A classroom teacher’s view on homework

When thinking of research, teachers discover it beneficial to communicate their policy with the families of their trainees. After recently completing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a fourth grade teacher from Pennsylvania, assessed her homework philosophy which consists of the purposeful roles instructors and households play.

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LE: What is your position on the issue of homework?
When I address this question, I respond to as a teacher and as the parent of school age kids. I do see homework as having a role in the academic process and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see article), who appears to believe research is worthless, or even worse, has an unfavorable impact. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research that proves research to be useful, I did not see a convincing amount of hard information to support getting rid of all research.
Yes, the amount of homework should be based on the students age and grade level. As many Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it should be fairly basic to provide math research one night, checking out or spelling one night, etc to avoid straining 5 to 8-year-olds. If instructors are creative with assignments and in communicating the purpose of the assignment, trainees should not end up being disappointed or bored. Those are my objectives as a fourth-grade instructor. I see research to extend learning. Would I appoint 30 math issues to students who I understand would deal with them, or to trainees who have shown 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 repeatings of an ability for a student to reach 80% competency. Kohn points out how students might become better at remembering, however not thinking. I see this as two different things; we require students to keep in mind specific truths and then move on to using those abilities as thinkers and problem solvers.
As a moms and dad, it can be difficult to squeeze in research some nights! We do the finest we can, and if we have problems or concerns, I reach out to the instructor. Again, great teachers make it a point to understand what some home circumstances might be like and to modify appropriately.

Homework can be a dissentious subject in the education neighborhood, and we hope you can appreciate this teachers viewpoint. We want to hear your thoughts about homework. What is your philosophy? How do you interact with households about homework?

I do see research as having a function in the academic procedure and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see post), who appears to think homework is worthless, or even worse, has an unfavorable impact. While Kohn asserts there is nearly no research study that shows research to be advantageous, I did not see a convincing quantity of hard data to support doing away with all homework.
Yes, the amount of research must be based on the trainees age and grade level. As a lot of Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it ought to be relatively simple to offer mathematics research one night, reading or spelling one night, etc to prevent straining 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a divisive topic in the education community, and we hope you can appreciate this teachers point of view.

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