An informal learning community for educators worldwide. Our passion for learning and connected learning experiences help us to improve our teaching practices. #txeduchat features guest moderators every week.
Welcome to #txeduchat folks! We'll be talking about the merits of homework in just a few moments. Take a second and tell us who you are and share your most memorable experience with homework.
Jenn from the Reeg - Best was anything meaningful that allowed me to put the information into a different context. The worst was anything 2-48 even!
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John Walkup, edu-consultant, STEM educator, and grant writer from Clovis, CA. My most memorable experience? 60 hrs/week in my final year of grad school. Almost killed me. #txeduchat
Hello all!
I'm Jeff Samuelson, Digital Learning Specialist for Birdville ISD. Homework...hmmm...I did a LOT of problems...mostly the odd ones. #txeduchat
Hi I'm Elenisa! I'm a technology trainer at Laredo ISD. I think the only time I relly enjoyed homework was for my MLS degree. Lots of good learning experiences there! And yes, I made popcorn! :) #txeduchat
Memorable homework...getting Dad's help with Algebra and he had never done Algebra before! I explained it and walked him through it. Found my own mistake! #txeduchat
John Walkup, edu-consultant, STEM educator, and grant writer from Clovis, CA. My most memorable experience? 60 hrs/week in my final year of grad school. Almost killed me. #txeduchat
Hi I'm Elenisa! I'm a technology trainer at Laredo ISD. I think the only time I relly enjoyed homework was for my MLS degree. Lots of good learning experiences there! And yes, I made popcorn! :) #txeduchat
Good evening y'all! Elyse and I teach in Katy as a special ed teacher and behavior supporter. Homework has been very challenging for my students in sped. #txeduchat
A1: I know it can be a good thing- but lately my kids come home with tons of HW- and we miss out on a lot of family activities because we're just trying to get it all done. #txeduchat
A1 Homework is a big deal because it can enrich but other times it brings out the worst of the child and causes headaches for so many at home. #txeduchat
A1 Now, I am more of a fan of doing original reading and content at home, then making use of the class time to do problems, and have interactive discussions. #TxEduChat
Talking hw is like talking politics, religion, or college football - a lot of people will love you and a lot will hate you based on your opinion. #txeduchat
a1: I believe Hwk should be about reinforcement and preparation, not drill and kill. If it takes five problems to reinforce the learning, why in the name of all things whole, do we have to complete 20 problems? #txeduchat
A1; yes there is value, but that value is a matter of perspective. there should be enough for practice and mastery. Why do ten problems when 5 will do?
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Talking hw is like talking politics, religion, or college football - a lot of people will love you and a lot will hate you based on your opinion. #txeduchat
That's what the guideline says. I think we can re-examine the rate. Or, perhaps re-examine how much time on school nights is devoted to band/sports. #txeduchat
A1There needs to be coordination from the teachers in regards to how much and when it is given. We need a collaborative village, not independent artisans. #txeduchat
I know it's not quite the same, but when I was in school, the amount of time I spent practicing -- on and off the field -- for band was a lot of homework. #txeduchat
A1 I believe that HW, if given at all, must be purposeful, meaningful, and minimal! Our L’s already work so hard while they are in school. They need time to play, explore, be kids. #txeduchat
we encourage all kids to get the full experience of school -- clubs, sports and fine arts. Then we give 1.5 hours a night of homework. Not sure this is what is best. #txeduchat
We all want what is best for kids. But sooner or later, "You're trying to hurt children" surfaces. I'm sure #txeduchat doesn't drop to that level but it does happen.
