Case
Homework-Yes or No?

I am not sure if homework is a good idea. Many of my students are home alone after school and do not have an adult at home to help them complete assignments, which results in the students not turning in complete assignment or any assignments at home. On the other hand I think it is important to spend a few minutes a night reviewing new information and homework is a good way to get kids to practice what they have learned in class. I am tired of fighting the homework battle. I would appreciate any insights on the viability of homework

Posted on: 03/16/15 | Views: 2029
Solution #1
Top Solution
Instead of giving new concepts to students for homework, you may want to consider sending home work that is a review of the previous week's skills. I also send home a packet on Monday that is due Friday giving students two sheets a day for Reading/Language Arts and math as well as spelling and fluency practice.

This is a very good and detailed response. Great idea.

Great idea! I think it would be really effective for the homework to be like a review from the previous week's lesson plans.

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Solution #2
Top Solution
Every home situation is different. Some parents hate homework, others ask for it, and other aren't there to give their opinion of it. Keep it balanced. Only give homework on certain days of the week, maybe Monday and Tuesday when parents and kids are fresh. Many parents here complain about homework on Wednesday nights because they are involved in church functions. Know your community and make exceptions for those students that you know don't have the support at home and give them an opportunity to do it during the school day before they go home.

I agree that knowing your students and knowing your community is essential in fighting the homework battle.

I agree you have to think more deeply about the issue. It is important but also overbearing to some students. You have to adjust your expectations.

This is a very good and detailed response. Great idea.

Great ideas! I like the idea of designated nights for homework, specifically early in the week so they're not too exhausted. I also agree that it's very important to know your student's and the communities they're involved in.

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Solution #3
I personally don't like to give a lot of homework, but the parents of my students seem to want to check in and see what their child is doing during the day and request homework! I give phonics sheets and word finds so that some of the work is fun. I think homework should be a quick review of the content taught the week before. Some teachers are assigning all homework online now. My students that don't have support at home and don't complete homework at home are allowed to complete it during our morning work time.

This is a very good and detailed response. Great idea.

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Solution #4
For student who do not have help at home try and express to them how important homework is and why it is important. If you have a rewards system in the classroom maybe give them a star closer to treasure box (if you have one). I have seen the reward system work for students and homework. Also, make sure they understand the homework before they leave class. If they do not understand the work or what needs to be done then that can be discouraging.

This is a very good and detailed response. Great idea.

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Solution #5
Homework is important for the student. It allows them to review what they did in class to make sure of understanding. The parent(s) may not be there to help. So guided practice where the students have completed half of the work and complete the other half at home. This way the parents can see what the student is working on in class. As for high school students, they can review what they completed in class. I normally have my students make up test questions and/ or put the information reviewed in class on index cards to use for studying.

This is a very good and detailed response. Great idea.

I agree on this solution of completing half of the homework assignment in class and leaving the student to finish the rest at home so that they know and the parents know how to finish the rest of the work.

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Solution #6
Homework in many cases are used to reflect on what was learned throughout the instructional day. Homework doesn't have to be in bulks, however, something for students to have to practice on their skills. Even if parents aren't home, students should complete and return the following day. Teachers should use homework as a tool to use to see if students thoroughly understood the skills or not. Remember, homework can be helpful instead of a headache!

I agree homework is a reflection on what the students learning, and the student should be able to complete homework without the parent. Homework also gives parent opportunity to see the lessons their child is working on.

This is a very good and detailed response. Great idea.

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Solution #7
I have also struggled with whether to give homework or not. I have come to the conclusion that it depends on the class and the students. If I am teaching an honors, AP, or other higher level class, then yes, I do give homework. Maybe not every day, but regularly. I do this for a couple of reasons. First, to review the material, second, to help them prepare for the independent work that is required in college. I think homework is a reasonable expectation to have in a class like this. However, if I am teaching a class that has students that struggle with the subject or lack motivation, I have found assigning homework to be nothing but an exercise in futility. So, I make sure to have students working hard during class time. This means I have every minute with them structured and if they don't finish a task during class I may require them to complete it for homework. If they don't do it for homework I may have them stay after school for tutoring. I have learned to be flexible with these classes and make decisions about what is critical for them to do.

