#vachat Archive
#vachat is a great way for Virginia educators to share teaching strategies, educational resources, and more.
Monday April 11, 2016
8:00 PM EDT
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Good evening & welcome to I understand we have some new folks tonight! Tell us who you are, where your are located, & what you do!
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You can also tell us what you are planning to do to maintain your stamina and sanity over the last 9ish weeks of school!
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Megan Campbell- High School History/Econ Fauquier
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Christine. Elementary gifted. Charlottesville. I'm going to remember to take time for me. Ha. I'll try anyway. .
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Plan a spring fest with SCA. It's making the days fly by!
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Good evening. Reed, HS AP from Charlottesville. Never had a problem with stamina since I love my job. Sanity, that's another story
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My name is Phil, I am an AP in Williamsburg, VA & I am your moderator for tonight. I will be training for the Marine Corp Marathon!
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Sanity... we have a runner!!!
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Awesome! I have yet to get past a half. Training for a full is no joke!
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So many great chats! Def. worth staying up late night. Greetings from the UK.
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education is like the Heller quote.
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It will be my first one! I just ran half number 3 and I have 3 more scheduled for this year!
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No kidding. Monday's are loaded with many great chats all follow tonight
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Q1 coming up in 1 minute. Don't forget to add to the end of each tweet!
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Hi All! Rebecca, elementary principal from Henrico County.
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Great to have you with tonight
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Margo Isabel lower school head at finally on Twitter after a month away
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impressive. I just signed up for a 15K which will be my longest run.
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Q1: Homework is the topic for tonight... What do you feel is the proper amount of homework for students?
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Welcome back! Sometimes we all need to step away from technology!
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That's a good run! I did the Monument Ave. 10K on Saturday.
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Me too! Hope you had a good run!
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rule of thumb is 10 minutes per grade level plus independent or family reading, project time may vary. But this is not a set rule
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A1: At the elementary level: 0. Though, a caveat is that doesn't include reading. Ss should be reading or being read to every night.
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A1: Students need substantial homework to make sure the topics taught that day are reinforced at home.
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I would like to see students just read! (elementary) Maybe even practice math facts.
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Set a PR, but... since I'm slow as molasses, that isn't as impressive as it sounds!
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Research suggests the positive effects of HW relate to amount student completes not time spent on HW
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A1 First tchr/school must determine universal goals of . All on the same page??
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Why just reading? Why not support math at home or study for the science and history lesson they learned that day.
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That's great. It was a slow run for me, I couldn't get into the groove as my music decided not to work!
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A1: Going off of this- not sure time matters as much as inability for Ss to complete mindlessly (HS) https://t.co/kKV8oACYbu
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Research suggests the positive effects of HW relate to amount student completes not time spent on HW
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SO shouldn't they be completing it all... I mean the teacher assigned it1
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Because if a S is reading widely - they're getting science and history in their books. Math: cooking w/parents.
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Glad I could make it-from WI!
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ugh! mine stopped after 48 minutes.... put on the wrong playlist!
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Oh, I do love that answer!
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A1: HW for my classes is almost nonexistent. I found that I can be more effective if assignments are done during classtime
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A1: I'm not saying learning stops. HW, usually worksheets isn't the way to go. There are better ways to reinforce learning.
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I know someone whose Kindergarten tchr assigned a science project for homework. Parent's homework.
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I found the same thing. Taught HS Math and finally ditched HW.
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Instead of focusing on time
create HW that maximizes the chances Ss will complete it--has to be at appropriate level
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Which means some Ss are already unforgivably disadvantaged before the first lick of work is done. -5
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Q2: If a teacher does give homework, what should it look like and/or contain?
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I will say it. Assigning homework in kindergarten is so many levels of wrong.
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Thanks and
This is such an interesting issue without sure answers https://t.co/AGmfCutQl6
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I found the same thing. Taught HS Math and finally ditched HW.
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why would one ever give homework that was not the app. Level?
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but doesn't that take away from your instructional time and punish students that will complete homework at home?
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Can we all agree on this? https://t.co/1vAnUcISgW
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I will say it. Assigning homework in kindergarten is so many levels of wrong.
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Also-that Ss will not copy-lots of "collaboration" with smartphones- HW should involve critical thinking
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How do we assess amount? Individualized according to Ss need/ability??
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A2: I don't know. If you already know it, why are you doing hw? If you need help with it, why are you doing it w/o guidance?
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Because differentiation requires more work & some Ts would say that it it's way of getting caught up
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If you give blanket homework across the class, it will be below some and above others, wouldn't it?
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BTW I don't agree with what I just said--just saying
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I would like to see more authentic assignments, measuring the room, cooking with a family member, writing instructions A2
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Q2: HW should be meaningful. Not just multitudes of mindless repetition. I prefer HW that is a reinforcement/review from class
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It took a S who got a 100 on every vocab test I gave w/o ever doing hw to make me realize he was correctly prioritizing his time.
