A classroom teacher’s view on homework

When considering research, teachers find it helpful to communicate their policy with the families of their trainees. After just recently completing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a 4th grade instructor from Pennsylvania, reflected on her homework approach that includes the purposeful roles instructors and households play.

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LE: What is your position on the concern of homework?
When I answer this concern, I address as an educator and as the moms and dad of school age children. I do see homework as having a function in the instructional process and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see article), who appears to believe research is useless, or even worse, has a negative effect. While Kohn asserts there is practically no research that proves homework to be useful, I did not see a convincing quantity of hard information to support doing away with all homework.
Yes, the amount of homework must be based upon the trainees age and grade level. As many Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it should be fairly simple to offer math homework one night, checking out or spelling one night, etc to avoid overwhelming 5 to 8-year-olds. Students ought to not end up being bored or frustrated if teachers are imaginative with assignments and in communicating the function of the project. Those are my objectives as a fourth-grade teacher. I see research to extend learning. Would I appoint 30 mathematics problems to trainees who I understand would battle with them, or to trainees who have demonstrated their understanding of the skill? No, in those cases, it is my job as the instructor to modify the projects.
Our textbook points out it can take 24 repetitions of an ability for a trainee to reach 80% proficiency. Kohn points out how students might become much better at remembering, but not believing. I see this as 2 various things; we need trainees to remember specific facts and then move on to using those skills as thinkers and issue solvers.
As a moms and dad, it can be challenging to squeeze in research some nights! My own kids have brought home assignments I believed too prolonged or improper for one night. We do the finest we can, and if we have concerns or issues, I reach out to the teacher. Understanding some trainees have little or no support at house need to be recognized by teachers. Again, excellent instructors make it an indicate know what some house circumstances may be like and to customize accordingly. When possible, colleagues can interact, as explained in two supplemental course short articles, by developing a finding out laboratory or integrating “Drop-In” times throughout the school day
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Research can be a dissentious topic in the education neighborhood, and we hope you can appreciate this instructors point of view. How do you communicate with households about research?

I do see homework as having a function in the academic procedure and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see short article), who appears to think research is worthless, or even worse, has an unfavorable impact. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research study that proves research to be advantageous, I did not see a persuading amount of tough information to support doing away with all homework.
Yes, the amount of homework must be based on the trainees age and grade level. As a lot of Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it should be relatively basic to offer math homework one night, reading or spelling one night, etc to avoid overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Research can be a divisive subject in the education neighborhood, and we hope you can value this teachers point of view.

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