The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
Good morning! Chris, K teacher, Ontario, 🇨🇦 Off for an early morning run, but I wanted to check in with my #bfc530 buddies first! Wishing you all a wonderful Friday and a restful weekend!
I teach at Year 7 #bfc530
Homework - about 60 minutes a night.
Could be finishing off work, revision or even practicing your musical instrument
I run a Homework club every afternoon many kids come to.
I think homework should be differentiates and only given when appropriate. Students have enough to do at home and when possible multiple days should be provided. It should never be graded #bfc530
When I was in the classroom (Science T), if time was used wisely there wasn't any HW. Only "HW" ever was to review/study if needed, read (anything!) or to explore a topic they were interested in.
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My homework is classwork that is not finished in class. Most students finish in class. It is graded for completion only, 100% if on time, 90% if late (no matter how late). Most students will not gain mastery skills working at home, so I do my best to limit that. #bfc530
I'm no longer a classroom teacher, but I began to give less and less my last few years. Honestly, I would love a policy that only asks Ss to read for 20-30 minutes... ANYTHING they want to read! #bfc530
Good morning #bfc530! I don’t assign any homework. My class is quest based so kids always have the option to work on projects for homework if they choose. They know what they need to accomplish by end of the marking period so they can decide.
Ahh the homework question: Hate everything about it! As a parent it is biggest pain! Very disruptive to our family. As a technology Teacher I never give it. Who knows who is really doing it anyway. For all I know someone in Australia could be doing it;)
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Kathy-I love how instead of "fighting" board policy you made it work for you and the kids!!
20min reading/10min writing - I love that it's free choice!
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Morning! ☀️ In my class this yr, I will ask families if they want it for home (specific to their child’s goals). But I always encourage reading with their child and talking about their day. #BFC530
Effective educators follow-thru, #finishstrong, and follow up. Don't welcome that weekend mentality until Friday night. Don't short yourselves or the students quality Friday oppprtunities to #becomebetter. #bfc530
Let me say that yesterday my 5th grade daughter came home with a letter from her English/Social Studies teacher stating that she doesn't give homework because research doesn't support it & have them play, read, or spend time together. I want to hug that woman #bfc530
We try to limit it to 20-30 minutes per core class a night. My biggest point to my Ts is, make it MEANINGFUL & PURPOSEFUL. Busy work is neither #bfc530
Good morning everyone- I teach young students (grades 1 & 2) and I don't give HW. I want my students playing, relaxing, doing what their bodies/minds tell them they need to do to unwind. #bfc530
A standing HW assignment for my ELA class is to read daily and log it weekly. I’ll roll it out next week. Other work is mostly finishing/catching up from absence. #bfc530
I’m happy to say that my students often spend time outside of school working on projects because they WANT to not because they have to. Sometimes I get an email from a parent asking why I gave so much homework and my reply is that I don’t assign any homework #bfc530
Agreed, not graded for content. I understand reflecting on completion, but thats not a reflection of understanding. But Ts sometimes average that in too... #bfc530
#bfc530 Homework is dictated by the reading and writing series we use, but I am a firm believer that it has to be authentic, and that it should be developed to support good habits of regular reading and writing. No fake homework assignments "just to give homework."
3rd Ss read a book of their choice from 5-20 minutes, write a summarizing sentence and get their form signed. We have reading celebrations at the end of the year. 1-2 night math practice and this year will send home sight word cards on words they each struggle with. #bfc530
My homework is classwork that is not finished in class. Most students finish in class. It is graded for completion only, 100% if on time, 90% if late (no matter how late). Most students will not gain mastery skills working at home, so I do my best to limit that. #bfc530
Hacking Homework explains how we can make more use of the time we have in class and work with families to use home time to extend learning without making it burdensome https://t.co/Hxno0zfZRG via @amazon#bfc530
I give homework because I have to, but I keep it simple and easy. It is better to give kids the opportunity to sleep rather than work at home without the guidance of professionals. #bfc530
Agreed Dawn! When I was in the classroom I had a reading corner with all sorts of books, magazines etc. for the kids. It was a science class so kids thought it was weird at first but then realized their was some pretty "cool" stuff. I gave loaned & gave away many books!
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I assign practice sets on @khanacademy which Ss have class time to do the day after each #3actmath task. If they aren't finished (wasted time or still struggling) it becomes HW .
