“Just for the Sake of Giving It:” An Exploration of Elementary Teachers’ Beliefs About Homework Practices

Abstract

Homework is a common practice in US schools, with much discussion of its potential benefits and drawbacks. But there is more to learn about the complexities of teachers’ beliefs about homework’s purpose, benefits, and challenges. This interview study with elementary teachers uses a beliefs framework to explore beliefs and their influence on perceptions of homework. Findings reveal a web of tensions around homework broadly, with teachers holding complex and even contradictory beliefs about homework and its usefulness. These tensions relate to the array of individuals with an investment in homework, their workloads, and goals to support diverse students equitably.