Tell me what you really think.
When I was teaching I gave homework assignments, just for the reasons you've stated. For instance on Monday, I assigned 7 chapters of Johnny Tremaine,with three short answer questions per chapter, due the following Monnday. One parent called and said how dare I expect her child to read 7 chapters on Sunday night.
I'm for your type of homework - just wait until these kids get into college - and heaven help them if they try for a Tier I or Tier II! Shock and dismay will prevail.... And in math it's essential or they don't practice those skills they supposedly just learned.
Good luck!
I'm with you. My children don't seem to have as much homework in high school as they did in elementary and middle school. Good grief, they were swamped with work.
What I really hate is gobs of homework that is assigned and then graded like a quiz. After the first couple of weeks all that homework becomes meaningless to the 3rd grader.
I am a mother of a 9 year old. The concept of a little homework to help with understanding at home is crutial to keeping me up to snuff on what is happening in the classroom. Honestly, it's a way for me to see what they are doing on a day to day basis.
I know that some mother's will disagree with me, but I like to see what she is learning. Quite frankly it has helped me remember what I have forgotten. It has kept me in touch with where she is and what she still needs help with.
Gobs of homework just to make them do it is nuts, BUT I do expect her to do her homework and it is graded like a quiz. If she leaves it at school or at home the grade goes down the first day by one letter. She's only had to do that once and she learned her lesson.
Cruella, I think not. Loving and concerned that they get the proper practise and expect the parents to pitch in is what I see. I think as a hover mother of sorts I love teachers like you. So hey...ya looking to teach at a private school here in Colorado anytime soon? Promise we will cherish you.
I think no homework at all is rediculous. Like you say, practice. I always had school easy, because I just *got* everything. I seldom did homework, and because I understood the work no one ever worried about i, and even though I understood all the work, I still suffered. Lucily, I've never had to deal with too much homework with my kids, although I know a parent who has.
Her first grader has had to make his own flag, do a rubbing of tree leaves and have a short written report on it. (A first grader doing a report? I think that was for the parents and not the child) She had other things she was required to do, also, but I can't remember them right now. Those two stand out, 'cause I can remember her wondering how to let her son do most of the work, but make sure he got it done.
A few months ago, my principal tossed off a remark during a meeting about how "studies were being done" on whether homework should be assigned or not. I took umbrage at this, because often her offhand remarks become policy later on.
I liken homework to batting practice for a baseball player. Just because a guy has hit the ball ONE time does NOT mean that he is the best baseball player in the world. He has to practice and practice, and then practice some more. Likewise, to tell a teacher that he or she should know whether a child grasps a concept by their class work, and that homework is not necessary, is ridiculous. They need the constant practice if they want to get better at it!
(This rant was brought to you by the letter P and the number 15.)
I do think some homework is necessary to help teach kids how to study. The time management aspect comes into play as well. But too much is just ridiculous. In 3rd grade our son had to answer 10 questions in complete sentences on his current book EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND. So he never go a chance really to relax that year. In elementary, also his gifted teacher assigned huge long-term projects they were supposed to start and show progress on over the Christmas break. Now that he's in middle school, he has homework but it is manageable. And projects in his accelerated reading and science classes, which are expected. But it's definitely not more than he can handle. And no homework was assigned over the Christmas break so he could go back rested and ready to learn.
In short, I agree with you (but don't I usually?).
speaking only as a former student, i remember lots of homework in both grade school and high school -- not an impossible amount in each class, but enough that the total took several hours every evening. there was enough time for some reading-for-fun and some tv-for-fun in between homework, but the homework was definitely the biggest time consumer.
and i thank god every day for my parents sending me to those (catholic) schools and for the old-fashioned nuns whose teaching and homework got me out of the slums and in good shape for college, grad school and a comfortable life ever since!
what?! i'm appalled at the people who even TRY to say that homework should be abolished. that is RIDICULOUS, and big props to you for pointing it out and giving solid and intelligent reasons. i teach middle school, where the kids have five different subjects each day. so i don't want to overload them with work, but i DO give an assignment and i DO expect it to be done. something that will reinforce something we've learned, or give the students a chance to explore an idea, or reflect on our experience--i usually have to give a length requirement, because otherwise the lazy bum students will write a single sentence. but 2-3 paragraphs, or a ten-line poem, is extremely reasonable.
plus, at my school we have a grading policy with different categories (interestingly, homework is behind classwork and tests), so we are expected to assign something and use it to evaluate the students.
homework not only reinforces skills, but it also teaches responsibility and pride in one's work. how dare those presumptuous people call themselves teachers!
