#DITCHbook was created by Ditch That Textbook author Matt Miller. The chat focuses on innovative teaching ideas and disrupting standard textbook education.
Hey everyone! Evan Mosier, Technology Integration Lead Teacher from Davenport, IA joining this evening. Looking forward to installment 2 of #ditchHW in #ditchbook this evening.
Hey everyone at #ditchbook! My name is Katherine Friar, and I am a current student at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville! I am working towards my 1-8 education degree, and by joining this chat I hope to expand my knowledge of digital resources and homework in the classroom!
Hey #DitchBook friends!
Thanks for joining us -- and guest mod @dcarruthersedu and @sbruyns -- for this chat about homework!
Matt here, #DitchBook author/blogger/10+yr teacher. Welcome!
Hi everyone! My name is Taylor, I’’m a junior special education major at the University of Oklahoma and this is my first twitter chat! #ditchbook@oueducation #3043
A1: When I stopped assigning homework, I gained so much class time! Instead of going over homework for 30 minutes- we were jumping into the lesson! #ditchbook
A1: NOTHING would change! All of the work that I assign is completed in class. Let kids be kids after school. Last thing they want to do after 7 hours of "school" is more "school" at home! #ditchHW#ditchbook
A1: As a student, I feel like I learn a lot more in my 3 hour labs where there is limited homework than my hour long classes with lots of assignments. #ditchbook#soeuwp2010
A1: No longer assign HW so my day has changed. No more time spent chasing it down, tracking who should miss recess, taking it home to "grade"... more time for better/more focused work #ditchbook
A1: I wouldn’t have to waste time taking completion grades that didn’t help the Ss who really needed the practice that the homework was intended to provide. A LOT less headaches #DitchBook
A1- I don't assign homework but making the switch was when I started using blended learning in my classroom. It added more time into my schedule #ditchbook
A1: There would be more time to provide effective feedback on student learning—feedback that helps students understand the progress they are making towards learning objectives. #ditchbook
A1 we would have more time to connect w kids in the morning, focus more on making minutescount DURING the day, and have lighter bags that we tote back and forth. #ditchbook#ditchhw
A.1 Since I am not yet a teacher, I’m not sure how the day to day would actually change by not assigning homework. However, I would imagine it would create a much more stress free environment for students & myself. I do not plan on assigning homework in my classroom!
#ditchbook
A1 Not much different, b/c I'm not much of a homework giver. It makes me think about how I use class time. That's where I want Ss to practice, ask Qs, etc. #ditchbook
Just happened to see this chat happening and decided to check it out...it's my first time to participate. I'm Christy, a former science teacher and current library media grad student in Mississippi. #ditchbook
Q2: How can we recruit family members to become strong allies at home and work together with teachers to improve student learning as we “ditch the homework”? #ditchbook
A1: I am @ 95% HW Free, and it makes the day MUCH better. Real, deep learning takes place with immediate, meaningful feedback... and my sanity is saved because there are not hundreds of HW papers I spent hours grading tossed int he recycle bin #ditchbook
A1: Since I am not quite a teacher yet, but working towards becoming one, I don't think anything would change! My goal is to not assign homework to my elementary students! They would learn more doing their work with me in the CLASSROOM! #ditchbook
A1: I am to the point of not assigning homework anymore, but with the demand of NYS curriculum to prep for the regents I am not sure who to fit it all in. I have been flipping the classroom #ditchHW#DitchBook
A1 I think for me hw was a way I tried to avoid the issue that my Ss work at different paces and have different needs - I’d say, sorry you didn’t finish in time - finish for hw... #ditchbook
If students were no longer assigned homework, I feel that students would be less stressed and not have such high anxiety. Students who did not have homework when I was in high school, only to study for exams, did better and had higher scores. #ditchbook
The focus on learning and not grade chasing...that is the dream. I personally do not assign homework..but it is definitely a shift in mindset #DitchBook
A2: Connect through Guardian Summaries in Google Classroom. This is a HUGE benefit to both teachers and parents with minimal effort. Less effort = great connection and engagement.....hopefully! #ditchbook
A1: I could spend the beginning of clas differentiating my imitation activities using my data from the previous class, instead of reviewing assigned homework. #ditchbook#blendedlearning@dcarruthersedu
Good for you, Taylor. I like that you added a more stress free environment. I think we should also extend that to less stress in the home. Speaking from experience. #ditchbook
A1: We aren’t allowed to assign homework at my school. So, not much. I do assign reading work if Ss don’t complete it during the school day and I give a daily math review (10-15 Qs). I’m curious about what y’all are about #ditchbook
Q2: How can we recruit family members to become strong allies at home and work together with teachers to improve student learning as we “ditch the homework”? #ditchbook
Last year was the first year. I still provide optional assignments and every now and then give something for home (although this year I think we are on 0-1 so far). Was apprehensive at first but wouldn't go back #ditchbook
Feedback is where it's at. Our Ss need timely feedback *before* the learning cycle is over. Once the summative assess comes (whatever shape that takes), we've lost our opportunity w the kids! #ditchbook
Great choice. One of the best I have made in my first 8 years of teaching is joining Twitter chats. Really helps refresh the brain and the positive vibes from the community are unreal #DitchBook
In reply to
@MissTaylor180, @craigklement, @oueducation
A2: Give the students opportunities to bring the learning into their family discussions. Make the topic so interesting students HAVE to share it. #ditchbook
@MissTaylor180 - Just realized this is your first Twitter chat! Welcome to #ditchbook! This is easily the best chat you can join on Twitter.....ever! Happy to have you with us this evening!
