The first few weeks of the school our students weren’t assigned any homework. I didn’t pay this much mind until the semester continued on with to take home work assigned. About six weeks ago my CT confirmed that she does not assign homework. Because of this my CT constantly emphasizes the importance of class time. She is always reminding our students that all of the points that they receive come from in class work. Therefore, in order to be successful in her class students must be in class, on task, and completing assignments. They don’t have the option to “do it later” because all work stays in class.
I see the benefits of such a system. The students are, much more often than not, on task and paying attention. They also have good attendance, overall. However, and this could be that I was always assigned homework in school; I also see a downside to this philosophy. I feel like homework, as tedious as it may be, comes with many advantages. It is a mechanism that can be used to encourage our students to practice independence. It is also a way to get them to look deeper into the literature being studied. Assigning homework is a way to get students to utilize their own brains. They will not have their teacher or classmates to lean on.
I am conflicted on the matter, but I believe this is another instance in which there has to be a set medium. I do not believe in overloading students, but at the same time I don’t think that absolutely no homework is an effective policy. Homework has many uses. Extra credit may be one way to incorporate homework, perhaps for the few students who do have an issue with attendance. They tend to struggle with making up assignments that they have missed in their absence. Letting them complete these assignments for homework would enable them to make up points they may not be able to make up otherwise.
I read an article about the pros and cons of homework. In it were some interesting strategies in deciding whether or not to incorporate homework or to what extent to incorporate it. A few of these were to: 1.) Reduce the amount of homework, 2.) Rethink standardized homework policies, 3.) Involve the students. I think all of these are good ideas and can be effectively utilized. I definitely like the suggestion of involving the students. Perhaps it would be useful to talk to them and try to establish a homework policy guided by their lifestyles. I’ve posted the link to the article below.
I am amazed to be in a classroom with no homework. This whole concept is new and intriguing to me. I certainly didn’t think any educators would consider this. It makes me wonder how prevalent this is. Is homework dying out, or am I just a part of a unique classroom setting?
I feel like the majority of teachers I work with actually try to stick to no (or very little homework) whenever possible. This is something that vexes me as well. It seems like, and this is not the reason that every teachers I've asked about it gives, it is so the teachers don't have to worry as much about the "I left my assignment at home" excuse. By requiring students to do the work in class, you can actually see the progress and see how they are working through it.
ReplyDeleteI actually completely agree with you though. I feel like homework is an important part of the process and also allows you to save class-time for other tasks which may actually need a teacher present. I do really agree that by making sure you have class time available for the work you are showing students that the work is actually important, but it drives me crazy watching students just do individual work in their classes that could just as easily be taken home or worked on between passing periods. I think an hour or two of work a week definitely wouldn't be the end of the world and it would also teach them accountability. You would definitely have students who are more irresponsible losing points because of it, but that would require them to start being more accountable, which is one of the goals of education.
The downside to homework is if you are the only teacher assigning it or if you are not consistent with assigning it. Either the students are not used to setting aside the time out of class, or you get looked at as "the mean teacher" who is the only one asking students to take advantage of their own time. One of the principals I have worked with mentioned that certain students have so many out-of-school family duties that they don't have time for a lot of homework, and I see where that may become a problem.
For the most part, my CT seems to have a policy on not assigning homework for the students, but when 75% of the class had to miss a day because of an AVID field trip, she sent the work home for the students who were away on the trip. I don't think I have seen so many blank spots in a gradebook before, and I worry that that is because they are so rarely assigned homework that they just do not have the "ability" to do so now.
I know that probably seems like a long, round-about response, but I am mostly just saying that I agree that there definitely needs to be a happy medium. How do you plan on finding the balance in your classroom?
My point of view on the homework debate
ReplyDeleteI remember quite a bit from high school and junior high. (I went to East and Robinson) Homework is not one of my memories. I remember spelling tests that I had to study for, novels that I had to read, and some math homework here and there but for the majority of my secondary education, I don’t remember having to do very much homework. From an English perspective I brainstormed, wrote rough drafts, analyzed texts, and typed my final drafts all with the guidance of a teacher at school.
