To give homework, or not?
That is the question. Wanna switch up your homework? Want to make it more meaningful for you? Want to make it more meaningful for students? Lots of research out there shows that homework isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure we want students to practice concepts, research shows they need to. However, if the homework is not accessible to all students, it's pretty much a waste of time, and only adds fuel to the fire of frustration. So when you are developing your homework, consider some of the following as guidelines or recommendations, not as requirements:
- Can all students do the homework?
- Is the homework a fair amount of practice on prior concepts?
- Is the homework Consider a reflection
Yes! Woo hoo Homework!
| Maybe not for homework?!
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It is important that homework not be a time to complete classwork where students can get help on new concepts. If the ideas and work is brand spanking new, this typically makes the content less accessible to students, and might mean fewer students are able to do it. Homework should be a place where students can feel successful without help. There is no reason for students to have to do an excessive amount of work with all of the demands placed on them in their lives. Let kids be kids still, assign them to go outside and play! :) Last but not least in any way whatsoever, homework should not be graded for whether or not it is correct because homework should be a safe place to make mistakes. Many of us, even myself, believe that without that grade students will not do the work. Try tracking homework completion but not counting it in the grade - this allows for conversations and conferencing with students. If I were still in the classroom, I might even make students choose at least two homework problems, one to answer or work out, and one to ask a question on. Finding a way to incorporate student choice into homework might make it more worthwhile for students, and if they're practicing, even if it's not as much, then it's a teacher win too!
Click the READ MORE below to check out Jo Boaler's idea for Math Homework Reflection Questions below, and more importantly, buy her book no matter what you teach, especially if you teach math, or are a parent yourself! Buy Mathematical Mindsets HERE!
Click the READ MORE below to check out Jo Boaler's idea for Math Homework Reflection Questions below, and more importantly, buy her book no matter what you teach, especially if you teach math, or are a parent yourself! Buy Mathematical Mindsets HERE!