http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar07/vol64/num06/The-Case-For-and-Against-Homework.aspx
http://www.greatschools.org/students/homework-help/1938-what-research-says-about-homework.gs?page=all
As we get ready for the school year, I want you to be very thoughtful about how your grade level constructs its homework policy. I believe that homework has its place within a few simple guidelines. I believe homework is an opportunity to deepen understanding of academics, develop a love of learning, build study skills, and create excellent relationships with parents. Before we meet as grade levels, I want you to reflect on your own beliefs about homework. Here are a few of mine.- Homework should be consistent in all classes within a grade level
- Homework should be clearly communicated to parents
- Homework should take a reasonable amount of time (both articles explore this)
- Homework should be well-planned and not just whatever is not completed in class
- If assigned, homework should not be optional - if it's assigned it must be done
- I don't believe that homework necessarily needs to be graded, but I believe it must be addressed in some meaningful way if scholars are going to take it seriously
10 comments:
I think that homework can be a great learning opportunity or it can be a nightmare. I agree that homework should be consistent for the grade level. That makes it fair to all. Also, homework should be meaningful to class. It should not take the joy out of learning, but make learning fun and interesting. There should be some novelty and variety for the scholars, and homework should not take a long time. As a teacher and a mom, I see both sides. I assign homework, but I also see what parents face at home with homework. It is a struggle to get it all in each night, especially when a scholar has worked hard at school each day. I think that needs to be considered when coming up with homework plans this school year, as well as the time it will take your weaker scholars to complete. Homework should be an enhancement of learning.
I agree with Angela. I think homework can be a great learning tool if used appropriately. As a teacher of young kids, I know that after a long day at school and day care (for many), the kids are exhausted when they get home and ready for some family time. When you add in soccer practice, dance class, etc. the stress is even higher. If these kids are given too much homework, they go into overload and meltdown, as do the parents.
In my generation, I think many parents spent quality time reading with their kids at night and working on skills in a fun relaxed way. It wasn't homework assigned by the teacher, but something they just did. Many kids today are missing out on that. When both parents are working and activities take over the evenings, many worn out parents just don't have the time or energy. By assigning a small amount of homework time for their child to read to them or play a learning game with them, it allows for relationship building, reinforcement of skills and an opportunity for the parent to see if their child is struggling with a concept.
I think homework should be purposeful, consistent and kept to short amounts of time to be meaningful.
Angela LeRoy
I agree that homework should be meaningful, consistent, and most importantly not too time consuming. As a mother, I feel that famlies need more quality time together at night. Sometimes, homework time can be stressful and just not that much fun. However, if done correctly, it is very helpful to see your Childs strengths and weaknesses so the parent can work with them. I believe that homework should be short and relevant to what is being taught in the classroom. Reading aloud with a parent is always helpful and meaningful. I agree that the grade level must have the same homework policy to make it work. I am excited to brainstorm new homework ideas with my amazing team!!
If our goal in the classroom is to engage our scholars with meaningful, authentic learning opportunities, then we must create homework activities that further this goal. The first article mentioned interviewing parents for a social studies assignment as an example of a meaningful activity. I whole-heartedly agree with this type of activity, not only because I'll be teaching social studies, but also because this type of assignment also provides clear expectations to the parents. Doubling/tripling/halving a recipe, or using coupons on a shopping "expedition" are "real-life" activities that engage both scholars and parents in meaningful extensions of the curriculum. At times, parents are unsure of their role with regard to homework, or, in an effort to "help" may actually "do." I have had scholars turn in work written in a parent's handwriting. Allowing for the partnership in authentic situations helps parents as well as children.
As Angela L. said, the days of families sharing meals, and practicing skills through reading, or game play are gone. With the incredibly over-scheduled activities of parents and children, we have to provide activities that truly extend and enhance the concepts in the classroom.
On another note, if we assign it, we need to acknowledge it in some way--whether grading it, commenting on it, or in some other manner. If we don't value the work our scholars do, neither the scholars nor the parents will.
I agree with all of the above. I also think that having a designated night or nights for homework helps parents when planning activities for and with their children. Tuesday could be a math game and Thursday could be a reading activity. Some children may need additional time preparing for the spelling tests as well. Assignments should be meaningful instead of lengthy and children with special needs should have an easy modification to allow for time considerations. Incentives to complete the assignments are important too- Every student completing the homework could drop his/her name in a box to be drawn randomly for a trip to the prize box or whatever the teacher uses for motivation.
One more comment- For the younger set- K-1- It's often difficult to get homework back because the kids will say that their parents or whoever cares for them never looks in their backpack- Well here's a little tip that actually did improve my return rate when I taught Kindergarten and First Grade- Every day as the kids were leaving I would say, "Don't forget to put your backpack on Mom's pillow!" :) I figured if the student really did it the parent or whoever would have to make a conscious decision to NOT check the backpack.
When my own children were in elementary shcool,one of my favorite parts of the day was bedtime when we just read together for the joy of it. We would make up our own creative stories, too. It was a time to talk about what they learned in school, sometimes not in the classroom but on the playground unfortunately! Since teaching second grade, after years in K-1 with homework being the practice of new reading/math skills, I've learned a lot. Homework is not equal to all scholars or to all families. There is a need for differentiation based on the needs of the scholar--some need more practice of basic skills, some need to be challenged to research, some need to do it all on Saturday to make time for after school enrichment activities and academically can, ans some need more involvement from uninvolved parents. Our team has begun to meet and enjoyed brainstorming ways to improve our homework policy, to ensure it is meaningful and family-friendly!
I believe homework can improve scholars' chances for academic success. In order for homework to be productive, scholars must be engaged in the learning, have personal value to the assigned task and be given a reasonable amount of time to complete. I have confidence that my teammates and I will be able to collaborte and design homework that is meaningful to each individual scholars' learning style. By doing this we will be able to improve scholars' study skills and attitudes, promote independence and personal responsibility, and increase parent appreciation of and involvement.
I know you think I am answering this blog so I can get my name in the drawing several times :) but seriously as I keep thinking about this (yes my life really is this mundane) every answer posted is great- One thing that might need some extra support is the consistency among grade levels. If everyone is getting the same type of assignment on the same night within a grade level then the talk within social media outlets drops down to a low hum :)
Homework is important even in PE. Physical Education in school is not all the fitness that our scholars need in the course of a day. Adults and children need around an hour a day most days of the week. I have had homework on my website telling those kiddos to get out and play.
Coming from the perspective of a classroom teacher I assigned homework on an as needed basis. If we had an upcoming lesson and I felt they needed some background I would have them research. We built a house to understand electricity. Sometimes I would assign homework for certain students who needed help but not others who were proficient at a certain skill. It was as needed and individualized not necessarily consistent.
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