Thread: No Homework???

Instead of graded homework - -which many students never bother to do -- if teachers think there's too much to do in a regular school day then why don't schools just extend the school day by an hour or two? Then there would be no need for HW?

It's interesting that in block scheduling, many teachers give time to do Homework -- which means it is no longer homework. And the reason? Because they can't seem to manage to teach for 90 minutes -- so they give homework time when they run out of stuff to do.

I know this because my boys went to a high school that tried block scheduling for two years. The teachers hated it because they did not know how to teach for 90 minutes 3 times a day. So the school went back to regular scheduling. And for those two years -- my boys NEVER had homework - -they did it all in class.

I love teaching on block schedules, but I will admit that it is more challenging for teachers than a 45 minute class period. As to starting homework in class, I usually try to leave at least 5 to 10 minutes near the end of class to take care of additional questions or comments or current-events type discussions that students will ask about (usually they ask in an attempt to distract me from the days actual lesson!). Even when there is no discussion topic, letting the students start their homework lets me answer questions that they may have about what they are supposed to be doing, and to modify assignments for my special ed students one-on-one without drawing attention to them.

I always tell me students that anything they cannot finish in class is for homework, so some have homework twice a week while others almost never do. Depends a lot on the student, I think. Either way, they are ultimately responsible for the work.

I think telling students that "whatever they do not finish in class is homework" is a good motivator. That has been my policy for several years. Those students who can finish the assignment seldom have homework. Those who cannot finish in class at least get started so I can help them one-on-one.

I teach middle school social studies. There is no way to enrich the courses to the degree I wish in class; while every student in my class has a laptop! I'm the 7th grade homeroom teacher in a private school, my class average reading level is 11+. I know that I'm fortunate, however I want my class to excel, so that high school honors and AP classes aren't overwhelming. Now I also have 2 students who are reading at a 3rd and 4th grade level, I can't leave them behind, so I do more in class work with them alone.

Without homework, the higher level kids would be bored. In order to supplement and enrich the curriculum, I use alot of webquests and research papers. I also use "We the People" and have the class present congressional hearings on topics of import. We use novels for 'big topic' areas, such as [u]April Morning[u] for the Revolutionary period.

I do not give homework on weekends or holidays. I do not grade homework, but rather give points for completion, having the kids use a contrasting color to make corrections. This way, they are not penalized for non-help at home, or over compensated for 'helpful parents.'

I think they don't like homework because it is not too interesting and fun.

Some students prefer to learn from internet.

Originally Posted by nazree81

I think they don't like homework because it is not too interesting and fun.

Some students prefer to learn from internet.

There are many effective ways to incorporate internet learning into homework activities. I wrote an online workshop that included that very topic

Leslie

I am personally against homework. At several private schools around here the kids often have 5-10 hours of homework a night. I think that is terrible.

Like others posted, I follow the "whatever you don't finish in class, you must do for homework" bit. I'll also suggest for them to review, but I never assign anything in particular. I say, "If you care about your grade, you'll study. It's up to you." I think giving them freedom and letting them choose whether they wish to be responsible or not is important. I find it more likely that the more homework I give, the more likely they will rebel against it. If they are adamant about not doing their homework and really don't give a damn, they most likely won't do it, no matter how much I assign. What they do when they go home is out of my control.

With younger grades I find homework more acceptable (a very little amount) because they most likely won't have tons of other things they may have to do. For the older kids though, I just don't assign it. I challenge them and work them very hard inside the classroom, but out of the classroom it's time for them to make some decisions.

Just my two cents.

I assign homework when I think it is necessary. Extra practice can be of use, particularly with a packed curriculum. However, a lot of homework just to be assigning homework is in my opinion a waste of time. I teach on a block schedule and I have classroom assignments for guided practice. If the concept being taught seems to be well within the grasp of the students, no homework would be necessary. Of course, assigning it and it actually getting done can be two different things....

I am a Dutch teacher of English and the sophomore students in my class dedice what is going to be their homework. At the start of a new chapter I tell them which excercises they have to finish before the test, when we are going to have this test and what they should study to pass the test. In class they can either do their excercises or study and ask questions. If they feel they have studied enough in class to pass the test, why should they study at home?