A classroom teacher’s view on homework

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When thinking about research, instructors find it helpful to communicate their policy with the households of their students. After just recently completing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a 4th grade teacher from Pennsylvania, reflected on her research viewpoint that includes the purposeful functions instructors and households play.

Research can be a dissentious topic in the education community, and we hope you can value this teachers perspective. We want to hear your thoughts about homework. What is your philosophy? How do you interact with families about homework?

I do see homework as having a function in the instructional procedure and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see article), who appears to think homework is worthless, or even worse, has a negative effect. While Kohn asserts there is nearly no research study that proves homework to be useful, I did not see a persuading amount of difficult data to support doing away with all homework.
Yes, the amount of homework need to 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 easy to give math research one night, spelling or reading one night, etc to avoid overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a dissentious subject in the education neighborhood, and we hope you can appreciate this teachers point of view.

LE: What is your position on the issue of research?
I address as a teacher and as the parent of school age children when I address this concern. I do see research as having a function in the academic procedure and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see post), who appears to believe homework is worthless, or even worse, has an unfavorable effect. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research that shows research to be helpful, I did not see a convincing quantity of hard information to support eliminating all homework.
Yes, the amount of homework should be based on the trainees age and grade level. As a lot of Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it ought to be fairly easy to offer math homework one night, reading or spelling one night, etc to avoid overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Trainees need to not end up being frustrated or bored if instructors are imaginative with assignments and in interacting the function of the project. Those are my goals as a fourth-grade teacher. I see homework to extend learning. Would I designate 30 math problems to trainees who I know would fight with them, or to trainees who have shown their understanding of the skill? No, in those cases, it is my task as the teacher to customize the assignments.
Our textbook points out it can take 24 repetitions of a skill for a student to reach 80% competency. Kohn points out how students may become much better at remembering, however not thinking. I see this as 2 different things; we require trainees to remember specific truths and then move on to using those skills as thinkers and issue solvers.
As a moms and dad, it can be hard to squeeze in research some nights! My own kids have actually brought house projects I thought too lengthy or improper for one night. We do the very best we can, and if we have issues or concerns, I reach out to the teacher. Knowing some trainees have little or no assistance in your home should be acknowledged by educators. Once again, good instructors make it an indicate understand what some home circumstances might be like and to modify appropriately. When possible, coworkers can work together, as described in two extra course posts, by establishing a finding out lab or incorporating “Drop-In” times during the school day
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