By Wendy Rice, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist
With testing in full swing here in Hillsborough County and parents questions regarding Common Core and Standardized Tests, I’ve been keeping an eye out for information regarding current demands on students.
What I’ve found is that everyone has an opinion, including me. I have also found that there is some very in-depth information out there that provides details on how academics affect the emotional and mental wellbeing of our youth.
The following article is shared courtesy of the National Association of School Psychologists. It contains some great insight and guidelines for homework and learning. Take a look and let me know your thoughts in the comments below:
Schoolwork can put a heavy strain in your child’s life. Let us help your loved ones cope with these and other pressures.
Viewpoint
Academic Demands, Homework, and Social–Emotional Health
By Melissa Holland, Hilary F. Sisson & Vicki Abeles
The social–emotional health of students is moving to the forefront of our attention in schools. This comes at a time when there are also intense demands on our youth in their academics, including an increased focus on grades, standardized test scores, and larger amounts of assigned homework (Tucker, 2011). This interplay between the rise in anxiety and depression and scholastic demands has been postulated frequently in the literature (Kackar, Shumow, Schmidt, & Grezetich, 2011; Katz, Buzukashvili, & Feingold, 2012).
Since the 1980s, there has been a gradual, yet steady increase in academic demands placed on our students and in the amount of homework assigned (Kohn, 2006). With the authorization of No Child Left Behind, and now the new Common Core requirements, teachers have felt added pressures to keep up with the tougher standards movement (Tokarski, 2011) by increasing the amount of homework assigned as a way to keep pace with political demands (Cooper, 2007). However, little evidence supports this trend. In fact…
Your Child’s Well-Being is our Priority
Chances are you remember the strain and stress that schoolwork caused back when you were younger. So how can you help your child deal with these educational pressures? Rice Psychology Group is determined to provide your child with the support he/she needs. Our Tampa-based psychologists are ready to evaluate the issue and make strides for a better tomorrow.
