Homework, Homeschooling: There’s No Place Like Home to Accomplish Both

Seems like our kids have more homework than I ever had when I went to school.  We spend lots of time every evening doing “our” homework together. Teachers also want our signatures on the work. Times have really changed.  Are we just out of it? How much homework is too much?

—Jason D.

Times have changed, and you’re right in the throes of it. With so much more accountability expected of schools and teachers today, it seems that teachers are sharing that accountability with students and their parents.

Welcome to 21st-century education. Times, they are a changin’! Hopefully for the better.

 Regarding your comment about the required signature: this is the teacher’s way of ensuring your involvement in your child’s learning. Although it’s hard to believe, sometimes kids may misrepresent why they didn’t complete their assignments or may provide the classic, “the dog ate my homework” excuse. 

Thus, the teacher, in a sincere effort to keep the lines of communication open between the school and the family, requests the parent’s signature. It is, after all, a simple yet effective measure to encourage parents to spend a little time reviewing their kid’s work at home.

Take the time to sign. It sends a message to your child and lets the teacher know you’re both on the same page.

But seriously, how much is too much? There are some benchmarks based on actual research. Researcher Harris Cooper, developed some guidelines that support the recommendations of the National Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA). Here’s a brief overview of the guidelines derived from his research.

GRADE

LEVEL

MINUTES PER NIGHT

Grade 1

10-20

Grade 2

20

Grade 3

30

Grade 4

40

Grade 5

50

Grade 6

60

Grade 7

70

Grade 8

80

Grade 9

90

Grade 10

100

Grade 11

110

Grade 12

120

Remember, of course, that these time allotments may require some individual adjustment based on your child’s developmental level and ability in addition to the number and types of course that he or she might be enrolled in at the high school level.  Naturally, students in advanced placement, honors and scholars classes are expected to invest much more time in those more rigorous courses.

If you’re confused about the importance of homework in your child’s life, take a look at these comments on Kidsource. And finally, if you just want to read more about the value and purpose of homework, click Suite 101 for some very helpful information. Learn, consider and apply.

A parent down the street from me was recently talking about homeschooling her child.  Why would a parent want to teach a child at home when our local public schools offer what I consider to be excellent educational programs? What is homeschooling all about? I just don’t get it! What am I missing here?

—Deb E.

 Truth be told, every parent homeschools their children one way or another. Parents are the child’s first teachers and everything parents do and say teaches their children what to do and say. It may be informal and by osmosis, but parents are teachers nonetheless!

However, in this case, your question refers to the formal meaning of homeschooling.  In the Pennsylvania School Code, homeschooling is referred to as a “home education program.”  The specific requirements for a home education program are available on the Pennsylvania Portal.

A home education program is an alternative way for parents to fulfill the requirements of the compulsory education law while retaining their own right to provide education to their children based on their personal beliefs and values.

Parents most often choose homeschooling because of their religious beliefs, personal values and family or cultural traditions. 

Many are concerned that the public schools provide only a secular education and they prefer to include their own religious beliefs and values within the traditional curriculum offerings. Educational choice is important to many parents and the homeschooling option may be one that they want to consider.

Choosing homeschooling for your children is a major commitment since parents take on the responsibility for ensuring that they meet the legal requirements listed in the state guidelines. 

Homeschooling parents need to have the time and resources to meet these requirements as well as the ability to organize their home schedules to accommodate the needs of their children.

Time is probably the most difficult challenge.  There’s never enough time in the day to do everything we all have to do and that may be even more of an issue for busy parents. Documenting and scheduling a minimum of 180 days or 900 hours of instruction per year at the elementary level, or 990 hours per year at the secondary level, is a daunting prospect at best. Homeschooling is definitely not for the faint of heart!

Fortunately there are tons of resources, materials and information available to parents who choose homeschooling for their children.

One of the most helpful websites is PA Homeschoolers. Everything for the homeschooling family is here at this one stop shop.  Developers of the website, Howard and Susan Richman, live in Kittanning, Pa. and readily respond to questions about homeschooling.

In addition, homeschooled students can enroll in online courses and thus fulfill their academic requirements.

Homeschooling families often gather to provide a social experience for their children through field trips and other cultural excursions. Parents often meet to increase their own knowledge of teaching and learning through homeschooling workshops, seminars and curriculum fairs. 

The 26th Annual Greater Pittsburgh Homeschooling Workshop and Curriculum Fair is scheduled for Saturday, March 12. Check out this link if you want to learn more. Listen, learn and decide.