Effective Homework

Homework should be given as a means for practice of skills that were taught.  It should also engage students in applying new learned information, through repeatedly applying the new skill.  The goal of practice is for students to get as close to mastering the new skill as possible. 

Teachers need to understand the four basic types of homework. Knowing which of the type of homework is needed helps teachers design appropriate homework assignments: 
  1. Memorization of basic rules, algorithms, or laws so the skill becomes rote.
  1. Increase in skill speed, used for improving students' abilities to apply these skills in more complex problem solving.
  2. Deepening understanding of a concept—providing students time to read further, elaborating on a new idea and expanding their understanding.
  3. Preparation for the following day's learning, such as an advance organizer or cue to increase readiness for new information.
Homework is beneficial if students understand the assignments.  Teachers should do the first few questions as a class to clear up any misconceptions.  This will help students whose parents cannot help with homework at home.   

Homework is also beneficial if students are held accountable for completing the assignments completely and correctly.  Therefore, homework should be checked, students should be given the opportunity to correct errors, and the revised results should be counted toward their overall grade.
      The Family and Community Partnership offers the following guidelines for dealing with homework:

      Source: Woolfolk (2010) p. 469