There is considerable debate about the relative importance of family versus school factors in producing academic and nonacademic student outcomes, and whether and how their impacts vary across different student groups. In addition to critically reviewing and synthesizing earlier work, this study extends the literature by (a) using the ECLS-K, a…

To help boost children's study skills, this article provides tips for organizing parent education sessions, establishing an after school homework assistance program, providing homework organizers for students, and creating a homework hotline. Once the school program is in order, parents can be invited to participate as partners. (MLH)

Reviews ERIC materials showing some of the effects of homework policies and practices at the elementary school level. (FL)

Three children with lowest homework completion rates in the class were taught to self-instruct, first overtly and then covertly following the Meichenbaum and Goodman model. The results showed that self-instruction procedures used by the children improved their homework completion rates. (Author/LMO)

Examines research pertaining to homework and student achievement and concludes that assigning and managing homework do increase achievment. Recommends that schools developing homework policies refer to this research as the basis of their policies.(FL)

A growing evidence base suggests that participation in out-of-school time (OST) programs can make a positive difference in the lives of young people. Researchers and practitioners assert that high quality, organized OST activities have the potential to support and promote youth development because they:(1) situate youth in safe environments; (2)…

Students from two junior high school mathematics classes were assigned either to a treatment in which every homework problem was graded or to one in which a random half of the problems were graded. There were not significant differences between treatment groups on achievement after a six-week period. (JP)

One of three motivators (ridicule, insult, gentle reminder) or one of three controls was included in a handout of course reading assignments. Although the gentle reminder and insult increased test scores somewhat, only ridicule produced a significant increase in information acquisition. Sex differences were found for the insult versus ridicule…

Suggestions for possible homework assignments involving physical education activities and a list of simulated games manufacturers are provided. (LH)

Describes the use of search engines to search the World Wide Web for homework or reference questions in libraries. Subject directories, basic engines, and metaengines are discussed; examples of useful homework-oriented Web site directories are given; and suggestions for reference work are listed. (LRW)

Describes the process and outcome of including in assignments and examinations some questions requiring written answers along with traditional questions requiring only numerical calculations. Lists questions used in a chemical engineering course on separation processes along with sample responses from students. Student feedback indicates a…

A daily or weekly academic journal kept by the student can help parents who want to involve themselves more actively in their child's schoolwork. Sample journals are included in this article in addition to several homework hints. (IAH)

A systematic approach which clearly defines teacher, student, and parent roles in homework is described, including discussion of homework policies, homework returns, study areas, survival kits, and time management. (CB)

Describes a basic biology college course that has incorporated newspapers as supplemental text to make the course relevant to the students and provide implications for knowledge. In this ungraded assignment, students identify and cut out three news articles per week. After 10 weeks, they write about the 3 articles that most impressed them. (PR)