A1: Is this a trick question? Actually, I rarely assign homework. If I look back to when I did, ditching homework freed up a lot of time, so my work-life balance became more sane. #ditchbook
#ditchbook A2a A few years ago @K12Learn K-8 online learning experience involved parents checking one or two activities. It was difficult given how long it’d been since I studied those topics. +
Just follow the hashtag and you’ll be good. Questions usually are Q1, Q2, etc and answer with A1, A2, etc and the hashtag #DitchBook. Twitter chats are a lot of fun and a great source for ideas!
A2: I've noticed it is important to provide more details and info about the learning going on in class so Ps feel connected to the class... sadly HW can be the only glimmer of class they get #ditchbook
A1: If students were no longer assigned homework, I feel that students would be less stressed and not have such high anxiety. Students who did not have homework when I was in high school, only when studying for exams, did better and had higher scores. #ditchbook
If you are doing smores, you need to try Fudgestripes with a marshmallow between (forget the graham crackers and chocolcate). Gamechanger! #ditchbook#teachsc
In reply to
@JuliePJones, @mrdearybury, @gruffcorn13, @techamys, @ShakeUpLearning, @ericcrouch, @SEANJFAHEY, @msoskil, @AngieGraddy, @jmattmiller
A2: The parents always ask me to assign homework but I don’t see the point! I teach fourth grade, and their daily homework from me is to play outside, read for an hour, and go to sleep on time. Being a kid is so much more valuable than rote homework #ditchbook
Q2: How can we recruit family members to become strong allies at home and work together with teachers to improve student learning as we “ditch the homework”? #ditchbook
A2: More meaningful feedback! Family members understand specific and attainable ways to improve skills. Give students specific strategies and have family members carry them out in conversations about learning. @DitchThatTxtbk@dcarruthersedu#ditchbook
Q2: How can we recruit family members to become strong allies at home and work together with teachers to improve student learning as we “ditch the homework”? #ditchbook
The shift seemed to already be settling in with admin and grade level team was fairly willing. I was most worried about Ps but they were thankful for most part. I did/do have 1-2 requests for paper HW still #DitchBook
Wow Rayna! I would have never thought about involving the community in the creation of the homework policy! What an awesome idea! Let's hope this goes viral! Thank you for this great proposal! #ditchbook
A2: #DitchBook Great question! I think it would be important is schools had parent programs that would teach or even introduce the technology schools use in their classrooms!
A2: Parents are often begging for a window in the classroom -- whether they say it or not.
Social media, @remind, @seesaw and others can give them that window. #DitchBook#DitchHW
A2: @RemindHQ is anothertool that can help Ts build a community partnership with parents. Pictures, videos, and classroom communication all in one spot. Communication is key. #DitchBook
A2: As @simonsinek says—start with the WHY. Help family members understand that we are maximizing our instructional time by focusing on authentic learning experiences coupled with richer feedback. Less is more! #ditchbook
Q2: How can we recruit family members to become strong allies at home and work together with teachers to improve student learning as we “ditch the homework”? #ditchbook
One thing that helped me in my no HW shift, was realizing that the HW I gave didn't really help solve this issue. The kids who did it didn't need the extra practice. The kids who did, needed help doing the work. HW was a waste for everyone. #ditchbook
Ongoing conversations and @Seesaw. We have students write newsletters to their parents every week and they email it home. It's their weekly reflection.
