When thinking about homework, instructors discover it helpful to interact their policy with the families of their students. After recently finishing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a 4th grade instructor from Pennsylvania, reflected on her homework philosophy which consists of the purposeful roles instructors and families play.

LE: What is your position on the issue of research?
When I address this concern, I respond to as a teacher and as the moms and dad of school age children. I do see homework as having a function in the educational process and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see post), who appears to believe research is useless, or worse, has an unfavorable effect. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research that proves homework to be useful, I did not see a convincing amount of hard information to support eliminating all research.
Yes, the quantity of research must be based upon the students age and grade level. As most Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it must be fairly basic to give math research one night, reading or spelling one night, and so on to avoid overwhelming 5 to 8-year-olds. Trainees need to not become bored or annoyed if teachers are innovative with projects and in interacting the function of the project. Those are my objectives as a fourth-grade teacher. I see research to extend knowing. Would I assign 30 math issues to students who I know would have problem with them, or to trainees who have demonstrated their understanding of the ability? No, in those cases, it is my task as the teacher to customize the tasks.
Our book points out it can take 24 repetitions of a skill for a trainee to reach 80% proficiency. Kohn points out how trainees might end up being better at remembering, however not thinking. I see this as 2 various things; we require students to keep in mind certain truths and then move on to utilizing those skills as thinkers and issue solvers.
As a parent, it can be difficult to squeeze in homework some nights! My own kids have actually brought house assignments I thought too prolonged or inappropriate for one night. We do the very best we can, and if we have problems or concerns, I connect to the teacher. Understanding some students have little or no assistance in your home must be recognized by educators. Once again, good teachers make it an indicate know what some home scenarios may resemble and to customize accordingly. When possible, colleagues can interact, as explained in two additional course articles, by developing a finding out lab or integrating “Drop-In” times throughout the school day
.

Research can be a dissentious subject in the education community, and we hope you can value this instructors point of view. We would like to hear your ideas about homework. What is your viewpoint? How do you interact with families about research?

.

I do see homework as having a function in the academic procedure and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see article), who appears to believe research is worthless, or worse, has a negative impact. While Kohn asserts there is nearly no research study that shows homework to be beneficial, I did not see a convincing amount of hard information to support doing away with all homework.
Yes, the amount of research ought to be based on the trainees age and grade level. As a lot of Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it must be reasonably basic to provide mathematics research one night, spelling or checking out one night, etc to avoid overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a dissentious topic in the education community, and we hope you can appreciate this teachers point of view.