Home Tasks Causing Depression In School Kids?

There has been a constant debate if giving extra home tasks to school children has elevated their efficiency or not. Research has shown that overdose of home tasks has caused an increase in the stress level in children, along with anxiety and insecurity. Montessori teaching methodologies believe that assigning extra home works to children will adversely impact their intelligence.

Children have a delicate mind and they always prefer learning environments that are less intense and more warming. Montessori teacher training courses always focus on guiding teachers with the best quality curriculum so that they can inspire children to engage themselves in the learning process. Schools in Malaysia are working on reducing the level of homework so that students can comfortably learn in real-time.

Teachers in Malaysian schools are opting for Montessori teacher training in Malaysia so that they can provide the best educational program to students. A Montessori program not only aims at teaching kids properly but also at child development in both social and cognitive aspects. This program says that homework is beneficial but an overdose acts as an inhibitor.

If you ask me, I shall always suggest that homework should be based on whatever substantial that has been taught in the class. The main purpose of a home task is to brush up on the knowledge that a student has gained during the class. It ensures that the student is not out of track and the next day if the session continues on the same topic, the student won't be feeling missed out.

Besides, while doing a home task a student explores the chapter that has been taught in the class. Often it has been that students go with the flow in the classroom and their doubts remain behind. While exploring the chapter at home, students usually come across questions that ignite their minds a lot. If the quantity of home tasks is mammoth, students won't get chances to ask questions to themselves and will invest their whole time in solving questions. Thus, an exact amount of home tasks will create a gateway for students' questioning power.

Studies have revealed that students are prone to anxiety and depression if they're overloaded with homework. In fact, excessive home tasks are hazardous for physical wellbeing as well. These days learning methods go beyond the traditional chalk-and-duster method and audio-visual tactics are being utilized. Needless to say, these audio-visual classes and regular classes put stress on the visual power of kids. An added amount of homework will only worsen the scenario.

The National PTA and the National Education Association agree that homework that takes longer than 10 minutes per grade period is excessive. For example, a third-grader should have no more than 30 minutes of homework. Any homework beyond 30 minutes is too much.

Dr. Maria Montessori believed that every child is unique and the developmental process of every child is different. Some children may require 30 minutes to finish a home task while others may be more than that. Thus, the main job is to assess the abilities and mental development of children and thus set homework that shall be gotten done by every student within an average time period.

In the case of high school students, homework should not exceed a time limit of 2 hours. According to the Journal of Educational Psychology, students who did more than 90 to 100 minutes of homework per night actually performed worse on tests than those with less than 90 minutes of homework.

Homework has affected students in various ways:

1. Sleep-deprived.

2. Anxiety.

3. Constant headache.

4. Depression.

5. Vision problem.

These are major issues that have been reported in students who are overburdened with homework regularly.

The role of parents is very crucial when it comes to helping their children with homework. Parents must never encourage procrastination because that eventually will lead to a loss of time. They should be able to figure out the strengths and weaknesses of their children and help them to work on their strengths.

One of the biggest attributes of Montessori teaching methodologies is that it knows where to begin from. For example, reducing or increasing the level of homework depends upon the potential of a student, and thus evaluating that potential comes first. Montessori teacher training in Malaysia has efficiently inculcated that assessment power in teachers so that they can assess students before educating them.