Homework tends to produce big, polarizing reactions from parents. Depending on who you ask, kids today may be getting too much homework, too early, or overly-standardized, unchallenging work that doesn’t even kids a needed competitive edge. It may rely too much on confusing, new approaches, or it may not be progressive and evolving enough. Of course, the state of homework in America is bigger than picking an A, B, or C answer, and for all of the arguments that experts and teachers make for what homework is doing right in modern schools, there seem to be just as many points about how it could be better.

That’s why Fatherly put together this guide to homework, so you can better understand what, why, and how your kid is working after school. We consulted teachers, education experts, homework reform advocates, and more about what your kids should be getting out of homework, even if you have trouble helping them with it.