What is this project?

Increasing research use in schools has been a growing concern in the last decade.  The primary goal of this project is to get relevant research into the hands of parents by embedding "Research Findings for Parents" in Elementary School Newsletters.  This project arises from a partnership between the Canadian Education Association and OISE's Research Supporting Practice in Education (RSPE) program at the University of Toronto. 

Each newsletter provides short summaries of current research on topics of interest to parents and the public.  Each issue is based on our best interpretation of the body of research on this topic.  Additional resources for educators and parents are also available on this website for each newsletter topic.

We encourage you to share these results with staff, parents and students via your school newsletter or website.  You are free to reproduce and distribute this material in any form provided that you reproduce the entire commentary and credit it to the two sponsors.

We welcome your comments on the content, format or ideas for topics.  Please email:  rspe@oise.utoronto.ca

Issue 1: What Does Research Say About Homework?

English Version

La Version Française

Additional Resources

• The Homework Spot:  This website offers advice for K-12 education organized by subject and grade level.  There is also links for both parents and teachers.  The link for parents has a number of resources and publications.  [The Homework Spot]

• Literacy and Numeracy Tip Sheets for Parents:  Peel district school board in Ontario has created 35 tips sheets for parents to help students with literacy and numeracy skills.  [Available for Download]

• Free Monthly E-Mail Package of Parent-Child Activities:  A free monthly list of learning activities for pre-school children and elementary, middle school and secondary students [Subscribe]

• 106 Ways Parents Can Help Students Achieve by Kristen J. Amundson:   This booklet (from the American Association of School Administrators) offers a number of tips organized by the following categories - learning begins at home; using the newspaper for better learning; make family time = learning time; starting school ready to learn; building self-esteem; improving academic achievement; working with the school; promoting your family's values; peer pressure; preparing for the world of work; good health = good learning; sources of help; learning is everyone's concern [Available for $12 from Amazon]

• List of Websites to Help Parents Help their Children:  This website contains links for parents on many topics like reading, math, general school work, summer learning and more [Internet4Classrooms] 

Research References Informing this Issue

Bennett, S. and N. Kalish (2006). The case against homework:  How homework is hurting our children and what we can do about it. New York, Crown.
 
Cameron, L. and L. Bartel (2008). Homework Realities:  A Canadian Study of Parental Opinions and Attitudes, University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Bartel, Cameron & Associates Inc.
 
Cooper, H. (1989). "Synthesis of research on homework." Educational Leadership 47(3): 85-91.

>For junior high school students, the benefits of homework increased as the time spent on homework increased, up to 1 to 2 hours of homework a night, and then decreased.

>On the other hand, homework has smaller effects at lower grade levels; however, Cooper still recommended homework to ‘help students develop good study habits, foster positive attitudes toward school, and communicate to students the idea that learning takes work at home as well as at school’.

Cooper, H. (2007). The battle over homework. Thousand Oaks, CA, Corwin Press.

>Homework should have different purposes at different grade levels.  In earlier grades (primary), homework should help encourage positive attitudes, habits and character traits. In upper elementary grades (junior), homework should play a more direct role to improve student achievement. In 6th grade and beyond (intermediate/senior), homework should play a role in improving standardized test scores and grades.

>Research findings supported the ’10-minute rule’ where all daily homework assignments combined should take about 10 minutes multiplied by the student’s grade level, but the rule might be increased to 15 minutes if reading is included as a type of homework.

Cooper, H., J. C. Robinson, et al. (2006). "Does Homework Improve Academic Achievement?  A Synthesis of Research, 1987-2003." Review of Educational Research 76(1): 1-62.

>Review of research from 1987 to 2003 in the United States suggests there is evidence to support positive influence of homework on achievement.

>Research reported that 7 to 12 hours of homework per week produced the largest benefits, in academic achievement, for grade 12 students.

>Cooper, Robinson and Patall cautioned about too much homework, as its effectiveness diminishes or can become counterproductive.

Kohn, A. (2006). Homework Myth:  Why our kids get too much of a bad thing, Cambridge, MA,  Da Capo Life Long.

Marzano, R. J. and D. J. Pickering (2007). "Special Topic/The Case For and Against Homework." Educational Leadership 64(6): 74-79.

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