Monday, August 17, 2009

Homework for our Students.......YES or NO

Wow. I only got a chance to take a really good look at one blog (although at the last minute I browsed through a couple of others). I found an overwhelming number of thoughts/ideas/approaches to homework and whether or not to assign it to students. (Most of the posts were leaning toward very limited homework assignment and many to none at all). As an educator I have struggled with this question for years and it was great to read this blog. I could spend hours reading through the comments and digesting and thinking about what those people have to say. I am not sure I am any closer to knowing what is really the best approach for students. I continue to struggle with the homework/no homework question and if giving homework, the answers to why, how much, how to count it in the grade, what to do about students who don't do it, how to modify it, etc.
There were some interesting links to different articles that related to the homework issue and one of them was titled "Winners and Losers"

6 comments:

  1. Lynn - I read this one as well and totally agree with it. I find homework to be such a draining task at least for my own kids at home. It becomes more about just completing the task rather than trying to actually gain something from the task!

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  2. I just got a new book from ASCD on rethinking homework. I (like you) have struggled with this question. If you are interested, I could lend you the book when I am done. I'm not sure what the right answer is and if there is even a right answer!

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  3. I think this blog opened the age old discussion of homework/no homework. I too agree that homework is a dilemma. Those that do it usually don't need to while those that avoid it are the ones most likely to need the practice. How do we make it relevant and engaging so kids want to do it-then how do we make use of it once they do complete it??? So many questions with so many different opinions.

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  4. Homework conversations are ongoing in education, and are always a hot topic of conversation. Just when I think I lean towards one side of the fence, someone pulls me back over to the other side. Blogs are a great way to express these opinions and get feedback from others, and also a great way for getting resources from others based on the discussion. :)

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  5. Lynn,
    I also read this article, mainly because for the last two years I have made homework optional for students. Those who did it could be rewarded with extra points on tests, but there was no penalty for not doing it. I liked the fact that I no longer had to deal with identical papers, students lying, or correcting yucky work. On the other hand, every time someone from the high school came to speak to our 8th graders they said if you do homework you will pass. My son also had some classes this year where homework was worth as much as tests. So, it is still a struggle.

    ps. I had gotten my idea from my husband-another high school math teacher.

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  6. Looks like you've hit on a popular subject, Lynn. Great one to keep in mind as you travel through this course; some of these tools might belong in the optional homework category.

    spk
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