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Is it weird-- I loved doing HW with my parents in kindergarten... Not sure this is an argument-just true https://t.co/74Qr0LvbdV
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Can we all agree on this? https://t.co/1vAnUcISgW
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I will say it. Assigning homework in kindergarten is so many levels of wrong.
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Who thinks they are giving meaningless homework?
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K Ss, especially those behind need to spend extra time working on letters, words, and numbers at home, where else
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Great point! Almost every teacher feels their work is meaningful
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Q2: Critical Thinking. Answers not online. Reinforcing/expanding material.
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Hey Sam! How are things! Glad we can agree on this!
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I'm a parent of 5 kids. I have yet to see anything of value come home :/
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Q3: What do students learn/gain from doing homework?
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Going back to time thing: I know it took me longer than most to complete my calculus HW. It did push me to my best
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But is it also necessary to accomplish learning/mastery of the topic. When does it become overkill?
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Wow, now that is strong... why would you say it isn't of value?
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It's all good, Reed. Hope same. Yes, not a fan of HW, especially for our kinders. https://t.co/fBDqZU64lD
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Hey Sam! How are things! Glad we can agree on this!
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Never met a tchr who DID NOT that their wasn't meaningful.
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A3: In theory: organizational skills, time management, how to suck up doing work that is often boring and seemingly pointless.
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A3: In reality: how to lie convincingly on reading logs, how to do as little as possible with as little thought as possible.
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Good point. Recent HS grads talk about time mngmnt being mst valuable thing they learned /didn't learn in HS https://t.co/cQXWZZnoWh
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A3: In theory: organizational skills, time management, how to suck up doing work that is often boring and seemingly pointless.
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A3: don't they learn responsibility?
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disagree. I think reflective Ts reevaluate HW effectiveness/meaningfulness.
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I sound more than a little cynical, but working with 5/6 grs helped me learn that much of what I thought was good wasn't.
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A3 these questions are tough. I think some philosophical beliefs many times don't match with what happens in practice
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A3: Hopefully Ss will learn (i.e. retain) the knowledge that was the focus of class instruction. But Ts should supervise it in class
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Hattie: task-oriented HW/practice has higher effects than deep learning, problem solving.
So A3: Perfect Practice
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isn't that the truth! especially when our beliefs go against the grain of established educational practices.
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So are you saying that you don't believe in homework?
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HW should have purpose. If tchr can't decide purpose, why do it? In elem, hw should b very minimal.
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Agreed! What are acceptable purposes for HW?
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How are philosophical beliefs honed: individual tchr, admin, school district, parents, students??
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Some Ts I know would say the purpose is for a grade... response to that?
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Students must be able to do HW independently but not fluently.
Again, each student is different; have to plan for this
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Q4: HS students take AP classes & Dual enrollment classes. Shouldn't they expect a great deal of HW? How much is too much per class?
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that depends on need for stu. Not every stu has 2have same HW. Not do all Ss need HW. Don't give to just give.
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great ? I like what was said earlier about establishing goals for HW as a school. That would help.
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Like when my daughter had to do 40+ ?s of the same thing to find the answer to the math riddle?
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And given the amount of social media out there, I found that in class Ss can do solo as well as group assmts better
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So are we talking which can be reward/punish vs assessment which is informative?
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the only issue is, we seem to want to set goals for everything.
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A4: I don't have HS experience so..I'm abstaining. AP/Dual Enrollment should expect more HW, but I don't know how much is too much.
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grade their HW assignments? What about equity? HS: yes, but I wouldn't. Elem: no way. MS: not sure
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How much of homework is collaborative effort: parent AND student vs.student ONLY?
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A4: AP & DE classes are dif. They require a measure of self-teaching. But Ss s/b reading, writing and comprehending w/Ts help in HS
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A4: Expect more for college level classes.
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that's right. Or it is a babysitting tool for home.
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A4: my daughter has 2 AP classes this semester and she spends between 12-18 hours a week on HW for just these 2 classes.
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See even can't agree. Research vs Research. Need to focus on improving what we do first and foremost
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Just talked my rising 9th gr niece out of taking AP at Monticello for similar reasons.
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A4: If I was giving more than an hr per night I would question the usefulness.
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You so just inspired Q5...
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And the challenge of that is?? ? ?
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However, especially in science, and history.
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not sure how that can be quantified. That's why there is a equity element to it.
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So after a full day at school, maybe sports, band or a part time job students should spend 3more hours a night doing HW?
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A4: No S should be expected to go from classes until 3- to effective HW until bed.
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I've taught APUSH. There was reading source docs as part of discussion in class. Maps and interpretations were assmts
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research is a good starting point but even research can't speak to your classroom & your stu needs.
