A Parents' Guide to Homework Help

Your initial instinct may be to help your child with their homework every night, but as they get older, they should take on more homework independence and responsibility. Here's a parents' guide to grade by grade homework expectations for elementary school children.

Homework is an essential part of learning, helping reinforce what is taught in the classroom. However, many parents are unsure exactly what their role in homework should be and how much homework to expect in each grade. While there is no widespread rule that applies to students and parents everywhere, here is a general guide as your child moves through elementary and middle school.

Kindergarten Homework

Homework in kindergarten is minimal and focused primarily on teaching students to follow directions, work independently, and develop reading building blocks (such as letter sounds and combinations and sight words) and basic math skills. 

Your role: Let your child take the lead on any homework assignments, but be on hand for help. Read with your child every night.

First Grade Homework

Practice worksheets reinforce concepts taught in the classroom and may come home nightly or weekly for your child to complete at a comfortable pace. The National Parent Teacher Association recommends no more than 20 minutes of homework per night in first grade, but most elementary teachers encourage nightly reading of 15-30 minutes in addition to other homework.

Your role: Have your child attempt homework independently, but be available for questions and help. Continue to read to your child and have your child read to you, practicing reading strategies taught in class.

Second Grade Homework

By second grade, the goal is for your child to become a proficient reader. The teacher may provide a specific reading book for your child to read to you each night. Spelling will remain a focus, and you should continue to read together as well. Math worksheets will come home and may take 10-20 minutes to complete, focusing on explaining math concepts.

Your role: Continue to help your child build independence as a reader and a student overall.

Third Grade Homework

By third grade, your child should be capable of maintaining the homework routine without reminders from you. Nightly math homework should take 15-25 minutes and moves into multiplication, division, and early geometry (in addition to multi-digit addition and subtraction). Other homework, such as science or social studies projects, may take additional time. Your child should read for at least 20 minutes each night, both independently to him or herself and aloud. You may notice that reading expands into more nonfiction and other texts. Reading to your child is still incredibly valuable.