A classroom teacher’s view on homework

Research can be a divisive topic in the education neighborhood, and we hope you can appreciate this instructors point of view. How do you interact with families about homework?

When believing about homework, teachers discover it helpful to interact their policy with the families of their students. After recently completing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a fourth grade teacher from Pennsylvania, showed on her homework viewpoint which consists of the purposeful functions instructors and families play.

LE: What is your position on the concern of homework?
When I answer this question, I answer as an educator and as the parent of school age children. I do see homework as having a role in the educational process and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see post), who appears to believe homework is useless, or 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 persuading amount of difficult data to support doing away with all homework.
Yes, the amount of research need to be based upon the students age and grade level. As most Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it ought to be reasonably easy to offer mathematics homework one night, reading or spelling one night, etc to avoid overwhelming 5 to 8-year-olds. Trainees should not become frustrated or bored if instructors are innovative with assignments and in interacting the function of the project. Those are my goals as a fourth-grade teacher. I see homework to extend knowing. Would I appoint 30 math problems to trainees who I know would deal with them, or to students who have demonstrated their understanding of the ability? No, in those cases, it is my job as the teacher to customize the projects.
Our textbook points out it can take 24 repetitions of a skill for a student to reach 80% proficiency. I think practicing abilities is worthwhile. Kohns contrast with tennis does not make good sense to me. There are abilities in tennis you need to practice to enhance. There are standard mathematics abilities children should practice to build a solid foundation prior to carrying on to higher-level mathematics abilities. Kohn points out how students may end up being much better at keeping in mind, but not believing. I see this as two different things; we need students to bear in mind specific truths and then proceed to using those abilities as thinkers and issue solvers.
As a parent, it can be tough to squeeze in homework some nights! My own kids have actually brought house assignments I thought improper or too prolonged for one night. We do the very best we can, and if we have concerns or issues, I connect to the teacher. Knowing some trainees have little or no assistance in the house must be acknowledged by educators. Once again, great teachers make it an indicate understand what some home situations may be like and to customize appropriately. When possible, associates can interact, as explained in two extra course short articles, by establishing a finding out lab or integrating “Drop-In” times during the school day
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I do see homework as having a function in the academic procedure and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see short article), who appears to believe research is useless, or worse, has a negative impact. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research study that shows research to be helpful, I did not see a persuading quantity of difficult data to support doing away with all research.
Yes, the amount of research must be based on the trainees age and grade level. As the majority of Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it must be fairly simple to offer mathematics homework one night, checking out or spelling one night, etc to avoid straining 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a dissentious topic in the education community, and we hope you can appreciate this instructors point of view.

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