A classroom teacher’s view on homework

When considering research, instructors find it beneficial to interact their policy with the households of their trainees. After just recently completing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a 4th grade teacher from Pennsylvania, reflected on her homework approach which consists of the purposeful functions instructors and families play.

Homework can be a dissentious subject in the education neighborhood, and we hope you can value this teachers viewpoint. We want to hear your thoughts about research. What is your philosophy? How do you communicate with households about homework?

LE: What is your position on the concern of research?
I answer as a teacher and as the parent of school age children when I address this question. I do see homework as having a function in the instructional procedure and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see article), who appears to think homework is useless, or even worse, has a negative impact. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research study that shows homework to be advantageous, I did not see a persuading quantity of hard information to support getting rid of all homework.
Yes, the amount of homework must be based on the trainees age and grade level. As most Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it ought to be fairly simple to provide math research one night, checking out or spelling one night, etc to avoid overwhelming 5 to 8-year-olds. I see homework to extend knowing.
Our textbook mentions it can take 24 repetitions of a skill for a student to reach 80% competency. I think practicing skills is beneficial. Kohns contrast with tennis does not make good sense to me. There are skills in tennis you need to practice to improve. There are standard math skills kids should practice to develop a strong structure prior to carrying on to higher-level mathematics skills. Kohn points out how trainees might progress at remembering, however not believing. I see this as 2 different things; we require trainees to bear in mind specific facts and then carry on to using those skills as thinkers and problem solvers.
As a parent, it can be difficult to squeeze in homework some nights! My own children have actually brought house assignments I believed too lengthy or unsuitable for one night. We do the very best we can, and if we have issues or issues, I reach out to the teacher. Understanding some trainees have little or no assistance in the house need to be recognized by educators. Once again, excellent instructors make it a point to understand what some home scenarios may be like and to modify appropriately. When possible, associates can collaborate, as explained in 2 supplemental course articles, by establishing a finding out laboratory or incorporating “Drop-In” times throughout the school day
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I do see research as having a role in the instructional process and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see short article), who appears to think homework is useless, or worse, has a negative impact. While Kohn asserts there is practically no research that shows homework to be beneficial, I did not see a persuading amount of difficult data to support doing away with all homework.
Yes, the quantity of homework need to be based on the students age and grade level. As a lot of Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it ought to be reasonably basic to give math research one night, checking out or spelling one night, etc to prevent overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Research can be a divisive subject in the education community, and we hope you can value this instructors point of view.

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