Homework is schoolwork that students complete at home, usually in the evening or on weekends. When your teacher assigns math problems to finish before tomorrow's class, or asks you to read a chapter and answer questions, that's homework.

Teachers assign homework for several reasons. Sometimes it lets you practice skills you learned that day, like solving fractions or writing paragraphs. Other times homework introduces new material you'll discuss in class tomorrow, or asks you to work on longer projects bit by bit.

Homework can feel frustrating when you'd rather play outside or read for fun. But it serves a real purpose: it gives you time to work through problems at your own pace, figure out what confuses you, and build skills through repetition. Scientists who study learning have found that spacing out practice over multiple days helps knowledge stick better than cramming everything into one classroom session.

The amount and type of homework vary wildly. Some teachers assign thirty minutes of work, others assign two hours. Some give worksheets, others prefer creative projects or reading. Many schools debate how much homework actually helps students learn, and some have changed their policies based on research about what works best at different ages.