Why Primary Schools Should Keep a Little Homework

Full script

Read the whole talk.

All slides in one place. Read it through once, then practice slide by slide.

1. 01Why Primary Schools Should Keep a Little Homework

   Good evening, parents and teachers. I've taught primary school for fifteen years. Some people want to stop homework completely for young children. Tonight, I'll argue that we should keep a little homework, but make it much better.

2. 02Admittedly, the Research Is Mixed

   Admittedly, the research doesn't strongly support homework for young children. A well-known 2006 review by Harris Cooper and colleagues found that the link between homework and achievement is very weak in primary school, though much clearer in older grades.

   Source: Cooper, Robinson & Patall, "Does homework improve academic achievement? A synthesis of research, 1987–2003," Review of Educational Research (2006)

3. 03Reason 1: Test Scores Aren't the Only Goal

   But test scores aren't the only purpose of homework. Small, regular tasks teach children responsibility: remembering a task, managing time, and finishing something on their own. These habits matter later.

4. 04Reason 2: A Window for Parents

   Homework is also a window for parents. When a child brings home a short task, parents can see what they're learning and talk about it at dinner. Without any homework, many parents would know much less.

5. 05Reason 3: A Smooth Step to Older Grades

   Finally, the same review found a much clearer link in middle and high school. If children never do any homework until they're older, the sudden change can be hard. A little practice earlier makes that step smoother.

   Source: Cooper, Robinson & Patall, "Does homework improve academic achievement? A synthesis of research, 1987–2003," Review of Educational Research (2006)

6. 06The Real Problem: Bad Homework

   I agree with one thing my colleagues say: a lot of homework is bad. It's too long, too hard to do without help, or just boring. The answer isn't zero homework. It's better homework.

7. 07What Good Homework Looks Like

   Good homework for young children is short, about ten to fifteen minutes, and something they can do without a parent's help. For example, reading a story, interviewing a grandparent, or counting leaves in the park.

8. 08Conclusion

   To conclude, the research gives us a good reason to cut long, stressful homework, but not to remove it completely. Let's give young children a little homework that is short, simple, and meaningful. Thank you.