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About Heather Shumaker

Heather Shumaker is a national speaker on early childhood topics and an advocate for play-based learning and no homework in elementary school. She’s the author of two books, It’s OK Not to Share and her new book, It’s OK to Go Up the Slide, both published by Tarcher/Penguin. Visit her at www.heathershumaker.com for blog, podcast, book club information and more.

Clash of Authorities: Discovering a Sane Path Out of Homework

by Heather Shumaker.
(This article is part of the Be Positive series. Get free article updates here.)

rule1_final Preschool - resizedI’ve ceased to be amazed that kindergarteners have homework, but I was startled to hear that one little tyke faced homework assignments not just from school, but also from his Extended Day after-school program. Even Sunday schools are starting to give homework.

If you have a preschool or school-aged child, undoubtedly, you’ve felt the homework pressure. Homework is a nightly conflict and emotional vortex for so many families. I showed a picture at a recent conference of a six-year-old crying and squirming at the kitchen table, a homework worksheet before him. “That’s my life every night,” people told me.

[Read more…]

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