A classroom teacher’s view on homework

LE: What is your position on the concern of research?
I address as an educator and as the moms and dad of school age children when I address this concern. I do see research as having a role in the educational process and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see article), who appears to believe research is worthless, or worse, has a negative impact. While Kohn asserts there is practically no research study that shows homework to be beneficial, I did not see a persuading quantity of difficult data to support eliminating all research.
Yes, the amount of research must be based upon the trainees age and grade level. As most Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it should be reasonably basic to give mathematics homework one night, spelling or reading one night, etc to prevent overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Students must not end up being bored or disappointed if teachers are imaginative with assignments and in interacting the purpose of the task. Those are my objectives as a fourth-grade teacher. I see homework to extend knowing. Would I designate 30 mathematics problems to students who I know would deal with them, or to students who have demonstrated their understanding of the skill? No, in those cases, it is my job as the teacher to customize the projects.
Our textbook explains it can take 24 repeatings of an ability for a student to reach 80% proficiency. I believe practicing abilities is rewarding. Kohns contrast with tennis does not make good sense to me. There are abilities in tennis you need to practice to improve. There are standard mathematics skills kids should practice to construct a strong foundation before carrying on to higher-level mathematics abilities. Kohn points out how trainees may become much better at remembering, but not thinking. I see this as 2 various things; we need trainees to keep in mind particular realities and then proceed to utilizing those skills as thinkers and issue solvers.
As a parent, it can be challenging to squeeze in research some nights! My own kids have brought home assignments I thought improper or too prolonged for one night. We do the best we can, and if we have issues or issues, I connect to the teacher. Understanding some students have little or no assistance at house should be acknowledged by teachers. Once again, great instructors make it a point to understand what some house scenarios might resemble and to modify appropriately. When possible, colleagues can collaborate, as explained in 2 supplemental course short articles, by developing a discovering laboratory or integrating “Drop-In” times during the school day
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When believing about homework, instructors find it helpful to communicate their policy with the families of their trainees. After recently completing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a fourth grade instructor from Pennsylvania, showed on her homework viewpoint which includes the purposeful functions instructors and families play.

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Research can be a divisive subject in the education community, and we hope you can appreciate this teachers point of view. How do you communicate with families about research?

I do see research as having a role in the academic procedure and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see short article), who appears to think homework is worthless, or worse, has an unfavorable effect. While Kohn asserts there is practically no research study that shows research to be advantageous, I did not see a convincing quantity of difficult data to support doing away with all research.
Yes, the quantity of research ought to be based on the students age and grade level. As most Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it needs to be fairly easy to offer mathematics research one night, checking out or spelling one night, and so on to prevent straining 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a dissentious subject in the education neighborhood, and we hope you can value this teachers point of view.

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