This is a very good and detailed response. Great idea.

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Solution #8
In my classroom, I differentiate homework by giving them choices. I believe that this is beneficial because they are getting a choice based off of the standards and their interest. Also, I give homework on Mondays and it is due on Fridays. At the beginning of the year, my students were the same way. With motivation and discipline, students started to bring their homework.

This is a very good and detailed response. Great idea.

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Solution #9
I have also fought the homework battle in the past. Something new that I began is offering incentives for bringing homework. There are individual incentives and class incentives if everyone returns homework. Students never want to be the reason there class does not receive the big incentive. This has helped tremendously. Also, homework is always based on skills that have already been covered. I understand everyone does not have the same support system at home, therefore I have identified students who may need class time in the morning to complete homework. Since it is practice, I never grade homework.
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Solution #10
I too have had the same problem in past years. A homework choice board can help students pace themselves throughout the week to complete the homework assignments and to turn it in on time. The students whom do not have a large amount of assistance with their homework find the choice board empowering. They are able to manage the homework independently. Also a rule of thumb for homework is not to overload the students. Why assign 20 problems when 5 to 10 problems could have been assigned. The students will receive the same practice without the wasted time and frustration.
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Solution #11
The purpose of homework is to reinforce learning that has or will take place in the classroom. That means that homework has to be done and done correctly to serve its purpose. I have had some classes that complete homework and turn it in with great regularity while other classes are at the other end of the spectrum. If you are assigning homework that is not getting done, stop assigning it. Incorporate addition practice time into the class period as needed and focus your energies more on maximizing instruction while you have your students in front of you. Academic success is a delicate balance of struggle and success; why add an element that you have virtually no control over?
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Solution #12
I'm moving more towards digital homework. I could post a discussion question and have students post and reply much like a discussion board. Students who don't have the technology will have access to computers in the classroom. This is a weekly assignment so students will have 7 days to complete. Everything is online and no papers to grade. I do teach SS and Sci, this could be more difficult for math.
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Solution #13
I struggle with the same dilemma. I truly want my students to understand the value of homework and have them develop this practice as a habit. I have started the assignments with them in class and then have them complete it for homework. Or, I would do the odd with them and they would be responsible for the evens. Also, if you want to have them do a reading assignment, have them do a log for any reading they may do. Don't specify or send home a worksheet. For example, ask them to read 20 minutes every night. If they have science homework, they can count that as reading. Give homework passes to those that do the homework on a consistent basis. At the end of the day, you have to decide is the stress caused by the homework battle worth it? If so, make a stand. If not, let it go.
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Solution #14
We have this problem at our school as well. We assign easy homework that can be done independently. In math the students have a math log that requires them to practice math facts for fluency for 10 minutes a night; after they are done their parents initial. In reading the students have to read for 10 minutes and they identify nouns from the story they read or verbs. This way at least the students are practicing math and reading at home.
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Solution #15
I do not assign traditional homework in my classroom nor do I plan to. I have ordered Time Magazines for Kids and will assign current issue articles for them to read and respond to in the Google Classroom during homeroom. I also make studying for upcoming assignments/assessments homework. Students, like you said, do not all have support systems at home.
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Solution #16
I also believe that homework is in important aspect of education. I think a possible solution to your dilemma could be to only assign homework once a week and give the students several days to complete it.
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Solution #17
Homework is a good idea so students can practice the concepts you have been teaching in class. Maybe you can try something like not taking off points for questions they did not understand.

This is a very good and detailed response. Great idea.

