The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Children who are ahead of grade level have distinct homework habits compared with those who are behind, a new nationwide survey has found. The Kumon/Ipsos Reid poll surveyed 1,000 parents of school-aged children in all regions of Canada. The survey looked at the relationship between homework habits, homework environment and academic performance. Among its findings: Nine out of 10 children (88 per cent) who are ahead of their grade level have a set homework routine, compared with only six out of 10 (59 per cent) of those who are behind. Children who are ahead of their grade level are more likely to ask for help with homework (68 per cent) compared to those who are behind (42 per cent). Parents of children who are ahead of their grade level are more likely to say that their child is self-motivated (26 per cent) compared to those who are behind (3 per cent). Television is one of the biggest distractions for children who are behind. Children who are behind are more likely to have a TV in their bedroom (50 per cent) compared with those who are ahead (33 per cent). Children who are behind grade level are also more likely to have video games in their bedroom compared with those who are ahead (36 per cent vs. 24 per cent). Parents of children who are ahead are more likely to say their children face no distractions when doing their homework (22 per cent) compared with parents of children who are behind (10 per cent). Math and Language Arts are the two most common problem areas for children performing below grade level. Almost two-thirds (61 per cent) of those who are behind needed help with Math compared with those who are ahead (28 per cent). Over half (57 per cent) of those who are behind needed help in Language Arts compared with those who are ahead (17 per cent).
