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how much time should a 6th grader spend on homework per night? (both written and studying)
I'M SOOO TIRED!!!! all we do is homework, all we talk about is school, i really don't think it's supposed to be this much. i know it's overwhelming to me, everything that he brings home, it's to the point for him that its soooo much he's unable to break it down on his own. i think the problem is that i don't get home until 5:30 and his father doesn't make him do ANYTHING immediately after school. he is easily distracted so it does take until 9 or 10 at night to complete everything including studying. i'm chalking it up to this is my life for now... and this too shall pass :-) thanks for all the numbers and advice, our handbook says 90 minutes. there's no way he'll sit for 90 minutes straight. so a little at a time he'll work his way to that number.
i know they come home with alot of homework. About 3 hours worth.
good luck T.
At a PTA meeting the Superintedent of our schools said a good rule of thumb is 10 minutes per grade: k = 10
1st = 20, 2nd = 30, 3rd = 40 and so on. This question we asked becouse our 4th graders were having 3 hours of math a night.
However, my daughter takes all honors and AP classes - her choice - (she is a Senior in High School) and some nights she had 4 hours - with most of that being AP Chemistry.
PS -- the math she learnt then has let her skip a math class in senior high - she still says Mrs B. taught her alot!
If they have alot of homework - break it up into two or three 20 - 30 minute sessions. After being in school all day - Sitting for another 2 hours can be difficult.
As a teacher, I agree with the hour a night average. Be wary of kids claiming to finish the work in school or on the bus; often, it is not quality work. Give all homework a once over, to see that it meets your standards. Even if you have no clue what you're looking at, you can see that it's done neatly and answers are easy to comprehend, i.e.- more than a word or two. Some students will claim that one or two words are all the teachers wants, but I can assure you that the A students are doing more.
Also, be on the lookout for long-term projects and assignments. Kids frequently lie about having to read ridiculous amounts or do an entire project in one night when they've had the assignment for much longer. Does your school have a homework hotline or website where work is posted? Though I didn't always post small daily assignments, I always posted quizzes, tests, and long-term projects on our school's calendar page. Hope this helps!
60 minutes would be the average. Some kids will take longer, others less. If your child is taking substantially longer than that, then you need to assess the homework situation. Spend a week doing the homework with him (if you are not already). First, is he focused & working the whole time or does he get sidetracked & distracted. (In HS it used to take me about 2-3 hours to write my lab reports b/c the computer was right next to a tv & I would get distracted. I probably could have done them in 20mins if I had been focused). Does he leave projects & reports till the last minute or does he do a little each night (even weekends)? How does he study? Is it efficient (like flashcards) or time wasting (rereading his book & all his notes every night)? Is he taking a long time b/c he is struggling with the material or b/c he is disorganized? If he is struggling you ned to determine if this level of course work is appropriate for him. His classes may be too hard, see if there is a lower level he can go to. If its just a little bit of struggle, then this can be a lesson in hard work. If he is disorganized, tach him how to organize his note books & papers. Three ring binders with tab folders are great. There are various ways to organize, try different techniques & see what works for him. Finally, if after all this you think it is not your child, but the school; then set up a meeting with all his teachers to discuss the situation. If he has multiple teachers they may not realize how much work everyone is giving, or they may tell you it shouldn't be taking that long. Good luck.
Are school district has a policy of 10 minutes per grade level. My daughter's 4th grade teachers really follow this. Of course it's an average and one night may take more and one take lesss. but most of the time it's pretty close. I have a degree in Elementary ed (although teach preschool:)and feel that this is pretty close to what is developmentally correct. Hope this helps. Check your child's school policy handbook.
As much as it takes. . . My children have had a varying amount of homework, depending on the teacher, and upon the child's ability to get the work done in school, or even on the busride home . . .
There is no set rule, but I would prefer a teacher who assigns homework to a teacher to doesn't care how much the kids learn. . . because each year builds upon the one before, and it's better to have kids ready for the adventure when high school begins . . .
Maybe you can make it more fun, and more interesting to your child by learning the material with him/her, so it becomes part of everyday conversation, and he/she finds it easier to remember.
In our district..Central Bucks, PA...it is 10 min/grade level...so 60 mins total for 6th grade.
Hi S., The rule of thumb that I was given when my kids were small was about 10 minutes per grade level, but no more than an hour or so per day. But then again it also depends on the school district and their policies. There are some school's that give far more homework & summer work than others in our area. If you have a concern or think your child is spending too much time on homework you should call and talk to the teacher first. Best wishes.
As a former 6th grade teacher, we tried to keep homework to an hour or less per night. Although it depends on your child too. Some kids can finish more quickly and others struggle through it. Don't be afraid to ask the teacher what her expectations are as well. I know at back to school night we always explained homework policy, including how long should typically be spent on homework each evening.
