Panel Discussion: Are Young Students Getting Too Much Homework?

WCCO - CBS Minnesota

13 Aug 201503:06

Summary

TLDRThe video transcript discusses concerns over excessive homework for early elementary school children, with studies suggesting that first graders are assigned 28 minutes of homework, exceeding the recommended 10 minutes. The debate highlights the varying parental perspectives, from those who find homework beneficial to those who struggle with assisting their children due to language barriers or lack of education. The conversation also touches on the potential benefits of homework for learning, but questions the necessity of certain assignments, such as writing out words, which some parents view as a waste of time.

Takeaways

🎒 New studies suggest that early elementary school children are receiving excessive homework.
⏱ There is a guideline of 10 minutes of homework for first graders, but some are doing 28 minutes.
🤔 Concerns are raised about the attention span of first graders and their ability to focus for 28 minutes.
📚 Some argue that young children should spend more time outside engaging in activities rather than doing homework.
🏆 The situation is compared to the 'everyone gets a trophy' mentality, suggesting a desire for simplicity and less academic pressure.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Some parents enjoy homework and look forward to assisting their children, but this may not be feasible for all families.
📈 The study found disparities in parental comfort levels with homework assistance, with some groups feeling less equipped to help.
📉 Parents without a college education or those with English as a second language felt less comfortable with homework assistance.
📝 Ten minutes of homework is roughly equivalent to a one-page first-grade math worksheet, which seems reasonable to some.
📚 Some parents believe homework is beneficial for learning and want more of it, while others see it as a waste of time.
👩‍🏫 Teachers may assign homework to reinforce learning, but there is debate over the effectiveness and necessity of additional assignments outside of class.

Q & A

What is the main concern raised in the transcript about homework for young children?
-The main concern is that children in early elementary school years are getting too much homework, which is affecting their attention span and time for outdoor activities.
What is the recommended guideline for homework in kindergarten according to the transcript?
-The recommended guideline for homework in kindergarten is no homework.
How much time is a first-grader expected to spend on homework according to the transcript?
-According to the transcript, the guideline is for first-graders to spend 10 minutes on homework.
What is the actual amount of time first-graders are spending on homework as per the survey mentioned in the transcript?
-The survey mentioned in the transcript indicates that first-graders are spending 28 minutes on homework.
What is the concern about the attention span of first-graders in relation to the time they spend on homework?
-The concern is that first-graders may not have the attention span to focus on homework for as long as 28 minutes.
What is the opinion of the speaker about the amount of homework given to children?
-The speaker believes that 30 minutes of homework for a six-year-old might be excessive and questions the necessity of such an amount.
What is the speaker's view on the role of homework in children's learning?
-The speaker acknowledges that homework can be beneficial, especially in subjects like math, but questions the effectiveness of excessive writing assignments.
What is the issue with certain families feeling comfortable helping their children with homework as per the study mentioned?
-The issue is that families with parents who are not college-educated or where English is a second language may not feel comfortable helping their children with homework.
What is the speaker's suggestion for an appropriate amount of homework for first-graders?
-The speaker suggests that a one-page first-grade math worksheet, which would take about 10 minutes, seems like an appropriate amount of homework.
What is the speaker's concern regarding the type of homework being assigned to children?
-The speaker is concerned that children are being assigned additional homework that they are not doing in class, which might be unnecessary.
What is the speaker's personal experience with homework and how does it contrast with the general sentiment expressed?
-The speaker personally enjoys homework and looks forward to doing it with their children, contrasting with the general sentiment that too much homework is burdensome.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Homework Debate in Early Elementary Education

This paragraph discusses the debate surrounding the amount of homework given to early elementary school children. It mentions a study by professionals that suggests children are receiving too much homework, particularly in the first grade where they are expected to do 28 minutes of homework compared to the guideline of 10 minutes. The speaker expresses doubt about the attention span of first graders and questions the type of homework appropriate for a six-year-old. The paragraph also touches on the idea that too much emphasis on simplicity in education may be contributing to the problem and highlights the varying opinions of parents, with some finding homework enjoyable and beneficial, while others struggle with the time commitment and the ability to assist their children, especially if they lack higher education or English is not their first language.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Homework

Homework refers to the assignments given to students to be completed outside of regular class hours. In the video's context, it is a central theme as it discusses the amount and appropriateness of homework for early elementary school children. The script mentions that first graders are doing 28 minutes of homework, which is double the recommended 10 minutes, raising concerns about its impact on young children's attention spans and learning.

