It’s no secret that high school and college are more difficult than the schooling that came before it. As you start learning more complicated things, as you typically will with continuing education, you’ll have more on your plate, which will likely bleed over into your home life. Plus, in college, you may have fewer hours spent in class and more hours spent on homework. With a bit of information about which states have the most homework, you can learn more about how to manage those requirements.
Understand How Much It May Increase On Average
If you’re prepared before you start, you’ll find it’s much easier for you to adjust to your new homework requirements. After all, then it’s not blindsiding you and making you feel unprepared before you’ve even started. On average, homework amounts increase from elementary and middle school to high school, then again from high school to college.
Across the nation, elementary and middle school students spend on average 42.4 minutes on homework per day. That number increases by 35.6 minutes to 1 hour 18 minutes for high school students. It increases again by 38 minutes to 1 hour 56 minutes for college students. These are just averages, but they’re a good starting point.
Consider the Differences Between States
Although averages can help you prepare at least a little bit, you’ll also want to make your information even more personalized for better outcomes. That’s especially true when it comes to high schoolers moving into college, because you might end up moving to a totally different state for college. Getting statewide averages gives you an even more effective way of looking at the whole picture.
Elementary and middle school homework ranges from 56 minutes in California to 30 minutes in Nevada, Kansas, and Rhode Island. High school homework ranges from 110 minutes in Vermont to 60 minutes in Kansas, Rhode Island, and Utah. College homework ranges from 141.3 minutes in Idaho to 85 minutes in Delaware.
Look Into Better Learning Options Yourself
Many people don’t give homework a second thought; it’s an expected part of schooling, and many people expect the school system to set them up for success. However, evidence suggests that more homework might not actually have a very significant impact on success. States with higher amounts of homework on average didn’t have higher SAT test scores or GPA on average, which means the evidence actually doesn’t support the high-homework lifestyle.
Although your high school or college will almost certainly require some form of homework, that doesn’t mean you have to just resign yourself to a form of work that has no impact on your grades. Instead, look into additional options like tutoring or online resources. These resources actually do have proven effectiveness in helping to raise failing grades or sharpen already-good grades.
Conclusion
Especially if you’re just moving into college, homework is probably one of the biggest worries on your mind. How are you going to balance your newfound independence with the requirements of being on your own? Although homework may be an important part of your collegiate lifestyle, it doesn’t have to weigh you down. You can combine informed expectations with additional resources and opportunities to handle the homework you receive this year and beyond.