Homework Guidelines
Here are some research-based guidelines regarding homework, how much to give, how to assess, what kind to give, how often to assign it...
Should we assign homework?
Research demonstrates that the right amount of homework, and the right kind of homework can increase student achievement and understanding for middle school and high school students (with very little effect for elementary school students) (Marzano, Pickering, & Pollock, 2001; Marzano & Pickering, 2007; Cooper, Robinson, & Patall, 2006).
How much homework should we assign?
Most research (US Dept. of Ed, NEA, NCTM...) and most state and district recommendations for time expected for homework agree. Generally, the total amount of homework by grade adheres to the 10-minute per grade rule. That is, a second-grader should have no more than 20 minutes (10 x 2) of homework, while a ninth-grader should have no more than 90 minutes of homework. More generally, the times cited by NCTM (Homework position paper) reflect
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Grades 7-9: up to 2 hours a night
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Grades 10-12: 1½- 2½ hours per night
It is important to remember that this is the maximum total for all classes, so if your students are taking 6 classes, that might mean a maximum of 15 minutes for your class of ninth graders​
Should we assess homework?
If you are going to assign homework, you should assess that homework. It is counter-productive to "check" homework for completeness without checking for understanding.. Checking for completeness only encourages students to simply "write down some numbers" rather than focusing on understanding. You do not need to grade every problem on every assignment, but you can choose key questions or problems to assess. At the very least, you should provide guiding questions and comments on student submissions.
Research demonstrates that homework that is "graded" can improve students' overall percentage gains by as much as 15, while homework with comments can increase percentage gains by as much as 30 for secondary students.
(Walburg, 1999; Marzano & Pickering, 2007)
What should we assign for homework?
Decide on the purpose for homework. This may vary. You may assign review questions or practice problems, with material that is familiar to students, or you may assign preparation or elaboration questions or problems to prepare students for new material. These questions and problems should be investigatory in nature, and should not require prior knowledge.
Avoid assigning "practice" on material that is unfamiliar to students (or brand new) as it may reinforce errors and increase misunderstandings.
How often should we assign homework?
This is entirely up to you, but a regular schedule of homework (every Tuesday and Thursday, or every night Monday through Thursday, ...) can be helpful for students (and their grown-ups). Students might be assigned a few practice problems from the day's lesson, as long as they have had the opportunity to practice in class and may have notes or guidelines to take home with them.
Some teachers assign homework for the week that is due on Fridays, for instance, but remember that prompt feedback is much more effective for student learning (so getting back last week's homework with some comments and directions may be too little, too late!). Better to assign a few directed questions or problems every night or every other night than to have them scramble for a week's work on Thursday nights.
Equity and homework
It is essential to ensure equity in homework. That means checking for and attending to a few things when you assign homework:
Can the homework be done independently by the student (without support or help from parents, siblings, tutors, technology...)?
Does the homework require outside resources (graphing calculators, markers, special materials...)?
Does the homework require technology and/or Internet? Do not assume all students have access to technology and the Internet at their homes.
Is the homework practice for or related to content all students understand and can do?
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If homework requires anything other than student comprehension, you must be willing to supply it. If students are to use graph paper, or calculators, or markers, or glue sticks, ... YOU must be willing to supply them!