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IELTS Topic: Education
Reading 3
Homework: worth the hassle
Original source: The Guardian
Primary school teacher Helen Silvester is a fan of the right kind of homework
Education researcher Professor John Hattie has found that homework in primary schools has little to no impact on a student’s overall learning. However, it makes a bigger difference in secondary schools.
His explanation is that students in secondary schools are often given tasks that reinforce key skills learned in the classroom that day, whereas primary students may be asked to complete separate assignments. “The worst thing you can do with homework is give kids projects; the best thing you can do is reinforce something you’ve already learned,” he told the BBC in 2014.
The right kind of homework reinforces key skills learned in the classroom that day.
Source: Kastoluza/ Shutterstock
So homework can be effective when it’s the right type of homework. We need to set work that’s relevant. This includes elaborating on information addressed in the class or opportunities for students to explore the key concepts in areas of their own interest.
Make sure students can complete the homework. Pitch it to a student’s age and skills – anxiety will only limit their cognitive abilities in that topic. A high chance of success will increase the reward stimulation in the brain.