My first teaching job, and I'm incredibly excited. Yet, after meeting with the other teachers in my department, I'm no longer as excited.
They don't give homework! When I asked why - they simply said that students will not do it. Now understand, I teach Home & Careers, so the homework I would have students do is not the kind of HW they would get in their other classes.
Does this make sense to anyone else? A no homework policy?
I think you need to look at the purpose of homework. If you are giving meaningful practice work then that's fine, but homework for the sake of assigning something is NOT GOOD!!! The latest research seems to state that homework does not affect the learning and scores of our students long term. I think it also depends on the student. I was one to hurry and get my homework done at school so I wouldn't have any once I got home. Homework was just "busy work" for me. It is also harder to put much value in a grade for homework since you were not there to offer help or to make sure it was not copied from someone else. Do what you feel is best. If it's authentic, entertaining practice then your students will complete it, otherwise I agree with your coworkers that students just won't do it - or at least do it well.
When I started my job the principal told me that I basically was not allowed to give homework. I teach language arts and was a bit shocked. I talked to some of the teachers and they said that this "policy" was news to them. The math teachers give homework out every night.
Anyway, I don't use it out. Some kids do really need to do the extra practice, however, those are the ones that don't do it anyway. We do have after-school tutoring so they can come to that if they want to.
Why fight this battle if you don't have to? I have taught in private school where the parents demands a lot of homework so not being allowed to give it is almost refreshing.
My first district was a low socioeconomic rural district. We didn't give homework because the kids wouldn't do it, the parents would get mad that it was assigned in the first place and complain, and we'd get called in to answer for low grades and high expectations.
After six years there, I don't even know how to assign homework.
Actually, in my area it makes sense to do as much as possible in class. A lot of parents don't speak English and can't help their kids, and many students have to go home and take care of siblings. I'd rather make sure the kids understand how to do my work than just assign homework. (Of course, I don't teach math. That's a different story.)
I personally left 5th grade to move to 6th grade at Easter of last year. I found that homework was the main grade given by the former teacher, which I don't believe in. I personally have had many thoughts about what I will do at the beginning of this new year. I still don't know what exactly I will use, but I do have the option of using an online computer based program that the kids can do daily. I'll continue to watch this thread to see what other things are said about the no homework policy..
I am a substitute teacher who specializes in grades 6th-12th and I find it very surprising that your school/department doesn't give homework! Every assignment that I go on the students have a minimum of 60 minutes of homework all the way up to 3 hours. So I guess it varies everywhere you go and as a teacher you should be able to independently make that decision on your own. You have the determination as to whether or not the students in your class get homework or not, not the other teachers!! Just remember that and I hope you have a good year!!! Good luck!!!
Thanks! I subbed for many years and have to totally agree with you. I remember many times while subbing where I had to assign or collect homework. I know for a fact that all of the math teachers give out homework nightly. I guess the principal just doesn't believe in it so he wants the new people to "give on the right track."
I would think that parents would complain but they haven't. Odd.
i THINK IT'S FANTASTIC that there is a no homework policy. THere is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that homework improves student knowledge at all - read homework myth by alfie kohn. Kids need to have a life a little - if more kids spent a little time talking to mom and dad each night instead of hidden in their rooms doing homework that world would be a better place! Kudos to your school distract.
According to the studies I've seen lately, in elementary, homework does nothing for the kids in learning. In middle school, the best they should be doing is reading to build the habit of going home and doing it. The best results for homework being beneficial is high school.
That said, I do assign reading and writing. Reading and writing in their notebooks for 30 minutes. Many do it...many don't.
The parents I have had, by in large, spout the usual desire to see what their kids are doing in class. The reality is they want the homework to be a babysitter. I've been told many time they want their kid to be kept busy in the afternoons. Telling your kid to go do their homework is way easier than supervising them.
I teach 8th grade math, and I find that some type of practice is beneficial for students. I really limit the amount of homework, because I know that many students will not do it or will get the work from others. I try to make the assignment meaningful and to the point. I think students are more likely to do the assignment if they consider it to be more than busy work.
Anybody know of any professional articles or books dealing with this issue? I have to write a reserach paper for a Masters class I am taking. The topic is "Should homework be abolished?" Any help would be great!
I think that many educators forget that homework is the independent study portion of a lesson. For example, a student goes home and does his assigned math homework. The next day that student learns in class whether he does or does not know the material, and if needed the student can go to tutoring to learn that which is not yet understood.I think this makes homework an essential part of the learning process.
Last edited by leeson; 05-15-2009 at 11:41 AM..
Reason: Grammar revision
08-12-2007, 04:31 AM
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