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The longer I taught, the less of a "policy" I had. Students had some long term projects that included work at home and we read books together. If I were teaching now, I'd try to have most of that work done in the classroom. #bfc530
We also don't know who did it and sometimes it reinforces wrong information. Students and families shouldn't be penalized for not being able to do the work as we expect it #bfc530
I give homework VERY rarely, and never a worksheet. More likely it is a short writing response or reflection on something we've done or talked about, or a project that is due a few days out. I'm not a believer that it should be required. #bfc530
It is a time policy... so at least there is flexibility. I was happy to say, "just read" so didn't challenge it. If I was still a classroom teacher, I might choose to challenge it now. #bfc530
We have parents who pressure teachers into providing homework, so it's become important to make it meaningful. I might set a video so we are not watching in class #bfc530
Absolutely! One of the reasons I typically dont give much. Ss have all different levels of support and the work given should require NO support, otherwise you are putting Ss at a disadvantage #bfc530
Reply on homework: W online and flipped class homework morphs into S readiness and S scaffolding to enter learning conversations Work in progress? Yes. #BFC530
HW completion does not count as a grade for mastery, rather it counts in a different grade book for Habits of Work and Learning. HW is an attempt or “try” if students want it. #bfc530
I'm not in the classroom, but I gave no homework when I was. My classes were project based with deadlines, so students had to work outside of class to meet deadlines, but no specific homework. #bfc530
Flipped classrooms require students to watch videos on a first attempt and the real heavy lifting is done in class with the teacher, that is the whole point of flipping the class... #bfc530
Going from “no homework” to lots of HW is tough on learners. In my district, I know there will be lots of HW in high school so I feel it is important to build some stamina for that in middle school. #bfc530
Good morning #BFC530. With my ELs homework is usually opportunities to practice orally, work on listening skills, or gain cultural information. Most hw consists of hands-on activities such as watching a newscast, recording a video etc.
In #wwprsd we have a district policy for no HW nights so that families can enjoy time together & specific parameters for HW so that it is purposeful. No HW except longterm independent research in my program. #bfc530
Good morning. Homework should be authentic and higher level learning. Busy work and memorization doesn’t make sense. The best homework you could do is read every night. This leads to better writing and comprehension skills. #bfc530
Happy Friday! Elaine IC from NJ checking in. My homework was very predictable: read for leisure and write about what you read along with some vocabulary building assignments. Everything was given on Monday and due on Friday. I am not a big fan of HW. #bfc530
We have parents who pressure teachers into providing homework, so it's become important to make it meaningful. I might set a video so we are not watching in class #bfc530
I fortunately only not have to assign homework, but if I did, I would ask that my kids read something, anything. Novel, newspaper, comic, just read something. #bfc530
In CT people run to be on our board of education. Anyone can run. They just need to be voted in. Small towns have a difficult time filling all the seats. How do other states do it? Certain policies are created by th boe. #BFC530
In #wwprsd we have a district policy for no HW nights so that families can enjoy time together & specific parameters for HW so that it is purposeful. No HW except longterm independent research in my program. #bfc530
That’s true! Some parents would tell me that I don’t give enough homework. 🤷🏽♀️ they didn’t understand that I value small group instruction and our class discussion a whole lot more. #BFC530
Have a great weekend everyone. I will be coaching my 2nd grade daughter in soccer for the first time tomorrow. I have coached other people's kids for years, excited I will be coaching one of my kids. Im out! #bfc530
Have a great weekend everyone. I will be coaching my 2nd grade daughter in soccer for the first time tomorrow. I have coached other people's kids for years, excited I will be coaching one of my kids. Im out! #bfc530
Today is #GVEPride day at our school so all - T's, staff & admin - will be in GVEPride apparel -many in jeans as well! Once the year gets going S's get in on the action as well!
#schoolcommunity#schoolpride#bfc530
In Philly we finally have a full day of school today! It’s been a slow start to the year. The heat has given us all half days of school so far. I’m actually looking forward to the rain today. Hopefully next week is cooler and we can get into the swing of things. #bfc530
#bfc530 The research is not convincing on homework particularly in Primary / Elementary. The research makes a distinction between Homework and Practice, the latter being beneficial particularly with older cohorts.
A few years ago, I was in denial about completing my first sprint triathlon. "There's NO way I can do that!" My younger brother encouraged: "Sure you can. Just start by putting one foot in front of the other." #bfc530#HamstraHighlights
Yes! We need to help our kids learn how to #Read4Fun! For too many reading is seen as a chore - unfortunately schools have done this to our kids. Time to get back to reading for pleasure!
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When I was a classroom teacher, I tried to only give homework that was short and made connections between home and school, reading and writing or shorts skills practice from time to time. Parents complained and I had to assign worksheets. #bfc530
Time for me to fly folks!
Hope everyone has a Freakishly Fantastic Friday!
Go forth and make someone's day awesome!
See you all on Monday my fabulous #bfc530 friends!
It all goes back to why we do things. Is it because that’s the way it’s always been done or is there something better for kids? I’m honored to be in a place that thinks about kids first. #BFC530
The same thing happened to me! They actually demanded packets of worksheets 🤷♀️ I tried to show them the research and explain the value of play but it didn’t work. #bfc530
I have mixed feelings about videos ... i like to watch them in class with the kids ... pause them to point out key details ... maybe prompt a discussion in the moment. Can't really do that when they are sitting at home. #bfc530
They inquire ... i am very blunt ... I went to college to learn History/Technology/Social Studies ... let me do my job ... you do the parenting ... all agree... they have just been programmed to think it is their job to do homework. #bfc530
HS Math: I believe in practicing fluency given different situations. It’s not given daily. When it is given, I believe in feedback instead of a grade. I’m either posting answers online or starting with it the next day. #bfc530
