A classroom teacher’s view on homework

Research can be a dissentious subject in the education community, and we hope you can appreciate this instructors perspective. We wish to hear your ideas about homework. What is your philosophy? How do you interact with households about homework?

LE: What is your position on the problem of research?
When I address this question, I address as an educator and as the moms and dad of school age kids. I do see research as having a function in the academic procedure and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see article), who appears to think homework is worthless, or even worse, has an unfavorable impact. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research that proves research to be helpful, I did not see a persuading quantity of difficult data to support getting rid of all research.
Yes, the amount of homework must be based on the students age and grade level. As the majority of Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it needs to be reasonably simple to provide mathematics homework one night, spelling or reading one night, etc to prevent overwhelming 5 to 8-year-olds. Students must not end up being bored or frustrated if teachers are imaginative with assignments and in interacting the purpose of the task. Those are my goals as a fourth-grade teacher. I see research to extend learning. Would I designate 30 math issues to trainees who I know would fight with them, or to students who have shown their understanding of the skill? No, in those cases, it is my job as the instructor to modify the projects.
Our book points out it can take 24 repeatings of a skill for a student to reach 80% competency. Kohn points out how trainees might end up being much better at keeping in mind, but not thinking. I see this as 2 different things; we need trainees to keep in mind certain realities and then move on to utilizing those abilities as thinkers and issue solvers.
As a moms and dad, it can be tough to squeeze in research some nights! We do the best we can, and if we have concerns or problems, I reach out to the instructor. Once again, good teachers make it a point to know what some home circumstances may be like and to modify appropriately.

When considering homework, teachers find it useful to communicate their policy with the families of their students. After recently completing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a fourth grade teacher from Pennsylvania, reflected on her homework viewpoint that includes the purposeful roles teachers and households play.

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I do see research as having a function in the instructional process and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see post), who appears to think homework is worthless, or worse, has a negative impact. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research study that proves homework to be helpful, I did not see a convincing amount of tough information to support doing away with all homework.
Yes, the quantity of research ought to be based on the trainees age and grade level. As most Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it must be fairly basic to provide mathematics homework one night, checking out or spelling one night, and so on to prevent overwhelming 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a divisive topic in the education neighborhood, and we hope you can value this teachers point of view.

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