A classroom teacher’s view on homework

LE: What is your position on the issue of homework?
When I address this question, I respond to as a teacher and as the parent of school age children. I do see homework as having a function in the academic procedure and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see post), who appears to believe homework is worthless, or even worse, has an unfavorable effect. While Kohn asserts there is nearly no research that proves research to be beneficial, I did not see a convincing amount of hard data to support eliminating all homework.
Yes, the quantity of homework ought to be based on the students age and grade level. As a lot of Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it should be reasonably simple to offer mathematics homework one night, reading or spelling one night, and so on to prevent overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. If instructors are innovative with projects and in communicating the function of the assignment, trainees ought to not end up being bored or disappointed. Those are my goals as a fourth-grade teacher. I see homework to extend knowing. Would I designate 30 mathematics problems to students who I understand would deal with them, or to trainees who have demonstrated their understanding of the ability? No, in those cases, it is my job as the instructor to customize the assignments.
Our book points out it can take 24 repetitions of an ability for a student to reach 80% competency. I think practicing abilities is worthwhile. Kohns contrast with tennis does not make good sense to me. There are skills in tennis you must practice to improve. There are basic math skills children need to practice to develop a strong foundation prior to carrying on to higher-level math skills. Kohn mentions how trainees may end up being much better at remembering, however not believing. I see this as 2 various things; we need trainees to keep in mind specific truths and after that carry on to utilizing those skills as thinkers and problem solvers.
As a parent, it can be tough to squeeze in homework some nights! We do the finest we can, and if we have concerns or issues, I reach out to the teacher. Once again, excellent teachers make it a point to know what some home scenarios might be like and to modify accordingly.

I do see homework as having a role in the instructional procedure and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see post), who appears to believe research is useless, or worse, has a negative effect. While Kohn asserts there is nearly no research study that shows research to be helpful, I did not see a persuading amount of difficult data to support doing away with all homework.
Yes, the quantity of homework should be based on the trainees age and grade level. As most Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it ought to be fairly basic to give mathematics homework one night, spelling or checking out one night, etc to prevent overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a divisive topic in the education community, and we hope you can value this teachers point of view.

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Homework can be a dissentious subject in the education community, and we hope you can value this teachers point of view. How do you interact with families about homework?

When thinking of homework, teachers find it useful to interact their policy with the families of their trainees. After just recently finishing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a fourth grade instructor from Pennsylvania, reviewed her research approach which includes the purposeful roles instructors and families play.

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