Key Idea Parent involvement in meaningful, family-friendly homework assignments can have a big impact on a child’s academic success.

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Research on homework

• Teachers often are not properly trained regarding homework.
• Homework should be purposeful and related to classroom learning.
• Homework must be completed to be effective.

Parental involvement can enhance homework when…

• Homework is interactive.
• Parents receive clear directions on how to assist their child.
• Parents are not expected to teach the content.
• Parents pose questions that help students summarize or clarify their learning.

Strategies for SEAs

• Share research and information with educators to help them learn to design purposeful and meaningful homework.
• Help educators learn to align homework assignments with standards and individual student learning goals.
• Support school and district staff in their work with parents and students.

Resources

All Your Parents - Part 4: Provide Information and Strategies from the National Center for Family Literacy

Child Development Institute. Tips for helping kids and teens with homework and study habits. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/learning/studytips.shtml

Epstein, J., Simon, B., & Salinas, K. (1997). Involving parents in homework in the middle grades. Research Bulletin, 18. Phi Delta Kappa Center for Evaluation, Development, and Research. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from www.pdkintl.org/research/rbulletins/resbul18.htm

Marzano, R., & Pickering, D. (2007). Special topic/The case for and against homework. Educational Leadership, 64(6), 74-79. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from www.marzanoandassociates.com/pdf/homework.pdf.

Marzano, R., Pickering, D., & Pollock, J. (2001). Classroom instruction that works: Research-based strategies for increasing student achievement. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

National Education Association. Getting involved in your child’s education.  Retrieved April 23, 2008, from www.nea.org/parents/index.html

National Education Association. Help your student get the most out of homework. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from www.nea.org/parents/homework.html

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Communications and Outreach. (2005). Helping your child with homework. Washington, DC. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/homework/homework.pdf

U. S. Department of Education, Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, Educational Partnerships and Family Involvement Unit, (2003). Homework tips for parents. Washington, DC. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from www.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/homework/homeworktips.pdf

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