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Solution #18
I always think homework is a good idea, but in this case maybe just practice sheets that are extra credit might work to motivate them to do their homework.
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Solution #19
This is defendant on what the lesson is. Homework is not always necessary, but sometimes it is. I would say be picky. Sometimes you need the extra reenforcement of what you learned. It can help students retain information as well as grasp a better understanding.
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Solution #20
I think you should send home homework over what has been recently taught. The next day I would go over what the students struggled with and send it back home with them to complete instead of assigning new homework.
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Solution #21
I think homework is not inherently bad, but teachers can overdo it. I think teachers should require homework; however, homework should not be busy work and should get to the heart of what students are supposed to grasp per subject. One to two questions of homework that allow for creative and unique student responses should be utilized.
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Solution #22
Homework depends on the class, the students, the size, and the content being covered. For example, if I had just wrapped up an entire science unit and I have a test on Friday that covers the entire unit I will have a review packet or worksheet for homework for the kids to complete and study with. I think homework can be hard to complete alone, and I also think that if you are covering your material and understanding your assessment and where each student lies in the content that you are teaching then there is no need to give homework.
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Solution #23
I think homework is such an important factor for students because it allows them to practice what they learned in the classroom that day. Students constantly should be practicing and working because if they don't they tend to forget what they learned. Homework is important and should always be giving.
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Solution #24
Homework needs to be challenging but within a student's skill level. If they can't complete it without assistance, they aren't quite ready for it yet. You could give them short homework assignments or you could give them homework assignments that review what you learned that day, that week, last week, etc. You can also tell them that you want their best effort, but they can ask you any questions they have the next day if they are confused. Then, give them time to finish the assignment where they can ask for help from you or a peer.
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Solution #25
I think students should be given enough homework to help them review class material but not too much homework that results in stress and frustration. Maybe you could give the students a few problems to solve at home. This assignment would keep the concept fresh in their memory, but the work they need to complete would not be overwhelming. You could also use positive reinforcement to give students an incentive to finish their work.
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Solution #26
I believe homework is worth giving out but only as a review and not count it as an actual assignment. Some students do not have the support at home to work on school work so its unfair to hold that against them.Use homework as a review or as extra credit instead.
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Solution #27
I think that homework can be an important thing because it allows students to practice some of the content being taught in class. Some teachers I know give the lesson being taught as the homework and then in class they do practice. You do not have to give loads of homework out each and every night.
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Solution #28
I like homework. It helps me review of what we went over in class that day and it gets me prepared for what the next day's class might cover. It also helps me review for a test. I could always figure out some way to get me to a library or some other place so I could do my homework if my parents weren't home.
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Solution #29
the idea of homework can be skewed many different ways. i prefer homework as a review either before or after new material is being taught
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Solution #30
Perhaps a more effective method of homework could be the use of a flipped classroom. There are several website that facilitate this contemporary approach. Personally, I use the flipped classroom a lot. I post homework assignments that students can complete on line and send back to me online. There is no paper to keep up with . This is especially appealing to me as a middle school teacher. Also, the website I use has a discussion board. It is like a sort of educational Facebook. The students converse with one another over their reading for the night, or they continue a literature discussion for class. It is a great way to get shy students involved in the conversation. While I can see that students without access to technology could be a problem, there are ways around that. The sites can be assessed from a phone or iPod in addition to laptops, PC, and iPads or tablets. Moreover, for those without access, hard copies can always be printed.
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Solution #31
I don't like homework. For one thing, it is a hassle to take up and grade (if you grade it). For another thing, the students are not usually the ones completing it. Most of the time parents, older siblings, etc are either doing or giving answers. Kids cheat too much on homework too. It is not purposeful or beneficial. If you are required to give homework, you could give choice boards with lots of different types of assignments and have the students choose. Make it fun through the use of technology. But homework like it is typically given is not purposeful.

I like the idea of the students having homework. It can be to read for 20 minutes, just to reinforce their daily learning

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