Homework can be a great way for students to practice important skills. That's especially true when it comes to some subjects, like math, in which students don't get enough practice at home.

Homework has the potential to help students practice important skills that they've learned in class, but it also has some nonacademic benefits. Assigning homework can help teach students responsibility, time management, and good study habits.

Teachers, administrators, and parents have strong feelings about homework, and they are important to consider, but don't forget about your students! They have strong opinions about homework, too, with many students feeling intimidated and stressed by the homework they're assigned.

It doesn't have to be that way for your students! Homework doesn't have to be stressful for teachers or parents, either, when you integrate these creative homework strategies.

Homework can be stressful for students when they don't know when to expect it. Parents are often stressed, too, because it means they have to remember to ask their children if they have homework every single day. It's even more stressful for the parents of children who say they don't have homework-even though they actually do-just so they don't have to do it.

You can make life easier by creating a predictable homework schedule. The schedule you choose is totally up to you. The details don't really matter as long as you assign homework predictably.

For example, you might send home math homework on Tuesdays and language arts homework on Thursdays. Or you might pass out a workbook that the kids get on Monday and must turn in by Friday. That way, your students know what to expect, and their parents know what to expect, too.

Make sure you plan ahead when it comes to bigger projects. Send messages or letters home to parents, and consider having check-in points. Parents could add their initials when certain parts of the project are completed. That way, no one is running to the store for poster board the night before a big project is due.

Just getting started on homework can be intimidating for some students. Instead of making them do all their homework at home, give them a chance to get started during class. This gives you a chance to go over the directions, and it gives students a chance to ask questions before they take it home.

Try not to be too strict about when students complete their homework. Give them a chance to complete their homework if they have extra time after a math activity or during a period of free time at school.

Some students may struggle to get their homework done at home because they have other responsibilities or because they don't have the support they need to get it done. If you allow them to do it during school, they will still get the practice they need, and they will still learn time management by choosing to do their homework when they have time during the school day.

It's true that having a due date on homework gives students a chance to practice getting things done on time, but it can also cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Sometimes, things happen, and students aren't able to get their homework done, or they've got so much going on at home that they forget to do it.

You can take a lot of the stress away by giving students a second chance to complete their homework. That could mean having them work on it during free time or giving them an extra day to do it.

Try not to use punishments, such as losing recess, for incomplete homework. Instead, ask the student when they would like to work on it. They may suggest getting it finished before they go out to recess or coming in at lunch.

You'll also want to talk to students who don't turn in their homework on a regular basis. Ask them why they're struggling and ask them if they can think of a solution. You might find that they would be willing to come to class a few minutes early or stay a few minutes late in order to get it done.

Part of what makes homework so intimidating is that students don't feel that they have any control over what they're assigned, how it's completed, or when it's due. Give them back some control, and they're more likely to get it done.

One great way to do that is to let students pick their homework. For example, you might have two math worksheets that ask students to practice the same skills, but they can pick which one they want to complete.

You can also let students choose when their homework is due. Instead of asking for a worksheet to be turned in the next day, you could give them until the end of the week and let students turn in their worksheets whenever they're done.

You might also give students the chance to skip homework. You could give each student one homework pass every month, and they get to decide which worksheet they want to skip. This is also a great method for students who forget to complete their homework. They can simply turn in their homework pass to get out of doing it.

Getting a grade for homework can be nerve-racking and disappointing, and there's really no need for it because homework is supposed to be practice. The point is to make mistakes so they can fix them next time.

Instead of grading homework, simply mark it as complete or incomplete. Then, go over it with the class or in small groups. That way, students can see what they got right and wrong, and they can ask questions along the way.

If you're worried about the quality of student work going downhill because they know their homework won't be graded, pick one worksheet every once in a while to grade, but don't tell your students which one it's going to be. They will be encouraged to do their best on every assignment because they never know which one you're going to score.

Not only will your students feel a sense of relief at not getting a grade for every single homework assignment, but it will also make life easier for you because you aren't stuck grading homework papers all the time!

Completing homework doesn't have to be a total bore! There are ways to make completing worksheets a lot more fun.

Letting students work together is an easy way to make completing homework more enjoyable. They can work together to get it done during class, or they can get together after school.

Asking students to fill out their homework with anything but a pencil is a fun one! It's also a great way to check student work on math worksheets, as students can't erase and rewrite their answers if they're using a crayon or a colored pencil.

Instead of passing out worksheets, crumple them into balls and let the students have a snowball fight. When a timer goes off, they pick up the nearest snowball, flatten it out, and complete it as their homework.

Getting homework done doesn't have to be the stuffy, boring, stressful experience we remember from our childhoods. Even if you choose just one idea on this list to try in your classroom, you'll find that homework is a lot less intimidating for your students, and you'll find that it's a lot easier for their parents and for you, too!