Homework is often misunderstood by teachers, parents, and students. It should never be used as a punishment—students already have a bad taste about homework. Homework is a vital part of learning that reinforces skills, develops self-discipline, and instills responsibility in a student. Here are a few guidelines for homework that will help the student.

Limit homework to grade level. A good rule of thumb is ten minutes per grade in elementary (thirty minutes for third grade, fifty minutes for fifth grade, etc.), one and a quarter hours for junior high, and one and a half hours for high school. This is the average amount of time it should take most students to complete the homework for all subjects.

Communicate the assignment. Elementary teachers may send home a single sheet of paper with the day’s assignments, while secondary students should keep a planner to record assignments from each class. Make sure the students write it down.

Keep parents informed. Tell them about current and upcoming assignments and discipline issues. Build a positive partnership with the parents. Performance dramatically improves when the parents are involved.

Check homework daily. This helps both students and parents see that completing the assignment directly leads to better performance. Check to see that the homework is neat, complete, and accurate. “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).