Our Schools Approach to "Homework"

“Have you done your homework?” ~ One of those questions which can cause awful tension between parents and their children, whereas other families find homework to be an enjoyable time together.

Our school view is that formal homework (in the traditional sense that many parents would remember as children) serves little useful purpose and research confirms this.

World renowned NZ Education researcher Professor John Hattie has ranked various influences on student learning and achievement (by analysing all of the existing research studies from around the world), & found that homework in primary schools has little to no impact on a student’s overall learning, with some evidence suggesting that it can have a negative effect on learning for primary aged children. The research does indicate that it makes a bigger difference in secondary school, if the homework is aligned to what the students are doing at school.

His research also shows that 5-10 minutes has the same effect of 1-2 hours. Hattie’s research is often referred to as the “holy grail” around the world.

Two of the common reasons that are often mentioned for children doing homework (other than curriculum learning) are to improve time management and to help prepare them for high school. However, there is no research evidence that homework improves either of these.

Consequently at Te Ao Mārama we do not set formal homework (especially in the traditional sense). We do however encourage our students to be active outside school hours and see value (academic, health and social benefits) in parents supporting with some the activities below:

· Encouraging reading for pleasure and information – please see here for more ideas

· Listening and talking to children about things of interest or what they’re learning at school. Try these questions here

· Providing children with opportunities to help at home

· Encouraging and supporting your child in their interests, hobbies or sports

· Above all, never lose sight of the value of close relationships, support, caring, and fun. That is the most important homework of all.

The activities above also align nicely with our schoolwide values of being creative, curious, collaborative, confident and community-minded.