Distractions like televisions, devices that are not necessary to complete assignments and even younger siblings can make it hard for teenagers to concentrate on their work. Designate a time each day for homework, ensuring that the television is off and that devices have been placed on “Do Not Disturb.” In addition, high school students with younger siblings can expect their brothers and sisters to be finished with their homework first. Make sure youngsters recognize the importance of staying quiet until everyone has finished their homework. Encourage younger siblings to leave the homework area and play quietly or read elsewhere in the home.
• Include a break between school and homework time. Much like parents may like taking a few minutes to unwind when getting home from work, kids likely won’t want to dive right into their homework after getting home from school. A break between the school day and homework time can help kids clear their heads so they’re more capable of concentrating when they sit down to do their work.
I hope these tips help your students be successful during the school year.
Ben Barkley is the managing editor of the Snyder Daily News. He has covered news and sports for more than 25 years in Louisiana and Texas. Comments about his column can be emailed to barkley@snyderdailynews.com.