Homework Helps High School Students Most — But it Must Be Purposeful
Although debates continue about the effectiveness of homework for lower grades, it is clear that homework well-designed can increase the achievement of high school students.
Many high school students take part in extracurricular activities and work part-time jobs. This leaves little time for family members to connect. Advocates of less intense homework policies believe that students should have the ability to balance school, family and activities.
High school students can benefit from homework, but how much?
High school students have a better ability to manage their time and stay focused, and they are able to use homework to maximize its value. The 10-minute rule applies to high school. Students should get 10 minutes of homework each night depending on their grade level. Upper-level students can have up to 120 minutes of homework per night. Students may occasionally have to complete more than two hours per night. However, this should not be the norm. Research has shown that students who do more homework than this result in no additional benefits.
However, there is a greater spread in homework assignments between students at different grade levels. Students can choose the level of rigor in their education as they progress through high school. Higher-level students who take AP, honors, or college-level courses will be required to do more homework than students who are taking a lower-level course load. However, students should not be required to do more homework than two hours per night.
Students in high school need to do real work and not be busy.
Research shows that homework should have a purpose. Students in high school shouldn’t think that homework is just a chore. This can lead to resentment, and a decrease in their ability to see homework as a crucial part of their education.
In high school, homework’s goal is to encourage students to study more and engage in the curriculum. This assumes that homework is meaningful and engaging and not passive activities that don’t really promote understanding or engagement. Students should have a better understanding of the content and be able to apply skills they already know.
Some researchers recommend lowering homework for high school students. However, most researchers agree that homework is essential at this level because it has been positively associated with academic achievement. It is important to keep in mind that homework can have a significant impact on academic achievement. Teachers should try to reduce the amount of homework they give if possible.
Caitrin Blake holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Sociology at the University of Vermont, and a Master’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Colorado Denver. She is a composition teacher at Arapahoe Community College.