Homework given 2-4 nights a week, for the reasons you stated above. Also, I teach middle school and have found out the hard way in the past that if I don't give enough homework, kids don't take my subject seriously. Bizarre, huh?
No homework? No, nuh-uh, and never, in that order.
In that case, my cat ate my homework.
I think a little homework is necessary. (And what I think is a little my college students would tell you is "way too much.")
I think sometimes folks get carried away. For example, my five year old nephew, in kindergarten, was required to do homework of reading a book, writing a book report, and doing some other project on the book every single week. That was before they taught him how to read!
I agree that some homework is needed. However, daily homework in kindergarten? My older son had to write a sentence in a journal, read and do basic math every day for homework for his kindergarten class. My younger son had the same teacher three years later. I was happy to find that she had backed off on some of her demands.
My second grader had a ton of homework over the winter break. Some of it was make-up homework, which was acceptable as he had been ill, but much of it was assigned just for the break. This really cut into our family time. I wanted to call up his single, childless teacher and scream at her for it.
My fifth grader's teacher gives homework on Monday that is due on Friday, brief lessons in each subject that he can do all at once or spread over the four nights, which I think is great. However, he also gives overnight assignments. Those assignments sometimes make me angry, because a few have been quite long, requiring reading several pages in history and then filling out multiple pages of a workbook, which entails a lot of essay questions. My son feels overwhelmed and frustrated, and I spend what precious time we have together at night helping him, when I'd rather be playing with the boys or reading with them.
Would you believe Michele sent me tonight? You're the new site-of-the day! Congratulations, Mamacita!
I agree with you. Some homework is necessary and just part of going to school, I think. But kindergarden? That seems excessive.
I had a really great comment all thought out. And then Hula said it all. Evey word. Down to the part about how it only took once turning her homework in late for my daughter to make sure she has her homework each day. I swear Hula and I were separated at birth.
Also, as she said...are you sure you couldn't be convinced to come teach fifth grade in Texas next year? You know we love you!
Some homework is not only good, it should be required. It not only provides continuity and linkage in the educational process, it is vital preparation for higher education and *gasp* the REAL WORLD.
That some teachers oppose homework of any kind is baffling. Why - is it too much work... for the teacher.
On the other hand, teachers that assign too much homework might be doing so because they aren't cutting it in the classroom. Hmmm, time to look to the mirror?
Teaching is a noble profession. My sister is a teacher and she works her butt off for little recognition and low pay because she loves what she's doing. It is an attitude that is shared by many, perhaps most, but not all teachers. Sad...
Michele sent me,
Mike
I would love the URL for the forum you mentioned.
I am a parent. I do not believe homework should be busy work. I do believe it should be used to reinforce the learning that took place in the classroom that morning. I am in favor of research projects as this is something the kids need in the real world. They need to know how to gather together information to make their point, complete a client presentation, etc.
My children are in high school. The one in the private high school has his homework count, at a minimum, 10% of his grade and sometimes more. This means he cannot get a grade higher than a B.
My younger son is in an academic magnet high school. In most classes the homework grade is included in the maximum total number of points he can get. Again, if he does not do his homework the best grade he could get is a B.
As long as the teacher and students go over the homework each morning, I am all in favor of it. If it is just busy work shame on the teacher for wasting my child's time and his/her's.
No homework? At all? I always saw homework as part of an ongoing process that taught my son discipline and time management. I doubt that he would've been accepted to the university he went to without the years of homework experience he'd accrued. He certainly wouldn't have been able to cope with the workload without it. What are those teachers on that site thinking??
Oh, and Michele sent me.
Do the forum people know about the blog? Send em over! People will set them straight. How could anyone NOT agree with you?
Michele sent me today... Have a wonderful day, Mamacita!
Yes, a LITTLE homework goes a LONG way. But NO homework is like the proverbial free lunch: There ain't any!
As for rote memorization, I say AMEN! I, too, have poems and other snippets of literature embedded in my brain and heart because I was "forced" to memorize them here and there in my younger years. I see my sixth and seventh graders floundering in math because they never memorized the times tables. How sad.
Understanding the concept of multiplication is not the same as being able to calculate a tip.
So much psychobabble in the Education profession.
Also, when you say homework cuts into family or leisure time, what does that mean? TV?
My position is that American children are given a gift of these years with little or no other responsibility than to explore the world, develop their minds and perfect skills of living in an advanced civilization, such as communication and critical thinking. Homework is the most focused and interactive part of that time. There isn't really much else going on in their lives which has as much value, as far as I can see. An unhappy child can transcend his life if he has the tools, but an ignorant one remains at the mercy of circumstances.
