Reexamining Homework to Teach Executive Functioning in Elementary Schools

<p>Research shows that homework is not as beneficial for students in elementary school as it is in upper grades. However, in order to be successful in upper grades, students must learn the skills to complete homework. These skills are defined as executive functions and are important skills for students to have moving forward yet these skills are not being taught early enough. The purpose of this research project was to better understand the relationship between homework and executive functioning in elementary schools and see how homework can be better used to teach and enforce executive functioning skills. In this study, parents and teachers were interviewed to discuss their personal philosophy on homework, executive functioning and their experiences with both. Those who did not participate in an interview were invited to answer a short survey asking similar questions in multiple choice form. The data shows that although executive functioning skills are important for a student to be able to successfully complete their homework, there is a disconnect between teachers, parents, and the administration around homework expectations. However, until homework is changed from a district level, homework cannot be used to teach executive functioning skills at an elementary school level.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Year dc:date.available

2019

Author dc:creator

• Zalles, Rachel

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jennifer Lucko, PhD
• Jaci Urbani, PhD

• homework
• executive functioning
• elementary
• Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.dominican.edu/education-masters-theses/11

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.dominican.edu:education-masters-theses-1011