A2: I'm reading some posts that would favor homework more for secondary than elementary. I haven't seen any data on that, but it's out there, I'm sure. #txeduchat
Keep in mind that these are mere guidelines. I can easily see dropping the rate to (say) seven minutes. Regardless, tying load to grade level is a good idea. #txeduchat
A2: I taught most recently at an early college HS where my Ss were taking 3-6 hours of college in 9th grade. They were not prepared for college homework. #txeduchat
Sure, but now we have them playing football on school nights when it used to be on Friday nights. Maybe we should push events to Friday nights and weekends. #txeduchat
A2 At the elementary level, it's time for educators to realize students already have such a long day. Homework needs to be let kids be kids. The complexity of family dynamics is so different now too. #txeduchat
A2: As grade level increases, the importance of developing study habits increases too. Young learners dont need as much. So I support gradual increase in load over age. #txeduchat
By same token, we don't want Ss to end up getting shocked by HW load when they enter MS. So HW load should be gradual as they advance in grade level. #txeduchat
The lack of football fields can have an impact. But sometimes these decisions to move games to school nights are not made for the best reasons. #txeduchat
@jwalkup I have read your blog regarding homework, DOK, and support outside of school. I think the challenge is insuring that as the adults in the school, the work we require of Ss is truly meaningful #txeduchat
A3 Yes - background reading and original content at home. You can tell pretty quickly from in class discussion who has and who has not covered the material, or at least tried. #TxEduChat
what if kids came to school for band, athletics, etc. and learned along the way? That is why kids work harder at these because they might be more meaningful? #txeduchat
A3 Homework has a bad connotation to its name. While I am not a fan, I am a fan of exploring what's around the student to see the whole world. If Ss want to practice and ask for it, why not? Cultivate learning for all. #txeduchat
This lends itself to a different aspect regarding extra and co-curricular content. Specifically, how many of our Ss come to school for these and then stay for core content? #txeduchat
In reply to
@jwalkup, @DrHarrisonMcCoy, @yankee_todd
A3. Sure. Good HW reinforces that which has already been learned and helps students develop study habits they will need in college. #txeduchathttps://t.co/lauDoZNTRS
Lots of great dialogue happening. If you don't give homework, how does that affect how you structure your classroom time? Question #4 is on the way. #txeduchat
A3 there is homework that is meaningful - good - useful - supportive - but the design of that learning at home needs to be intentional & focused, I believe #txeduchat
Meaningful, being reinforcing learning or preparing for the next day...not the extreme repetition of recall skills. Example, my daughter had a worksheet identifying 100 coordinate points to create an image of a robot...then had to color it. #txeduchat
a4: practice is important. Reading each night is important. But being a kid is also important. I believe in homework- just not every night and in every subject. #txeduchat
A4 Without homework, I have to assume less preparation for the student, and have to cover more new content in class. I prefer being able to have more discussions, esp peer-peer discussions, and problems solving in class. #TxEduChat
A3 HW should connect to what is being taught/learned for that day/week. HW can be practice, assessment, enrichment or setting up for the next part of learning. Designed properly for S learning, it can be a good thing. #txeduchat
I would argue that if you looked at your classroom time -- time on task, etc. You would find that not doing homework doesn't put you behind. IMO. #txeduchat
Which is a different definition than Jennifer provided. Just goes to show how important it is that we have a common understanding. BTW, I disagree. HW doesnt need to have practical applications IMO #txeduchat
A good question to think of is why was the idea of hw started in the first place and what has changed since then.
