Every teacher that spends more than a minute of their time deciding on an assignment, making the copies, distributing them to kids, collecting the papers, reviewing the homework in class (Please tell me you don't really do this anymore!), and grading homework should really pause. Actually, just STOP...give the kids a break for the night and read the research. Again, it's pretty clear...it doesn't make much difference so why are you spending so much time on it. Why, why, why give homework?
Teachers...isn't your time more valuable than this? Shouldn't the 'make every minute' count philosophy apply to how teachers spend their time both inside and outside the classroom? Is it even possible that a homework grade accurately represents a student's demonstration of a standard? (Again...please tell me that you're not really grading homework!)
Any parents reading this blog? Please take a minute to thank a teacher for not providing 20 math problems to complete at home, which the kids either already know how to do or don't know how to do...is it really extra practice? Is it the right kind of practice even if it's practice? Is it how you want them spending their time? Ok...so as a parent, you think that it's something that defines the 'rigor' of the school. Let me clarify....It really doesn't at all. I'm a parent of 4 and an educator. I have some experience in this area.
Ok, ok, ok...if you're still reading and haven't sent me a nasty email or comment...here's a couple exceptions that you might want to consider...flipping your class...send home a 2-minute screencast or video pre-teaching or re-teaching an important concept. That could be a valuable use of your time and the kids time. If they don't watch it, no worries, they could watch it in school the next day (if they even need to watch it.). You don't need to make a masterpiece...no retakes....just record, save, upload, and share. You might even find a video online that you could use...you don't even need to make one. Instead of parents giving their kids their phone to watch Minecraft videos on youtube or play Flappy Golf....they could say...watch this video of your teacher! (Ok...now all the NOT every kid has access to the internet people come out and yell. Seriously, try it for a year and then bring the argument to me.)
Or just ask them to read...read something that they like to read...develop a love of reading. What would the world be like if 1% more of the population loved reading? That's 3 million more people in the U.S. loving reading instead of hating school b/c of homework!
How about just asking them to 'think' about something when they go home that night...have them write down a thought-provoking question in their journal and have the parent initial it each night (if that's important to you and your parents). Then, you might be fostering some thinking...isn't that really what we want our kids to do?
There just has to be a better way to 'extend' learning outside of the school day if you find that to be necessary...let's seek the third way. Please share this and the article above to others...we can do better for our kids!
Anyway, as always, thanks for taking your valuable time reading this blog...I hope it was better spent than the time you spent on homework today!