💡Elementary School

Elementary school is the first stage of formal education, typically for children aged 5 to 11 years old. The video focuses on this age group, particularly on the early years, to discuss the effects of homework load on young students who are still developing their learning skills, as indicated by the mention of kindergarten and first grade.

💡Attention Span

Attention span is the length of time that a person can concentrate on a task without becoming distracted. The script questions whether a first grader has the attention span to complete 28 minutes of homework, suggesting that the current homework load might be excessive for children's cognitive abilities at this developmental stage.

💡Guidelines

Guidelines are a set of recommendations or rules intended to assist decision-making. The video refers to a '10-minute guideline' for homework in kindergarten and first grade, which is a suggested standard for the amount of homework that should be assigned to young children.

💡Survey

A survey is a method of collecting data from a sample group to gain insights into opinions or behaviors. The script mentions a survey that found children are doing more homework than recommended, which is a key piece of evidence supporting the argument about the homework load.

💡Reading

Reading is the process of interpreting written text. The video script notes that many children in the early elementary years are just learning to read, implying that assigning them a significant amount of homework might be challenging and could hinder their reading development.

💡Outdoor Activity

Outdoor activity refers to any form of physical exercise or recreational activity conducted in an outdoor environment. The speaker in the video suggests that children should spend more time outside engaging in activities, rather than being confined to doing homework, emphasizing the importance of a balanced lifestyle for children.

💡Educational Background

Educational background refers to the academic and educational history of an individual. The video discusses how parents' comfort in helping with homework is influenced by their own educational levels, particularly highlighting the challenges faced by parents without a college education.

💡Worksheet

A worksheet is a type of document containing problems or exercises for students to complete, often used as a tool for practicing and reinforcing learning. The script uses the example of a one-page first-grade math worksheet to illustrate what an appropriate amount of homework might look like.

💡Parental Involvement

Parental involvement refers to the participation of parents in their children's education, such as helping with homework or communicating with teachers. The video touches on the varying levels of parental involvement in homework, with some parents finding it fun and others struggling due to their own educational backgrounds.

💡Learning

Learning is the process of acquiring new knowledge, skills, or understanding. The script discusses the purpose of homework as a means to facilitate learning, with some parents believing that homework is essential for their children's educational development, while others question its effectiveness.

Highlights

New studies suggest that early elementary school children are getting too much homework.

The ten-minute guideline for homework in kindergarten and first grade is being exceeded, with some children doing 28 minutes of homework.

First graders may not have the attention span to focus for 28 minutes, especially when they are still learning to read.

Some parents believe that homework is beneficial and want their children to do more.

The speaker expresses a personal preference for homework and looks forward to doing it with their children.

There is a concern that the amount of homework is not manageable for some families.

The study found that certain families, such as those with English as a second language or with less education, felt less comfortable helping with homework.

Ten minutes of homework is roughly equivalent to a one-page first-grade math worksheet, which seems reasonable.

Some parents feel that homework is a sign that their children are learning and support the practice.

The speaker questions the effectiveness of writing out 20 words as homework, considering it a waste of time.

There is a debate about whether the homework assigned is contributing to learning or just adding an unnecessary burden.

The speaker suggests that the people who want everyone to get a trophy are the same ones complaining about too much homework.

The idea of doing homework for half an hour is presented as a point of contention among parents.

The transcript raises the question of whether the amount of homework is a significant issue or not.

There is a suggestion that children should spend more time outside with activities rather than doing homework.

The transcript implies that the homework debate is complex and involves various perspectives and experiences.