Primary school homework is a common practice internationally, historically viewed as an independent child activity, but more recently recognised as a family accomplishment. Parental involvement in homework has been principally discussed in relation to general and fixed typologies, with parent behaviours categorised into pre-defined 'types'. This…

The paper discusses the issue of homework in primary education in Slovakia. It attempts to contribute to uncovering the homework narrative that is created and used by its teaching staff and to relate it to the discourse on homework and its place in education in the Anglo-American environment. The research used content analysis of the written…

This article reports on a qualitative study done in Johannesburg, South Africa, which investigated attitudes of primary school principals of eight public primary schools towards the use of homework in teaching and learning in the Foundation Phase (which comprises the first three grade levels of primary schooling). Using a semi-structured…

Understanding why parents become involved in their children's education is crucial in strengthening the relationship between parental involvement and academic achievement. The present study focuses on the parental role construction and parental self-efficacy. The resulting trends suggest that parents, regardless of their self-efficacy, may assume…

Blended (hybrid) learning is one of the approaches that is utilized to help students for meaningful learning via information and communication technologies in educational settings. In this study, Computer II Course which is taught in faculties of education was planned and implemented in the form of a blended learning environment. The data were…

This paper compares and contrasts two projects in order to better understand the complex issues surrounding the use of technology to support parental involvement with schools and their children's learning. The Becta-funded ICT Test Bed evaluation (2002-2006) had the intention of saturating schools (in three areas of social deprivation) with a…

A teacher of gifted first graders describes and provides examples of ways in which she involved parents in homework assignments. (CL)

Notes that when parents or guardians are closely involved in what is occurring at school, their children benefit. Considers the importance of how best to involve families in the educational process. Notes that home-school collaboration is necessary to accomplish more general, ongoing tasks, such as completing homework. Summarizes research and…

Presents math games for parents to use at home with their children to reinforce math skills taught in the classroom. Areas covered include: sorting and counting; number recognition; shapes; basic skills; measuring; and problem solving. (JMB)

Lists basic study techniques for parents to use with their children so that the time their children spend on homework may be well used. Strategies include doing the hardest part first, taking breaks, studying with others, and establishing a review system. (SM)

Until recently, empirical literature has focused on the effects of homework regarding specific subjects, rather than overall achievement. This study attempts to fill this void by comparing number of hours and number of homework days to three dependent variables: competency test scores, achievement test scores, and teacher-assigned grades for…

Testing can be a time-consuming and tedious method of evaluation. This article suggests methods which don't take additional classroom time or turn students off, and which provide more immediate and constructive feedback than routine testing. (IAH)

For homework assignments to be effective, they must serve to develop skills and help students gain a sense of accomplishment. Suggestions for developing interesting, positive homework assignments that use contracts and skill cards are offered. (DF)

This article discusses how one teacher uses a weekend study buddy as a portable learning center for students (ages 5-9) with mild disabilities. The study buddy is a colorful cloth or paper bag that the students take home over the weekend. It can also be individualized to target particular needs. (Contains 8 references.) (CR)

A study examined the amount and types of responses to homework assignments reported by 577 parents of academically talented elementary students. Students completed homework with few negative responses. While homework assignments increased with grade level, the amount of time parents spent assisting with homework did not increase beyond first…