The purpose of this study was to explore teacher and parent perceptions of homework effectiveness and homework purpose. Specifically, the researcher examined teacher and parent perceptions, perceptions of teachers in different grade level bands, and perceptions of teachers with different levels of experience. In this nonexperimental quantitative study, the researcher examined and analyzed the answers provided on an anonymous survey (Appendix A) provided electronically to educators and parents of students in five school systems in northeast Tennessee. Parents had a higher perception of both homework effectiveness and homework purpose. Homework effectiveness was perceived as higher by the “other” group (not k-2, 3-5, 6-8, or 9-12) in comparison to the 9-12 group of teachers. There were no significant differences in perceptions of homework effectiveness among the k-2, 3-5, and 6-8 groups of teachers. Homework purpose was perceived as higher in the 9-12 group than in the 3-5 group and the “other” group of teachers. No significant differences were found between the k-2 and 6-8 groups of teachers on homework purpose. There was no significant difference between perceptions of homework effectiveness or homework purpose among teachers with different levels of experience. This study revealed that parents tend to perceive a greater benefit in homework for both effectiveness and purpose than teachers do. While the level of teacher experience does not influence teacher perception of homework effectiveness or purpose, there are some significant differences in perceptions of teachers by different grade level bands. Recommendations are made to conduct further research on the topic of homework design, the impact of grading policies on homework perceptions, and homework differentiation.

Syftet med denna studie är att belysa om, varför och hur några lärare i årskurserna 1-3 anser sig arbeta med matematikläxor. Syftet är även att undersöka dessa lärares definition av läxa samt att utifrån det samlade resultatet identifiera möjligheter och hinder med matematikläxa. För att samla in data till studien användes semistrukturerade intervjuer med åtta lärare.  Studiens resultat visar att även om matematikläxan är inkluderad i undervisningen hos alla respondenter, skiljer sig syfte och definition åt. Vissa såg till exempel möjligheten till kommunikation med hemmen medan andra såg ett tillfälle för repetition. Resultatet visar även variation i hur matematikläxan används samt att den i sig själv kan utgöra möjligheter såväl som hinder för lärande. Vår slutsats är att matematikläxa som pedagogiskt verktyg används men är ett oreglerat område samt att en officiell riktlinje inom verksamheterna saknas. / The aim of this study is to identify if, why and how certain teachers of grade 1-3 consider to work with mathematics homework. Further the aim is to investigate the definition of homework and to identify opportunities and obstacles with including it as part of the teaching practised. To collect data for the study, semi-structured interviews have been performed with eight teachers. A presented results show that all respondents includes mathematics homework in their teaching but its purpose and definition varies. For example, some teachers sees it as a possibility of communication with the home while others sees it as an opportunity for repetition. The result also shows variations of how mathematics homework is used and that it can in itself constitute opportunities as well as obstacles to learning. The main conclusion of the study is that mathematics homework as an educational tool is an unregulated area with no official guideline in place.