A classroom teacher’s view on homework

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Research can be a dissentious topic in the education community, and we hope you can value this teachers viewpoint. We wish to hear your thoughts about research. What is your viewpoint? How do you interact with families about homework?

LE: What is your position on the problem of research?
When I answer this question, I answer as an educator and as the parent of school age kids. I do see research as having a role in the academic procedure and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see post), who appears to believe homework is useless, or worse, has an unfavorable impact. While Kohn asserts there is practically no research that shows homework to be helpful, I did not see a convincing amount of tough information to support eliminating all research.
Yes, the amount of research ought to be based upon the trainees age and grade level. As most Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it must be relatively easy to give math homework one night, spelling or checking out one night, and so on to prevent straining 5 to 8-year-olds. Students should not end up being frustrated or bored if instructors are imaginative with projects and in communicating the purpose of the assignment. Those are my objectives as a fourth-grade instructor. I see research to extend learning. Would I assign 30 mathematics issues to trainees who I know would battle with them, or to students who have shown their understanding of the ability? No, in those cases, it is my task as the instructor to customize the tasks.
Our book points out it can take 24 repetitions of a skill for a trainee to reach 80% competency. Kohn points out how trainees may end up being better at remembering, but not thinking. I see this as two various things; we need students to remember certain realities and then move on to using those abilities as thinkers and problem solvers.
As a moms and dad, it can be hard to squeeze in research some nights! We do the best we can, and if we have issues or concerns, I reach out to the teacher. Once again, excellent instructors make it a point to know what some home situations might be like and to modify accordingly.

When considering homework, instructors discover it advantageous to communicate their policy with the households of their trainees. After recently finishing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a 4th grade teacher from Pennsylvania, reviewed her research approach that includes the purposeful functions instructors and families play.

I do see research as having a function in the educational procedure and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see article), who appears to think research is useless, or worse, has a negative effect. While Kohn asserts there is practically no research study that proves research to be helpful, I did not see a persuading amount of tough information to support doing away with all homework.
Yes, the quantity of homework should be based on the trainees age and grade level. As the majority of Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it should be fairly easy to offer math homework one night, spelling or reading one night, and so on to prevent overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a divisive topic in the education neighborhood, and we hope you can appreciate this instructors point of view.

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