Education Blah-G

Homework?

News reports recently have questioned the effectiveness of homework. I have always thought homework was overrated. Your kids are in school 6 to 8 hours a day. It's a full time job for some students. Then they are asked to do 2 to 4 hours more. Hmmmmmmmm...Would you like working a full day, then taking home 2 hours of work to finish ? I think not.
When I taught I realized the best place for students to do work was in the classroom. They have instant help! They have instant guidance! We are not talking about college students here. So, if you are sending them home with work they will struggle with, rethink it! If you are sending them home with work that is so easy it's just "busy work," rethink it! What is the value of homework?
Here is what homework should not be:
-a punishment.
-a burden.
-a daunting task to be struggled with.
-the hardest problems in the book.
-mindless work just to get "homework" assigned.
-a hated word that creates a distaste for school.
-a waste of time that serves no purpose.
-given to kindergartners. Ridiculous!

Here is what homework should be:
-an enrichment activity.
-easy if one has paid attention in class.
-very little effort for the average student.
-a joy, somewhat fun!
-enticement to learn more!
-worth doing!
-a rewarded activity!
-avoided unless absoultely necessary.

If your school does not have any rules for homework, forget it!
Besides, not only does it create more work for your students, but it
creates a TON of more work for you! Or at worst, compomise!
Give homework only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Give one
assignment on Monday, due on Friday. Or get creative!

Teachers need to be at the forefront of taking negatives out of education.

Think:
Some kids get up by 6 or 7am to get the bus, and because of extended daycare,
can come home as late as 5 or 6pm. If they relax for 1/2 hour, eat dinner,
maybe do chores, it is 8pm. Then they are going to do 2 hours of homework?

posted by Surftiger @ 5:12 PM