A New Look at an Age-Old Practice By Kathy Checkley Vol. When she was a child, Mary Russo knew that going to school was her job. The time used to complete homework assignments was considered sacred. Russo is now the principal at Samuel Mason Elementary School in Roxbury, Mass., and regularly stresses the importance of homework to parents. What's more, says Russo, making homework a priority gives children more opportunities to learn.
Homework is a powerful way to extend learning.
Russo bases her claim on her 27 years of educational experience, as well as on research that has shown a correlation between homework and student achievement and the development of critical skills. Although there continues to be debate about the accuracy of studies that link increased academic achievement to homework, there has been no disagreement among educators that homework helps instill in students a sense of responsibility, accountability, motivation, and self-confidence. Vital Solutions of Children's Educational Success. Still, Rich concedes, in today's modern world, an old-fashioned approach to homework won't work. Schools today, she adds, also have to seek parental support for homework and show parents how to reinforce, at home, what students learn in the classroom.