John Hattie, a leading educational researcher, stated in an interview on BBC Radio 4 that “homework in primary school has an effect of around zero.” This statement aligns with mounting evidence that assigning homework to young primary school students provides little to no academic benefit.
Several major studies over the past decade have concluded that homework for primary grade students does not improve academic achievement. In fact, some research indicates that homework in early grades may even have a negative impact on learning by causing unnecessary stress and reducing time for play, family activities, and sleep.
According to Hattie, one reason homework has such a negligible effect is that teachers often do not change the way they teach when assigning homework.The tasks tend to be rote rather than engaging. Hattie recommends improving the quality, rather than quantity, of homework assignments. Open-ended, creative homework tasks that involve family members and connect to real-world applications are much more meaningful for young learners.
Many education experts advocate eliminating homework in early elementary school altogether. The National PTA and National Education Association recommend no more than 10-20 minutes of homework per night in the early grades. This brief time would be better spent on reading with a family member than tedious worksheet assignments.
Quality family time, play, exploring personal interests, and rest are essential for the healthy development of primary grade students. Homework should enhance, not hinder, the joy of discovery in early childhood learning. As schools consider homework policies, they should align practices with research showing homework provides no academic benefits for primary grade students. Eliminating homework in the early grades will allow young students to flourish socially, emotionally, and academically.