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Tips for Getting Homework Done 2. Create assignments with a purpose  Any homework is not better than no homework at all. "The quality of an assignment makes a huge difference in whether it gets done," says Patricia Cygan, a high school social studies teacher from Washington. "Busywork is no good."
Homework can have several purposes. Ms. Blegen explains:
"We have to ask ourselves, `What good does the homework do? What are we after?\' I think it\'s only good if it\'s used for something that contributes to the class. Like getting ready for something, or finishing something, or polishing a presentation."
The major academic purposes of homework are to help children:  review and practice what they have learned;
get ready for the next day\'s class;
learn to use resources, such as libraries, reference materials, and encyclopedias; and
explore subjects more fully than time permits in the classroom.
In elementary school (and to a certain extent in junior high and high school) homework helps children develop good work habits and attitudes. It can: teach children the fundamentals of working independently; and
encourage self-discipline and responsibility, as assignments provide some youngsters with their first chance to manage time and meet deadlines. 
Homework is meant to be a positive experience and to encourage children to learn. Assignments should not be used as punishment.
Creating high-quality assignments with a purpose can be time-consuming. A high school history and social studies teacher from Wisconsin, Thomas J. Howe, explains:
"For much of the homework I assign, (students) know that the next day I will use it as the basis of a more meaningful whole. They know there is a purpose to what I\'m assigning. They know the knowledge is crucial to the next day\'s activity. So the homework requires a fair amount of planning and thought as to why I\'m giving it in the first place."
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