#ditchbook
#ditchbook A2b Time’s the constraint for everyone involved right? With three kids having gone through K-12 in my town I dread “curriculum night” because it wasn’t really about the experience. It was about don’t dos. +
A3. Ss run their own conferences and have portfolios. We also have a failure parking lot where Ss reflect and park their mistakes and learn from them. #ditchbook
Great choice. One of the best I have made in my first 8 years of teaching is joining Twitter chats. Really helps refresh the brain and the positive vibes from the community are unreal #DitchBook
In reply to
@MissTaylor180, @craigklement, @oueducation
A3: Academic goal setting can do both. It makes them responsible for areas they want to focus on and accountable for executing the action plan for those goals #DitchBook
A2: Not worry so much about grades and worry about what they are learning. How does this impact real life? How will you use this in the real world? #ditchbook
Q2: How can we recruit family members to become strong allies at home and work together with teachers to improve student learning as we “ditch the homework”? #ditchbook
#ditchbook A2c #DesignThinking holds promise for arriving at a solution. Next curriculum night, pageant, recital or meetup be authentic about it. Engage with an authentic story & come up with ideas in that moment.
Yes, We spend the first half hour talking about the assignments when we could just do the work then. Most of my classmates don't even bother completing them before because they know it will be covered in class. #ditchbook#uwpsoe2010
To clarify, the Ss get plenty of time during the day to complete their daily math review. I don’t assign it as homework but I do send it home everyday. I mean, what’s the natural consequence for not doing your assigned work during the school day? 🤷♂️#ditchbook
A3 by empowering students! Right now in our tech classes students have a choice for their computer science pathway they have taken ownership over it and gaining those soft skills.
#ditchbook
A3: giving 0’s for not doing assignments doesn’t make Ss responsible. Planning for more reflection can help create a better since of responsibility #DitchBook
A3: Create assignments that represent authentic, real world tasks. Students understand the meaning behind these assessments, rather than atypical assessments like multiple choice questions. #ditchbook@dcarruthersedu@DitchThatTxtbk
A2- Tough question but a good one. I am constantly searching for new ways to get parents more involved. Can't wait to see everyone's responses. We struggle at the high school to get more parent involvement...not blaming parents...they are busy...just hard. #DitchBook
A3: Teaching them responsibility and have them set goals. Unfortunately, all too many students aren't sure what success truly means, so an easy goal setting activity may help them achieve that. #ditchbook
I wish my son’s teachers had the same philosophy. He comes home from school and has HOURS of homework every day. And the only “feedback” I see him getting is a grade in the grade book. I have reached frustration point as an educator/parent. 😒 #ditchbook
A.2 1st impressions say a lot, so its important to make a positive one! Connecting w/ parents ASAP to let them know how excited you are to have their child in your class, as well as telling them positive things they are doing (instead of only negative) would be great! #ditchbook
A1: Since I am not quite a teacher yet, but working towards becoming one, I don't think anything would change! My goal is to not assign homework to my elementary students! They would learn more doing their work with me in the CLASSROOM! #ditchbook
All of our students have @FreshGrade digital portfolios and instead of doing parent teacher interviews, every student from K-8 was involved in a student led conference #ditchbook
Laura! I have never heard of this tool but it seems interesting and something worth checking out, that would work to help build communication! Thanks for sharing. #ditchbook
Almost exclusively. But almost all HW sent home in the past was math anyway. I think part of this is b/c they were never shown strategies/underlying understandings & only knew worksheet based math. So it makes it hard/impossible to have conversations w their kids #ditchbook
A3 Through conversation. One-on-one mini conferences; mini-presentations; book chats. Let Ss share what they have learned through meaningful discourse #ditchbook
A3 - Self reflection, with goals or a plan for improving areas of weaknesses. Checking in regularly to see how they are progressing toward their goal/plan. #ditchbook
So true!! More important than homework is the energy we put into helping students understand where we are headed on our learning journey, why we are headed there and what it will look like when we get there. Effective feedback along the way. #ditchbook
It is definitely frustrating. It is okay for kids to be kids and enjoy life....I wouldn't enjoy my job as much as I do if my boss every night sent hours of work for me to do...#DitchBook
Q4: Knowing that memorization and simply rereading material does not work, what are some effective ways to help students remember new material and concepts? #ditchbook
I started conference with ss with some of my graded items. All too often we grade things and give it back and they don’t care about the feedback just the grade. Now I’m meeting with them to the work and what grade they think they earned #ditchbook
Sue, this is such a neat idea! Parent teacher conferences are something that I grew up with and seem so normal to do. I would have never thought to change them up by doing something like this! What a great thing to do! #ditchbook
A2: In Israel the very famous creative thinking researcher and developer, started "the homework revolution". There was such a buzz, that parent pressure made the Ministry of Education change elementary schools' homework policies. https://t.co/fcKh03B445#ditchbook
A2: #ditchbook I use open house night as a way to get parents on board from the get-go. Use infographics such as these as guides for Ps to hang on the fridge.