I completely agree with you. While it would be easier for me if there was no homework (my son is disabled and always has lots of doctor's and therapy appointments, which doesn't leave much time for homework and just being a kid), I know it's better for him to have a chance to practice what he's learned after it's had a chance to marinate for awhile. It's been great for identifying areas where he needs help.
Michele sent me today. I'm glad she did!
I find myself totally agreeing with you. I come from a long line of teachers with a similar view and my husband and I have both TA'd at University where there is no question about the value of 'homework' (though I suppose it's meant to be called something more important sounding at that stage). I cannot tell you the number of students, more so as the years roll on, that are totally unfamiliar with the concept of doing work on their own, to the point of being affronted at being challenged to do work or incredulous when they don't do well on assignments and tests. They haven't had to do it up to that point. Scary.
Hi from Michele's.
I am totally for some homework. It lets me see what is going on at school, I can have some 'hands on time' with my son, and he gets some extra practice. What I don't agree with, that is being done, is for classwork to be sent home because they don't get it done. If it is consistently happening, it may not be the kid, it may be the arrangement while kids are supposed to be doing their work. I don't think that 25 6 year olds are going to work well broken up into groups, with the teacher remaining stationary at one table. I don't think that is realistic. Also, assigning homework just so they have some?? I've seen some kids bring home work that makes you really question why this was assigned.
Here from Michele's. Love your topic, we've got a parent teacher conference later this week just for that!
I have to agree with you, when I was at school I took part in after school activities every day which meant I was home from school a couple of hours later than I should have been (normally about 5-6pm) I would then have at least 3hrs of homework a night to do...when it was exam time this would rist to almost 6hrs at times. I barely had time for sleep and on the 3 days a week where I had band practice from 7am it meant I was a walking zombie at times.
here from Michele's, congratulations on being site of the day!
I wish that some of my neighborhood kids had some homework to do!!! (so they would stay out of my yard and property)
Here via Michele today.
No homework? Given the fact that U.S. kids are in school fewer days than any other industrialized country and the fact that our school day is barely long enough to properly cover most subjects? If kids have no home work, how on Earth are they going to gain any depth of understanding? I'm not advocating hours and hours of home work, but an hour or so most evenings seems reasonable to me. (Heck, I had that plus I needed to practice for Band, too!)
Here from Micheles today- contgratulations on being site of the day!
As a mother of 3 I think their homework is neccesary just as Hula said above, I need to be able to see how they're doing & where I can help them (I admit, my 16 year old has surpassed me in Math- I can't help her any longer in that subject!) At the same time, my bigest frustration currently is my 10 year old in 4th grade, she has tons of homework in every subject every night, in third grade & below she had maybe a page a day & some reading. She is so bogged down & stressed out it makes my heart ache, My oldest had the same teacher in 4th grade & says she had the same amount of homework- she just did alot of it during study time at school.
i agree with you completely. homework given reasonable is needed.
michele sent me to tell you congrats on being site of the day!
*head banging on desk for a second*
Seriously? C'mon. A little homework never hurt anybody, and as you say, the practice is important. There should be some, and it should count toward your grades. And YES, in any situation where one party is doing work and other parties are not, the parties doing the work get the credit. What kind of lesson is it to teach kids that it doesn't matter if you work hard?
Sheesh.
Um, oh, and by the way, hello from Michele's...
As a secondary school counselor, I watch many kids go through high school doing the "least" amount if they can. However, those same kids, over the past 13 years I have been here, will come back and let us know that the classes that they remember and helped them the most were the ones that demanded some homework.
If high school students (my only experience is with secondary ed) don't learn how to budget time, work on long-term assignments, and be able to self-initiate work, college may be very very difficult, if not impossible for them.
I believe in homework-it's a necessary evil. However, I don't believe that simple busywork should be assigned as homework-my daughter is in 5th grade and some of her homework is word-searches(which, by the way, I hate because I'm no good at them), coloring maps, & so on.
My daughter struggles in school, so I expect her to bring work home.
But she starts her homework at 4pm and is often still working on it right up until her 9pm bedtime.
She takes breaks, but MAN that seems like a lot of (too much!) work. I had to buy her a rolling backback because she's so tiny she couldn't carry all the textbooks home when she had a lot of homework.
But what do I know? 
Homework is good. Those other teachers sound like idiots. I don't even mind the big projects if instructions are clearly given a couple weeks in advance. What annoys me here in Huntington Beach is the teachers' assumption that everyone is wealthy and can spend any amount of money on art supplies or other project stuff and has a videocamera to boot!
I was one of those kid geniuses who was always put on the advanced track throughout school.
