Homework divides opinion. Done badly, it is busywork that falls on parents and goes unmarked. Done well, it gives learners the regular practice that turns a lesson into a skill. Under CBC, homework should practise and apply what was learnt in class, not teach new content. This guide sets out what works and how to keep it manageable for you and for families.
What good homework does
- Practises today's lesson while it is fresh, so it moves into long-term memory.
- Reaches back to earlier topics with one or two mixed questions, so nothing is forgotten.
- Shows the teacher who needs help before the next lesson, not after the exam.
- Connects school and home through tasks that use the learner's own surroundings.
How much to give
| Level | Guide per evening |
|---|---|
| Lower primary (Grades 1 to 3) | 10 to 20 minutes, mostly reading and number practice |
| Upper primary (Grades 4 to 6) | 20 to 40 minutes across subjects |
| Junior School (Grades 7 to 9) | 40 to 60 minutes across subjects |
| Senior School (Grades 10 to 12) | Up to about 90 minutes, including revision |
Agree a timetable across the department so that one evening does not carry homework from five subjects while another has none.
Five kinds of homework that work
1. Short practice sets
Five to ten questions on the day's skill, ending with one harder question. Quick to do, quick to mark.
2. Mixed review
Three questions from older topics alongside today's. This is the most effective single change most teachers can make.
3. Apply it at home
Measure the perimeter of the kitchen. Find three examples of simple machines at home. Write the prices of five items in a shop and add them up. These link learning to life and need no special materials.
4. Read and respond
A short passage or poem with three questions, or a page of a storybook with a one-paragraph summary.
5. Prepare for tomorrow
Bring a leaf, ask a grandparent about a traditional game, look at the night sky. These make the next lesson richer.
Involving parents without overloading them
- Write instructions the learner can follow alone; parents should support, not teach.
- Avoid tasks that need printing, internet or money at home unless you know families have them.
- Tell parents the expected time. If a task takes much longer, they should stop and tell you.
- Share answers where parents can use them to check, especially in the lower grades.
Marking without drowning
- Mark in class together for practice sets: learners correct their own work in a different colour.
- Mark one question in depth per piece, and tick the rest for completion.
- Use a code (S for spelling, W for working missing, R for re-read the question) instead of long comments.
- Keep a quick record of who did it and who struggled; it guides your next lesson and your school-based assessment.
Homework and notes go together
When learners have clear notes at home, homework stops being a guessing game. A learner stuck on a question can look up the method instead of waiting for a parent who may not know it. See the notes for every grade, for example Grade 7 Mathematics or Grade 9 Integrated Science.
A term of homework, ready to hand out. Elimu254 homework booklets give exam-style questions for each subject and term from Grade 6 upwards, with a separate answer booklet for marking.
Browse homework booklets · How learners should study with notes