That being said, in my middle school para experience I have observed the same thing. The only time that the students get homework is reading for 30 minutes a day and filling out reading logs. Everything else is done in class. Is this homework? Technically it is, but the student chooses the book they are reading and it has nothing to do with classroom work. Would I like to see more homework at the middle school level? Yes, I would. However, I don’t think that it is practical. Most of my middle school students are victims of poverty, as are most urban students. They don’t have resources at home, and often times they don’t even have parental support. They get home and are expected to watch siblings, stay in a locked house with the blinds shut, don’t have a computer let alone an internet connection, and other responsibilities that we could never fathom. Some even have to go to work to help their families make ends meet.
Some teachers that I have worked with believe that the kids just need to go to the library and use the resources there. How? Most librarians are part time so they are not available all the time. If there is a full time librarian at the school are they willing to stay after work to keep the computer lab open? I haven’t encountered one yet. Many times they are opening the library at 10 til 8 so before school is out of the question as well. Teachers are the same way. They have needs and responsibilities to attend to before and after work, family obligations, and etcetera. I rarely see them stay after 3:30.
High school isn’t much different. Students still don’t have resources at home, and librarians and teachers don’t make their personal life revolve around the students. I witnesses students that needed to print out essays show up early and the library wasn’t open until after the first block bell rang. In the teachers defense, he let them turn the essay in at any point during the day.
To wrap up, I think that students need to do homework. I think that what they need to do at home is read. The analysis, worksheet, or research project needs to happen during school. I am designing my spring semester to include both so that hopefully I can mimic a bit of the college environment for my seniors. Does that get them completely ready for college where they will have to do everything at home? No, but it’s a start, and like you said, hopefully a happy medium.
This post has sparked some really interesting commentary. You both have posted very insightful ideas.I feel as though all points are valid.Specifically, the point that college is full of homework. When you say you don't remember any of the homework from high school it is interesting because homework is all I remember from college. We do an extensive amount. If we are not preparing our students for this can we genuinely say we're getting them college and career ready??
ReplyDeleteI also see the minimalist approach being taken with homework. Often the only time my students have homework is when they are unable to complete an in-class assignment on time. Although, I can see some of the benefits already mentioned with the no homework policy, I feel it is unrealistic for those wishing to pursue college.
ReplyDeleteAs Precious mentioned most of our college careers are riddled with homework nightly and if we are truly suppose to be preparing our students for college shouldn't homework be apart of our normal lesson planning? If our students spend all of highschool not doing homework I feel a large proportion of them will lack the discipline and time management skills to succeed in college when they run into homework overload.
Thank you for this topic Precious. I never really took the time to think about the lack of homework in the classroom, but now feel it is a topic I should probably start education myself on further.
I am really surprised at this, and honestly a little concerned. Homework is critical in college. I understand, at the same time, that not everyone will attend college. I don't believe we should overload them by any means, but as Jason mentions time management is important, even outside of sollege. It is imperative that our students are disciplined in managing thier time because such skills will follow them throughout life.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe homework is important and needed in order for skills to grow. You may understand something in class but in order for it to become automatic and get to your long term memory you have to practice. Elementary math comes naturally to everyone because we use it everyday. To play devils advocate, a lot of students do have many more responsibilities than I believe we once did. Parents are working a lot more, leaving their children to tend to younger siblings and handling other home responsibilities. Family and survival come first. This is why it's important for teachers to think about how much homework they are giving out. A student is in class for 7.25 hours 5 days a week. A college students goes once a week so that is also something to keep in mind when assigning homework.. To clarify, I believe homework is important for prepping for college and the careers I also believe homework should be no more than 30 minutes per class (unless the student slacked off the whole time during class and has to play catch up)
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