A3: By showing Ss the standards and then letting them show mastery in a variety of ways that they choose is a start. Like Sheets for tracking progress toward goals, showing growth, and also developing a digital portfolio. #DitchBook
#ditchbook A3a See Note 2 of @davidtedu recent blog post at https://t.co/27q8h46ogb .. ask Ss to do activities that lift their butts out of seats. Meaningful [within Ss context] activities that discourage student passivity.
Excellent point! Somewhere, in some book about hwk, there lies an explanation -when homework is assigned, parents are now forced to have same content knowledge the teacher does. This is a difficult reality for all parties involved. I think it was in #ditchHW, maybe?! #ditchbook
I have two kids. One who can take a test in her sleep, and the other who could sleep through a test. The grade isn't what I care about. What are you going to do with what you learned? #DitchBook
I can’t tell you how often I stop and think about whether or not I am effectively communicating the WHY. “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.” #ditchbook
New rule in class this year...we don't talk grades...we only talk learning. It is tough for kids to shift that mindset after years of grade chasing. #DitchBook
A4 I always model annotation first. Getting ways to interact w/ text in 3 simple ways: thru questions, comments & vocab. Next, talk about it in small group; large group. Then, create mnemonic devices if that helps the S. Encourage the S to design visual representations #ditchbook
I really like that you stress the personal connection. When I become a teacher I want to show I care about my students success just like you do with one-on-one conferences. #ditchbook#uwpsoe2010
A2 Build relationships w families from the start and over-communicate student learning. Share docs like this to help them ask the right Qs of their student at home. Show that our focus is growth and process. Not product. #ditchbookhttps://t.co/H5g2lMrQ7Q
Q2: How can we recruit family members to become strong allies at home and work together with teachers to improve student learning as we “ditch the homework”? #ditchbook
Nope. We assign it, our Ss don't do it. There are other ways to determine accountability. I just don't think homework is the answer anymore. #ditchbook
A4. Today we did Flashcard Factory @PearDeck and we are podcasting using our vocab words. Create authentic experiences even when workbook is involved #ditchbook
Q4: Knowing that memorization and simply rereading material does not work, what are some effective ways to help students remember new material and concepts? #ditchbook
A3: I’ve found that there are authentic methods for student accountability by using research-based approaches. Particularly, I use retrieval challenge grids for both assessment and reteaching. I can assess what a S is retaining much better than some dumb worksheet #ditchbook
YES!!! The Golden Circle is my favorite explanation of his. The "why" of what we do is so important! If there's no defined "why" behind what we're doing, are we really that effective, or is the passion and drive still there?! #ditchbook
A4: Get them creating and/or teaching it to someone else as soon as possible. "Throwback Tuesdays"/"Way back Wednesday" Brain Dump slides too #ditchbook
So they want you to grade accountability then? I am all for teaching soft skills...but people always want to assess things like accountability but put it in the gradebook as content...#DitchBook
Thank you! @LynnCavicchi is a policy queen and worked hard to redo our policy. I am proud of how it came out. We discussed it with the Ss when it came out. I do a policy day the third day of school #ditchbook
A3: Give Ss assignments that would be relevant and meaningful for them. Set clear guidelines, make sure all Ss know the consequence of not doing homework, and be consistent in implementing them. #ditchbook
As a T and a parent, I've found @seesaw incredibly powerful--esp when we put Ss in the drivers seat to explain their learning. As a parent, I really value this insight into their learning. #DitchBook
Ongoing conversations and @Seesaw. We have students write newsletters to their parents every week and they email it home. It's their weekly reflection.
