When you Google the word "homework" and look at the images, the gallery is saddening. Children look bored. Children look frustrated. Children look sad.
And the images certainly don't come with the caption of, "I'm enjoying reinforcing my learning at school so I can retain this information for my overall growth."
Theoretically, homework is meant to help students work with material they've learned at school so it stays learned. Extra practice, as it were.
But, we have a number of problems here that create a paradox.
First, children are at school every day. The repetition and practice should be built in. So, why the extra practice at home? There is no shortage of studies that show the countries demolishing us in education have...that's right...zero homework.
Second, hours of nightly homework has the opposite effect on students when it comes to learning. "Homework" becomes something to be avoided wherever possible.
Which is why completing music theory homework is such a challenge for many students. (A kind of homework that actually makes sense, considering we only meet face-to-face once a week, leaving six days of time in between).
In a child's mind, if it's not graded and it's not regular school, then why do it?
And the third problem is that most homework is graded. By definition, this means homework is not practicing the material. Instead, children are expected to create a product. If students followed the instructions, they get a good grade. If they didn't, then they get marked down.
For the future of education, let's redefine homework. Let's put it in perspective for our kids. Let's demand the extraneous-and-ineffective homework load be reduced. Let's show our kids how practicing works.
Then the real love of learning can begin.