Teachers and Homework

Teachers and Homework

You think that homework drives you crazy?
Think about those poor teachers!

They've got to assign it, collect it, correct it, grade it, and keep track of it.

Students don't want to do it.

Some parents complain that they're giving too much; other parents want more.

So Why Do Teachers Assign Homework?

First of all, please know that most educators really don't want to ruin your lives! Like the rest of us, they have been told that homework is a good thing and it serves a purpose. There are also a number of other reasons they assign homework:

• They believe "more" means "better." Why do we think that if a little is good, a lot must be great? That may be true with money, but when it comes to homework, more is definitely NOT better! Too much homework is one of the leading causes of school burn-out, among other things.
• They are under pressure to cover material. It is absolutely insane how much material must be covered in a school year! And, it's getting worse! New subjects, new standards- the amount of material keeps increasing, but the school day stays the same. So, work must be sent home ("homework" get it?) with the hope that students will somehow get it done and/or learn it.
• They must raise test scores. Politicians and administrators want high test scores. Period. They believe (incorrectly, in my humble-yet-backed-by-research opinion) that higher test scores mean smarter students. Higher test scores mean happier voters and parents.

So, how do you raise test scores? Well, if we believe that more means better, we should cram as much information into students' heads as possible, right? Now we have two more problems. One, more material and information equals more homework. And, two, if students' scores do improve, the tests are made more difficult and the whole vicious cycle begins again.

• They want their badge of honor. The teachers that assign the most homework are often considered the best in the school. (It should come as no surprise to you that I disagree with this!) In middle and high school, especially, they have a "tough rep." Sure, they may have more homework to deal with, but they also get more respect from students and parents.

Here's an interesting fact: the more experience an educator has, the less homework they tend to assign.

• They don't communicate with others. In middle and high school, students are assigned homework in each class. If teachers don't periodically talk about this, there is a tendency to "forget" that everybody else is also giving students homework. A student with 5 hour-long homework assignments is facing a terrible evening.
• They aren't told not to assign it. One would think that educators learn about homework in their training and credentialing programs.

Incredibly, teachers do NOT take a class about homework. They are NOT told if, how, when or whether to assign homework. They are not told which kinds of homework are good, which types are bad, and how much is too much. They are not told how to involve parents- or if that is even a good thing to do. There is nothing to prepare those who ultimately assign homework learn about homework! I find this amazing!

Please understand that each teacher will assign homework based on his or her own personal history, beliefs, philisophy, personality, school culture, and what the principal expects. There is not some established, accepted, standard homework practice. There is no homework bible.

Parent, you must do what is right for your child and your family!

Whose Homework Is this Anyway?

Whose Homework Is this Anyway?  

At the beginning of the school year, parents everywhere are asking some key questions:

• Should our students have homework?
• If so, how much?
• Should parents help our students with his/her homework?
• What types of homework should our students take home?
• What if our students do not have homework?
• What if our students make an irresponsible choice and don't do their homework?

The Purpose of Homework

Teachers, students and parents working as a team can accomplish a great deal. As the school year begins, we need to work together to teach what we expect so all children can learn. When expectations are clear, children of all ages know that homework is part of their academic "job description." Teachers should use homework as an extended learning opportunity. Students need to know and understand the purpose of homework. To provide further clarity, the role of the parent is to provide the time, materials and an appropriate setting for homework plus the expectation that homework is the student's responsibility as a learner. Supervision, guidance, feedback, reinforcement and monitoring progress are important tasks for parents. But it is not the job of the parent to do the homework.

When the question of "why do I have homework" is clearly identified for students and parents, there is a clear purpose for homework. Homework needs to be meaningful, targeted, purposeful and relevant and used in the next day's lesson.

Why is Homework Important?

Homework plays a key role in quality teaching and learning. Homework brings forth prior knowledge so teachers can teach what the student doesn't know.

• helps the student practice new learning, leaving more class time for quality instruction.
• assists in checking for student understanding so the teacher can re-teach as necessary.
• sets the stage for the next day's learning.
• gives more time for drill and practice to "cement" the new learning.
• gives the teacher valuable feedback to monitor student progress.
• can teach students organizational skills and time management.
• demonstrates student and teacher accountability for learning.

How Much Homework?

Homework does not always have to be a paper and pencil task. What we want is evidence of student learning. That evidence can take many forms such as interviews, reading and journaling, graphic organizers, projects, sequence charts, and more.

A guideline to answer the question of "how much" homework is approximately 10 minutes for every grade in school. For example, 40 minutes for a 4th grader is reasonable if the purpose of the homework has been clearly identified. Daily/nightly practice is more effective than week-long assignments turned in on Fridays! I recommend that homework be used in some way in the next day's entry task, not only for reasons of accountability, but to help the student and teacher know if there is a significant piece of learning that has been missed or if there is a small segment that needs to be re-taught in a different way, with more specificity.

Stumped by Homework?

Most teachers will check for student understanding of the homework assignment or the special skill that should be practiced prior to assigning homework. However, there are times when your student may need your guidance. Homework should take priority over TV watching, video games, etc., and should not be left to the last minute when the child is tired and distracted. Try these ideas; they will work as they have worked for hundreds of families.

• Does your student understand the assignment? Ask your student to talk through as much as they understand.
• Have your student list the steps necessary to do the homework.
• Does your student have the necessary books and materials he/she needs?
• Are there words or terms your student doesn't understand? Have your student draw a picture or diagram of their understanding. This is an effective practice for middle and high school students as well; they may want to use a graphic organizer to help them sequence their understanding.
• Are there similar examples that can be applied?
• Is the answer reasonable?
• Does your student need to review a previous lesson?
• Take a break; come back to the problem after other problems have been solved.
• Call a classmate to ask clarifying questions.

What If our students won’t do Homework?

Homework, as a tool to extend learning, should be the expectation at school and at home. Some schools have homework 4 nights a week eliminating Wednesday nights if that is church night or other all inclusive community activity. Many schools use Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights for homework, leaving weekends for long-term projects.

For students who make the irresponsible choice not to do homework, logical consequences at home and at school should be the result. First, we need to look at why the student is not doing homework.

• Is the homework at the correct level of difficulty?
• Is the student overloaded?
• Is the student making an irresponsible choice?
• Is it an issue of "power" and "control?"

Let the answer guide you.

Ideas for parents that will work at school and at home…

• loss of privileges, i.e.: tv, bike, scooter, telephone, car, activities, etc.
• a specific time at home with the parent sitting with the student reading, paying bills, etc., while the student does homework.
• modified assignments.
• weekly homework assignment sheet with daily check off of completion tied to active participation points which is part of the grading system.
• alternate assignments if the reading level, for example, is too difficult.
• parents at school following the student schedule for a day (be a kid for a day.)
• loss of athletic or activity involvement until homework is completed.
• short term privileges and rewards.

I hope these ideas will be helpful to both educators and parents. Have a wonderful school year. I firmly believe that learning is the job description for students. Homework is a tool to extend learning experiences. As adults, I believe we can help structure homework experiences for students that will enhance learning for every student in our educational system.