"Advanced Track" translates as "Four-plus Hours of Homework Every Night."
You. Are. Right. Stick to thy guns. I'm a former homework hater, and I agree with you.
Hello from Michele!
First of all conratulations on being SOD at Micheles. My homework helpin days are over. I never minded a little but some teachers made life hell with the amount of homework they assigned. And it was multiplied by 3 kids.
Homework for me means cleaning the kitchen. I'd rather be doing my work at home than in someone else's office. Hello from michele's!
These parents that complain about too much homework are probably the same ones that complain that their children are not learning and its always the teachers fault. Yes too much homework is ridiculous but a bit everynight in not harmful and its also a good time to sit and see what your children are doing and learning and that in it's self is quality time.
I teach AP Calculus, advanced algebra, and trigonometry.
My students are outraged - and I do mean outraged - that I not only assign homework, but check it for correctness and make them correct their mistakes.
However, too many of my calculus students still can't remember how to calculate the equation of a line, given a point on the line and the slope. This after four weeks of practice, and advance warning that this skill would be on the test.
This is an Algebra 1 skill, if that.
Oddly enough there's a direct correlation between how much homework they do, and how well they remember on the test.
Furthermore, the front office insists that 50% of their grade comes form homework and classwork, but discourages grading for accuracy. Sigh.
And these kids speak comfortably of going to college.
In high school and college, I think even hefty amounts of homework somtimes make sense.
Kids are getting homework in kindergarden now, when their bedtimes are 7:00 and they are gone most of the day.
In my opinion, that's out of control, BIG time. Kids need to be kids.
But you are a college teacher. Homework is needed. There's no practice time in class.
I have two children in high school. One gets so much homework that she's absolutely swamped every freaking night, even on weekends. The other gets hardly any homework at all, and what he gets he doesn't do much of the time.
My daughter has a history teacher that has no clue that she has other classes. Tonight she had to make an original mandala, and then write two one page papers supporting her design. The first was to discuss the elements in her design and how they related to India and Hinduism, the second was to take what elements were on her mandala and compare them to what she's learned so far about India. This took her over 4 hours to do. She also had Math, English, Wellness (Sex Ed) and Science homework that she did not get done. She will get a detention in English because she didn't get her homework done. She was up until 11:30 working on her freaking history project.
The thing that really bothers me is that each "team" at school is supposed to get together weekly to see what the other teachers are giving out for homework, and then planning for only two hours per night of homework. Her team is the ONLY team that doesn't do this, and hence she ends up with anywhere from 4 to 8 hours of homework PER NIGHT. This is insane and such a waste of time. The poor kid is exhausted. And stressed.
I only ever disliked math homework, because I thought repeating the same thing ten or fifteen times was stupid. That being said, I recognize homework, especially assigned reading, as essential.
I'm not in school, but I do homework every day - I read for my improv troupe, I practice the concept of "Yes, and..." in every encounter, etc.
Thinking back to when I was in school, the thing I always resented was when we'd be studying a book and we'd have entire class periods devoted to silent reading. First, I was bored because I read fast and second, I hate reading for any length of time in a desk, without tea or water, always have.
Here from Michele's.
I'll take sides. I'm a cat person
Oh! About homework! This is a no brainer (no punner intended)- homework is useful in all the right ways and builds essential life skills as well as allowing youngsters to solidify and internalize on their own work, ideas, thoughts presented in class.
I always got a kick out of teachers who assigned homework that could be done "in class." I thought that a clever albiet totally irresponsible ruse to avoid teaching for the last 20 minutes of every class period.
Teachers who don't believe in homework? Are you sure they're really teachers, and not some kind of forum-trolls?
Kindergarten kids with homework: check out No Child Left Behind and then get back with the teachers. There are some mighty powers breathing down our necks and if you think we're enjoying them, think again.
Homework is practice in my classroom and it is nothing that my students can't complete quickly. Fifth grade is a gateway year, so if you don't pass the test, you don't get promoted. I have actually had a parent question whether or not I was giving enough homework. How 'bout that? My accelerated math class goes quickly and so they may have more concepts to practice but not hundreds of problems; however, they HAVE to practice!!
I don't assign huge projects at the last minute, I don't expect my students to spend hours and hours doing homework. However, I do want them to practice their math facts every night and I want them to read every night. They think that is optional and that is the most important homework they do.
Tried to leave a comment last night. Got an error.
As a student I hated /math/ homework, because if I didn't understand a formula in class, having me do twenty problems wasn't going to help, and neither of my parents COULD help at that level of math. My brain just didn't work that way then.