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Unrealistic to expect that every night. HW will not be effective.
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By not assigning HW, I have Ss asking for it when they're interested in a topic. I'm having trouble keeping up!
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Some students can handle 4-5 AP classes; others can't. Need to know our students and have realistic expectations
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APUSH is her nightmare... 12-18 hours a week of HW. Brand new T.
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If student does NOT complete or do HW, is that a discipline OR a motivational challenge? How do we know?
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When do Ss sleep and have family time? Even AP Ss need these.
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Nah! They're practicing for college when they only come home to do laundry.
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we wonder Y creativity is sometimes lacking. We work them so that their free time is wasted on school
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Or neither. Family obligations, work, not an environment to do work at home
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Q5: (2 parts) I recently had a P tell me they wanted their child in a certain Class next year. as they were the best. How did they
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Yes. This. A million times this. https://t.co/PVLaHkHxkp
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we wonder Y creativity is sometimes lacking. We work them so that their free time is wasted on school
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So is that an instructional error on the part of the tchr? As a parent what do you say?
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Not too mention the sleep deprivation that comes from the HW load.
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Typical overkill. Mine never had more than 1 hr/class. Mostly reading. some interpretative work.
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Q5: know, that T gave the most HW. How do we combat this perception? (part 2)
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I've had parents call me on my HW. Maybe I didn't always appreciate right then, but hey were often right
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The chapter outlines can take 5 or more hours... 2 outlines a week on average.
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A4 Most HS tchrs must create a course syllabus. Shouldn't HW and grading policies be ARTICULATED clearly? Welcome to Success!
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a5: A lot of people equate amount of HW with quality of education. We need to combat this. How do we best do this
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gr8 question. Trickle down HW problem. Perception of HW or HW in college in general needs to change to fit 21st c stu.
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So how do we/can we hold students/parents ?
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A5: More HW doesn't equal better instruction. Combating this means better use of classtime. Ts should teach & help in class
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Just wondering, how does flipped classroom factor into our homework convo?
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A5: I don't know how you tackle that delicately or diplomatically. I've had some push back on my no HW stand this year.
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I hope you feel compelled to jump in on at least one Q!
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A5: My 9th graders were taught historiography & created amazing projects b/c of it.
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if schools continue to push for more then assignments will change too. This could help change perception as well.
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there is an assumption that the best Ts give the most HW.
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A5: If teaching were easy, anyone could do it.
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Q6 one minute.... can't believe we are almost out of time!
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A5: Move to standards based. You will never hear that your class is easy because of few HW. =)
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So the best doctors give the most medication? Ts have to work in class to give the best instruction and help.
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So what would that take? Whose responsibility would it be to get the ball rolling?
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Yet many of our policy makers seem to believe that
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Q6: If you could make one change to your school/county/division HW policy, what would it be?
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Ha!Ha! "Those who Can Do and those who CANNOT ."
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You know... this could be why antibiotics are wildly over-prescribed...
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Don't get me started on that! Just because they were Ss doe NOT mean they can be Ts!
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the principal should start the dialog
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We were so on the same page!
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i would hope that PLCs and groups of teachers collectively examine homework for its value
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A6: To have a thoughtfully articulated policy at any one of those levels. One that involved conversations, reading, etc.
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Those who can teach. Those who can't become politicians that tell Ts how to "teach".
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A6: I just googled ours because I wasn't sure what it was... So maybe making it more known?
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A6 one assignment a week that involves the family, at least one member of the family
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I'd put in charge of it https://t.co/wVSbTKDesb
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Q6: If you could make one change to your school/county/division HW policy, what would it be?
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A6: 85%ish of HW should not be a worksheet
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Do you articulate your philosophy in WRITING (part of a syllabus) ? Ask for input from parents?
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IMO, best case @ elementary: send home what you're doing and ways parents can reinforce it at home. Not mandated. Not worksheets.
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Great point, do we know it or just think we know it! https://t.co/T6vYr1dWxR
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A6: I just googled ours because I wasn't sure what it was... So maybe making it more known?
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But that's assuming there's a family that available and wanting. Not the case for many
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I'm the gifted specialist, so I pull different Ss at different times. In the past, HW has come from this quarter.
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I have had parents that this may be very difficult after the 3rd grade...
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Agreed. With flexibility of when, and understanding the who would certainly be important.
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A6: Don't know what the HW policy is here. I'd say the best policy is to limit HS to no more that 1 hr/class
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What a great hour ers! I hope our new folks feel welcome and contribute next time. Why? We are only as strong as our contributors!
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Unfortunately, we have students even younger than that for which it would be difficult. First post!
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I often had a frustration clause as part of my HW policy. Ps had the right (& were encouraged) to sign HW that was causing issues.
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