Take a stand
Note: using the elbow partner, back partner, and face partner directives help to vary the audience for student talk
Students weigh in on homework: Two classes with very different results
Homework: ProsAccording to my students:
| homework: consAccording to my students:
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my own thoughts on homework
The first experience that caused me to question my homework policies, actually happened as I was playing the role of parent-not teacher. My daughter had a homework assignment that she was struggling with, to the point of crying in frustration. When I tried to help her, I could not figure out the problem either. There was a whole set of the same type of problem, so we couldn't do any of them. She was terribly upset. I have a Master's degree in education and I can't figure out how to do this homework, so I was feeling a little upset myself. This really got me thinking about my students. What do my students do that don't have parents at home that can help them? How many of them have parents that can't help them with their work? That work nights? That are caring for small children and are overwhelmed with family obligations? That don't speak the language that the homework is written in? Is it fair to grade homework? Are students actually being graded on their family situation? I had more questions than answers.
My daughter spends approximately eight hours a day in school. I pick her up at three. She plays sports, so school doesn't actually end until 6-7 PM. Then we go home and have dinner and she gets cleaned up and ready for bed. By this time it's about 9 PM and she still has 3 or more hours of homework to do. I often ask her to do things with me and her response is, "I can't I have too much homework." Some days she misses games or practices because she either has too much homework to finish, or she is too tired from staying up until the AM hours finishing homework.
So do we have homework?
In answer to the question "Do we have homework?":
- I hope that you will be reading books, poems, articles, content on the web, recipes, instructions, directions, menus and so much more. I hope that you will be talking and communicating with friends and family.
- I hope that you will write letters, blogs, and create content around topics that interest you.
- I hope you will engage in conversations about our learning in our online blogging community here on this website and on our class Instagram.
Sometimes students will have to take their classwork home and finish it for homework and sometimes students will have a class project that they want to work on at home. If you really want to do more homework than I am giving you, look at the menus of extra credit projects that I have created for each unit that we study in English, there are some really fun projects that will extend your learning. I am not fond of workbooks, but I do understand that not everyone shares my opinions. If you want an English workbook to keep at home, I will be happy to give you one. Completion of workbook pages will not affect your grade, whereas extra credit projects will improve your grade. Ultimately, I respect everyone's unique family values and want to support your child in their academic, social, and emotional learning.
Here are some helpful links. If the button doesn't take you to a document, that means I haven't yet transferred that Word Doc to my Google Drive. Check back for updates.