Now, however, I'm not a student of anything except life, and I find myself doing homework all the time - I read for my improv troupe, I practice rhyming and engage in the concept of "Yes, and..." even when I'm talking to the pizza guy, and I do research for my freelance job.
I don't think kids should be buried by homework, but I think some, as long as it's not busy work, is fine.
(What I really resented was when teachers would devote entire periods to silent reading. Ugh. The last place I want to sit and read is a classroom.)
Geez--what's wrong with you people? Isn't everyone BORN with the ability to play Beethoven sonatas and read Shakespeare?
Our aunts used to brag to my mother that one of our cousins was so good at piano that he didn't HAVE to practice. Remember that, sis? I guess I was a little slow, as were my classmates at the IU School of Music...
Those folks at "that site" need to get a life. And check their spelling and grammar to boot. And the one who wrote "everywheres"??--I haven't heard that word since the Clampitts built their cement pond.
Yes, sarcasm is a gift in our family.
HOmwurk.....lik wrighting over an over speling wurds so you now thems?
Ah, and lets not forget that homework cuts into such important things as sports practice, games, playing video games, TM'ing friends, surfing the 'net, maintaining ones blog, watching cable TV at someone else's house.......
IMO, homework is necessary. I try to teach my junior high students a few academic study skills like re-reading text sections, reviewing assignments, correcting errors, knowing what they need to have done for the next school day, etc. is very necessary for future academic success.
Great Post Mamacita !
Personally I'm all for homework that practices skills and allows parents to see what is being done in the classroom. However, it certainly isn't popular in my district. Homework is a situation where you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Every parent I meet with wants a homework policy that specifically fits their lifestyle and their wants and desires. It's impossible to have a policy written 65 different ways.
Stick to your guns Mamacita. I have posted over at the forum for quite sometime and THIS type of issue is one of the reasons. The whole thing is maddening, absolutely maddening!
It is a shame people can't get the names of the "anti-homework" teachers so they could keep their kids OUT of their class. No wonder kids are failing. Of course they need the homework to reinforce the class lesson. And I remember in third grade being drilled and drilled and drilled on the multiplication tables. Thank goodness! Makes simple things like doubling a recipe or computing interest on your checking account much easier.
No you are not Cruella de Ville! Those who don't care enough to give homework and hold the kids responsible for doing it are the ones doing the disservice.
I read in one comment that someone was surprised to see a first grader have to write a report.
My daughter, Nyssa went to a small private church school in elementary and in third grade they taught them how to write a term paper. The teacher led them through the steps of research, note taking, bibliography and footnotes, the making of an outline, first draft and final draft. Each child picked a person in history and used the process to write a six page term paper complete with bibliography. Then the teacher went on to include a lesson in speech. The kids took their graded term papers and wrote a short summary, learned how to put their main points on note cards and then delivered it in a school history program to which parents and other classes were invited. They got to dress as their character in history. It was great and is still done every year.
Let's see.... lessons in History, English, Writing, and Speech! Pretty well rounded.
Oh, yes... Nyssa has used those skills learned and practiced in third grade all through her junior high, high school and college career. She is doing a double major in English and Geology at the College of William and Mary and is on the dean's list. Her English teachers in high school and college have often cited her papers as being exceptionally well written. I credit that third grade teacher who wasn't afraid to teach something that many thought was beyond what third graders should have to do.
Ahhhh, Alfie Kohn strikes again.
You cannot teach AP without homework-- unless you want to give me three class period per day? No? Then homework it'll have to be.
I also have heard students talk about how a class is not "for real" because the teacher gave no homework. STG!
Eons ago, my high school classes were 55 minutes long. The high school classes where I teach now are 46 minutes long. Multiply by 184 days of instruction, and I lose 27.6 hours of instruction per year, which is the equivalent of several WEEKS worth of instruction. Per class.
The problem is not homework. It is all the other pulls upon our students' time. The irony is that, living in the riptide of the information age, they don't know how to refine a search if they don't get result by just typing in the title or subject. But they will spend 5 hours a night playing DOOM or Medal of Honor or IMing or texting or practicing their hook shot.
"The other teachers there, with just a few exceptions, believe that homework is not necessary at all, that it cuts into family time, that there should NEVER be any homework, and that if a little homework is necessary, the choice of doing it or not is entirely the student's choice, and choosing NOT to do it should have no bearing whatsoever on the final grade."
Could it be that it cuts into THEIR family time and requires too much work from the TEACHER? After all, the teacher has to develop the assignment, give it, assess it and grade when complete, then post it in the grade book or computer program. Who wants to spend the evening doing that?
Commenting by HaloScan
