Homework: What is a parents role?

WHILE the holidays have been fun, it is back to school and that means parents and pupils must get back into the homework routine. Principal of Bay Primary School in Richards Bay, Mr V Moodley shares some insight on how parents can eliminate stress when dealing with homework.

What is the function of homework?
Homework should be given as an extension of classwork.
It is to ascertain whether the lesson taught in the classroom was absorbed by the child and gives the teacher an indication if the pupil understands and if they remembered the information.
Parents should not be directly involved in homework, their role is to supervise and ensure that the homework is completed.
Parents must not do their child’s homework for them. It is not the parents role to teach; teaching and testing is done during school time by the teacher.
If the parent is teaching the child at home that means the child did not understand the information in the classroom and the pupil must let the teacher know that they did not understand the work so it can be explained again.
The child has to complete homework on their own, if there are errors this will allow the teacher to discuss the corrections and ensure the pupil understands. If parents do their children’s homework this portrays a wrong picture and gives the teacher the impression the pupil understands.
Work that has not been completed during class time should be done as homework.

How much time should be allocated for homework?
A child should not spend more than 30 minutes per subject of homework.
There should be a homework timetable which covers all the subjects. Children should have homework for at least two subjects per day.
Parents should supervise and assist with research, especially on the computer so their child does not get distracted and do other stuff while on the internet.
The internet is a good source of assistance however adult supervision is necessary.