Or are people just smarter now than whoever invented the idea. #txeduchat
like it or not -- if we want students to do homework (after being in school all day) then a worksheet isn't going to cut it. Can the concept be a writing piece? Can a short boomerang video be created to demonstrate mastery? #txeduchat
Not good for the classroom. But they make for good HW assignments. Ss can do them w/o much parental support. They reinforce what was learned earlier. Practice low-level. Good stuff. #txeduchat
Readers logs strike me as CYA. I have found that by setting a minimum, my children rise to that level. It becomes a battle to get them to read more than the log requires #txeduchat
I'm not talking about problems, but original material. For example, would you rather read Hamlet aloud in class or discuss it after reading an act at home? #TxEduChat
I guess I disagree students can do them w/o much support. Being in special ed and dealing with behavior, independent assignments are difficult esp if the Ss has a disability. I enforce and spiral in the classroom. Kids need to be kids #txeduchat
If the child has a disability then their IEP will specify what kind of work they can do. So as long as the worksheets abide those specs, we're good to go. #txeduchat
Sadly, in my experience, as a student, teacher, and admin, is that some Ss will do the worksheets, and others will just copy the answers before school in the cafeteria. #txeduchat
That begs the question, because you assume that those who disagree with hw system are somehow more enlightened than in the past. Premise unproven. #txeduchat
No but are we, as adults, keeping a written log of everything we read? It shouldn't matter how much. It should matter about the impact and meaning to each student. #txeduchat
Disagree again. I made four sets of hmwk last year and forgoed it this year. It's not worth it to me for a student to answer a couple of problems at home. I see what they can do in school. They need to be kids. #txeduchat
Which is why it's a good idea to grade HW down to (say) 10%. That's what I do. I then don't worry about it. Those that cheat will pay the price come quiz-time. #txeduchat
It sure does. Speaks to the validity of the homework. If Siri can answer it by voice activation -- the assignment might need to be rethought. (And I think homework is needed) #txeduchat
That's your opinion and I respect it. I just don't agree. I think Ss need to learn that schooling doesn't end with the bell. It's about personal responsibility = developing study habits. #txeduchat
I would contend Google impacts the discussion regarding what is quality homework. There have been many a night when I would google the name of the worksheet my child had been assigned and found it and the answers. If I can find it, so can Ss. #txeduchat
In reply to
@jwalkup, @yankee_todd, @MrDougCampbell
A5 Preparation for what students do in high school isn't an end all be all. Students need social skills, work ethic, and study habits too. Cultivating a love of learning is important as well. #txeduchat
so a child who finds no value in homework, or understands the concepts without doing the homework, but aces all the quizzes and tests, gets a 90% at most? Is the grade reflective of mastery? #txeduchat
No, and there is no reason that a grade has to reflect mastery, at least not perfectly. Having a 10% hit for doing NO HW is pretty reasonable. Solution: Do your HW. #txeduchat
Awesome! That's a great idea! For my classroom, we do read alouds and make a list of what we've read to celebrate our learning. There's a lot of options. #txeduchat
A6 yes but it can' be the driver! I didn't learn how to drive a nail by driving endless nails into a random board, I learned them by building something with someone who was willing to deal with a few bent nails! #txeduchat
A6 Yes, we must teach stamina and independence...and collaboration and communication and problem solving and...etc. That’s what school is for. Design real world, meaningful learning experiences in the classroom to facilitate this learning. #txeduchat
a6: I have many friends and family who are not in education. They never work from home and make well more than educators. Their stamina is requred during the workday. #txeduchat
A6 In the classroom, I teach stamina by tracking how long a student can independently read and work. We graph it and talk about learning as much as we can with independent work time. #txeduchat
If you turn in a grant late, you will get a big 0. And I mean a 0. This is the problem w/ analogies. They usually don't capture the essence of the argument. #txeduchat
That depends on your definition of struggle - it should be challenging, a little bit of a struggle. Otherwise it becomes more of a rote, boring exercise. #TxEduChat
But if I have a job after school, or have to take care of brothers and sisters, or must take the bus home and can not stay, even this well intended support does not help me. #txeduchat
Planes take off late all the time. I can fail my drivers license exam multiple time and still get a valid license. We can show up late to work as adults, we can miss deadlines -- but kids can't ! #txeduchat
Responsibilities associated with jobs dont mirror those associated with learning. You cant compare failing a driving test to failing an algebra test. Apples/oranges. #txeduchat
John, if the tasks we require of Ss is "reinforcement and preparation" and there is an assessment of skill mastery during the class period, then Ss are able to own their learning and complete what they need to be successful the next day. #txeduchat
A6 working independently is a good thing - so is collaboration - if the can be done alone without discussion - would that by definition make it busy work ? #txeduchat
you can fail your certification exam to teach multiple times and still be a teacher. You don't get paid less or even have it designated on your certification. #txeduchat
