A classroom teacher’s view on homework

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When considering homework, instructors find it useful to communicate their policy with the households of their students. After just recently completing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a fourth grade teacher from Pennsylvania, reviewed her homework viewpoint that includes the purposeful functions teachers and families play.

I do see homework as having a function in the instructional process and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see post), who appears to believe research is worthless, or worse, has an unfavorable impact. While Kohn asserts there is practically no research study that proves homework to be advantageous, I did not see a persuading amount of hard information to support doing away with all research.
Yes, the amount of homework must be based on the trainees age and grade level. As many Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it must be fairly basic to offer math research one night, spelling or reading one night, etc to avoid overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a divisive topic in the education community, and we hope you can appreciate this teachers point of view.

LE: What is your position on the concern of research?
I respond to as an educator and as the moms and dad of school age kids when I address this concern. I do see research as having a role in the educational procedure and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see short article), who appears to think homework is useless, or worse, has an unfavorable impact. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research study that proves homework to be useful, I did not see a convincing amount of hard data to support eliminating all homework.
Yes, the quantity of research must be based on the trainees age and grade level. As most Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it ought to be reasonably easy to offer math homework one night, reading or spelling one night, and so on to avoid overwhelming 5 to 8-year-olds. If teachers are imaginative with projects and in interacting the purpose of the assignment, students need to not end up being bored or annoyed. Those are my objectives as a fourth-grade instructor. I see homework to extend knowing. Would I designate 30 mathematics issues to trainees who I understand would battle with them, or to trainees who have shown their understanding of the skill? No, in those cases, it is my job as the instructor to customize the assignments.
Our book points out it can take 24 repeatings of an ability for a trainee to reach 80% competency. Kohn points out how trainees might end up being better at keeping in mind, but not thinking. I see this as 2 different things; we need trainees to remember 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 children have brought house tasks I believed too prolonged or improper for one night. We do the finest we can, and if we have concerns or issues, I reach out to the teacher. Understanding some students have little or no assistance in the house should be acknowledged by educators. Once again, excellent instructors make it an indicate know what some home circumstances might be like and to customize appropriately. When possible, colleagues can work together, as explained in two extra course short articles, by establishing a learning laboratory or including “Drop-In” times during the school day
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Homework can be a dissentious subject in the education community, and we hope you can appreciate this teachers point of view. How do you interact with households about homework?

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