A classroom teacher’s view on homework

Homework can be a dissentious topic in the education community, and we hope you can appreciate this instructors point of view. How do you communicate with families about homework?

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I do see homework as having a function in the academic process and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see short article), who appears to think research is useless, or worse, has a negative effect. While Kohn asserts there is nearly no research study that shows research to be useful, I did not see a convincing quantity of hard data to support doing away with all research.
Yes, the amount of homework ought to be based on the students age and grade level. As a lot of Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it ought to be relatively basic to provide math homework one night, reading or spelling one night, and so on to prevent overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a divisive topic in the education community, and we hope you can value this teachers point of view.

LE: What is your position on the concern of homework?
When I address this question, I answer as an educator and as the parent of school age kids. I do see homework as having a role in the instructional procedure and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see short article), who appears to believe homework is worthless, or worse, has a negative impact. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research that proves research to be helpful, I did not see a convincing amount of tough data to support eliminating all homework.
Yes, the amount of homework need to be based upon the students age and grade level. As most Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it ought to be fairly basic to give math research one night, reading or spelling one night, and so on to avoid overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Students must not end up being bored or disappointed if teachers are imaginative with projects and in interacting the purpose of the task. Those are my objectives as a fourth-grade instructor. I see homework to extend learning. Would I assign 30 mathematics issues to students who I understand would battle with them, or to trainees who have demonstrated their understanding of the ability? No, in those cases, it is my job as the teacher to customize the tasks.
Our textbook points out it can take 24 repeatings of a skill for a student to reach 80% proficiency. Kohn points out how students may become much better at remembering, but not thinking. I see this as 2 different things; we require students to remember certain truths and then move on to using those abilities as thinkers and issue solvers.
As a moms and dad, it can be hard to squeeze in homework some nights! My own children have actually brought home assignments I thought unsuitable or too prolonged for one night. We do the very best we can, and if we have concerns or problems, I reach out to the instructor. Understanding some trainees have little or no support at house must be acknowledged by educators. Again, good instructors make it an indicate understand what some home situations may be like and to customize accordingly. When possible, coworkers can work together, as described in two additional course articles, by developing a finding out lab or including “Drop-In” times throughout the school day
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When thinking of research, teachers discover it useful to interact their policy with the families of their students. After recently completing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a 4th grade instructor from Pennsylvania, reviewed her homework approach that includes the purposeful roles instructors and families play.

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