American children are loaded with hours of homework from a young age. The stated goal of homework is to increase proficiency through additional drilling and exercises.
Conventional approach:
Montessori approach:
The Montessori approach recognizes the critical importance of unstructured play time to develop social skills. We believe that children need to play, enjoy interactions with their family or simply be left to their own devices to explore the world around them. They need time to discover their passions and nurture their creativity, including sports, music and the arts.
Butler Montessori does not assign homework until the 7th grade, when students enter the Intermediate program and it is developmentally appropriate for them to take on academic work outside the classroom.
...because in real life:
A large body of research since the 1990s indicates that homework overburdens children and disrupts families and does not contribute in a meaningful way to enhanced learning.
We highly recommend the award-winning documentary film “Race to Nowhere.”
Homework
Testing, Grading & Ranking
Homework
Class Size
Open Space
Lessons for Life