#ditchbook
A4: Brain Science like: Retrieval Practice, Spacing, Dual Coding, Brain dumps, etc. Love resources from @AceThatTest website & @PoojaAgarwal ‘s website. ( #sketchnotes are one of my fave ways to incorporate Dual Coding.) #DitchBook
#ditchbook A4a Check out @cintascotch slides about how to Interrupt the Passivity of the Spectator.. https://t.co/1qU07Z3AbM .. come up with alternative/creative ways to express ideas
Yes! As a teacher who worked w/SpEd S's for a very long time, HW was such an issue. An issue that didn't help them become better learners... ever... The poor kids just never got a break. #ditchbook
A3: Put real energy into communicating: where we are headed, why we are headed there, what it will look like when we arrive. Then provide ample time for students to reflect on where they are relative to the model we have provided. Coach course correction when needed. #ditchbook
Or maybe we just need to completely rethink what homework means? If Ss feel empowered by the tasks we assign, and they work on them at home, is this homework? #ditchbook
It's just PR, actually. If you're on a trending issue, you find the right celebrity and create the exact message to get across - you can't fail! #DitchBook
I've heard that quote before! @drmarciatate says that in her lectures! Student voice can be increased by allowing choice in learning, using a variety of technology, and inspiring creativity in our students. #ditchbook
I love how you're normalizing failure in your room. Was talking w my Gr2 daughter this weekend about FAILs (1st attempt in lrng). She thought it was great. It's just a normal part of learning; wish they all realized that! #DitchBook
A4: Anything hands-on! Students won't remember a change of state of matter lecture, but after an ice cube melt challenge and experimenting with pure Gallium (a liquid metal at just over room temp), they remember the experience!#ditchbook
A5 - Not always true...you can learn a lot by reading a book or watching a Youtube video...and you're doing zero talking.
Lecture done correctly is quite effective.
https://t.co/FbeITjyazx#ditchbook
Thanks for the lesson plan. I will be sure to use the resources in your blog during the duration of my studies and my future career. #ditchbook#uwpsoe2010
A.4 It’s vital to know what works best for each students comprehension- you may need 5 different ways ready to teach 1 lesson, but if that’s what it takes that’s what you do! In my observations so far, I’ve noticed that hands-on learning seems to be the most effective
#ditchbook
A3- Conversations around learning and the process of learning. Creating a classroom environment that promotes learning. Having those constant conversations around did we get better today and did we grow. Instead of just slapping on a grade and calling it a day. #DitchBook
A4: I use Game Based Learning, so students are internally motivated to learn, not just remember, otherwise they won't be able to advance in the game. If they haven't learned what I want them to learn, they're not going to be able to complete the level they're on. #ditchbook
A2. One thing that my son’s teacher does, that I love, is use the remind app to post and share reminders, pictures, updates, progress, etc. about my son. It also is a great way for us to stay in touch @feltnerm#smwced115#ditchbook
I agree completely. HW is not the answer. It never was, but now we have research to back it up. Let's hold ourselves accountable for using class time more productively so HW isn't an easy way out. #DitchBook
Nope. We assign it, our Ss don't do it. There are other ways to determine accountability. I just don't think homework is the answer anymore. #ditchbook
A4: The first teach is always just exposure. It’s the reteaching that helps students retain material taught. I love asking students for both proofs of their learning and open-ended reflections to express their learning in an individual and creative way #ditchbook
Q4: Knowing that memorization and simply rereading material does not work, what are some effective ways to help students remember new material and concepts? #ditchbook
Another aspect of the conversation is equity. When we assign homework to students in our classrooms who are in survival mode at home—energy spent on finding food or figuring out where they will sleep or how they will get clean clothes—homework is a low priority. #ditchbook
A4: I’ve found that students remember things after we play Flashcard Factory! Much better than just memorizing vocabulary. Thanks @peardeck! #ditchbook
A5: Have them share with partners/tables at intervals during lesson. Teach them to listen for misconceptions and disagree/argue constructively and effectively. #ditchbook
A move toward non traditional homework lets families create their own meaningful active learning experiences, by valuing individual cultures and beliefs, and empowers families to play a leading role in student learning. #ditchbook
Q2: How can we recruit family members to become strong allies at home and work together with teachers to improve student learning as we “ditch the homework”? #ditchbook
Thank you for joining us for our regular scheduled chat tonight!
Don’t forget to continue building your PLN by following other ditchers!
However, you may want to stick around for another half hour of BONUS Questions. #ditchbook
