Comments on: How much homework is enough? http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/ Elona Hartjes shares the insights, resources and practical classroom strategies that have earned her A Teacher of Distinction Award. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:31:20 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: john mccain http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-54108 john mccain Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:55:49 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/#comment-54108 That was a fabulous read That was a fabulous read

]]> By: Elona Hartjes http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-38712 Elona Hartjes Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:28:44 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/#comment-38712 Harvey, Thanks for your insight. Harvey,
Thanks for your insight.

]]> By: Harvey Craft http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-38704 Harvey Craft Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:09:19 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/#comment-38704 Homework should not be graded. It is (or should be)a formative assessment. Summative assessments are what we grade-- tests, quizzes, etc. Teachers who give a check for homework and turn that check into a grade are violating some major principals of grading. If you want homework to count and increase the probability that it will be done, then tie it directly to standards. Be sure students understand that homework items will appear on summative assessemnts. One way to do this is to assign standards related homework on Monday-Thursday, discuss it thoroughly in class, teach the standards it addresses. Don't check it off! Don't lecture students who don't do it. Simply go on with your homework (standards) review and instruction. Give a test (quiz) on the week's standards. Students will catch on to what you're doing if you are consistent, and they will understand that failure to do homework means that they are missing an opportunity to study, day by day, for a quiz. If students do well even though they don't do the homework, WHO CARES? Isn't learning the idea? Some will complete the homework, some won't. It's not personal-- don't make it so by preaching on the virtues of homework. After all, the value of homework as it is typically used is of highly questionable value. Teachers, do your homework and research the many studies re: homework. Homework should not be graded. It is (or should be)a formative assessment. Summative assessments are what we grade– tests, quizzes, etc.

Teachers who give a check for homework and turn that check into a grade are violating some major principals of grading.

If you want homework to count and increase the probability that it will be done, then tie it directly to standards. Be sure students understand that homework items will appear on summative assessemnts.

One way to do this is to assign standards related homework on Monday-Thursday, discuss it thoroughly in class, teach the standards it addresses. Don’t check it off! Don’t lecture students who don’t do it. Simply go on with your homework (standards) review and instruction.

Give a test (quiz) on the week’s standards. Students will catch on to what you’re doing if you are consistent, and they will understand that failure to do homework means that they are missing an opportunity to study, day by day, for a quiz. If students do well even though they don’t do the homework, WHO CARES? Isn’t learning the idea?
Some will complete the homework, some won’t. It’s not personal– don’t make it so by preaching on the virtues of homework. After all, the value of homework as it is typically used is of highly questionable value.

Teachers, do your homework and research the many studies re: homework.

]]> By: homework revolution | Leading From The Heart http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-31535 homework revolution | Leading From The Heart Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:28:30 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/#comment-31535 [...] just read a post by Elona Hartjes at Teachers at Risk on homework and came across this wonderful twist on homework: I like Damion Frye’s approach to [...] [...] just read a post by Elona Hartjes at Teachers at Risk on homework and came across this wonderful twist on homework: I like Damion Frye’s approach to [...]

]]> By: Elona Hartjes http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-19228 Elona Hartjes Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:31:09 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/#comment-19228 Zachary, Thanks for your input. 12 problems sounds like enough to me.Your new math class sounds interesting. I like the way it's divided up into learning and hands on activities. Zachary,
Thanks for your input. 12 problems sounds like enough to me.Your new math class sounds interesting. I like the way it’s divided up into learning and hands on activities.

]]> By: Zachary Gentle http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-19224 Zachary Gentle Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:12:27 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/#comment-19224 I am a stundent at Wheaton North High School it is a very nice school in education and sports.One of the new things that they have tryed this year is getting 2 math class the frist half is learning and the 2nd half is hands on we only get 12 problems a night but I think thats enough for math class. Zachary Gentle #22 Freshman at Wheaton North High School I am a stundent at Wheaton North High School it is a very nice school in education and sports.One of the new things that they have tryed this year is getting 2 math class the frist half is learning and the 2nd half is hands on we only get 12 problems a night but I think thats enough for math class.

Zachary Gentle #22 Freshman at Wheaton North High School

]]> By: Ben http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-12574 Ben Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:34:06 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/#comment-12574 The school system in Australia, is basically Primary school (Prep and then Grades 1 - 6) & Secondary school (Years 7 -12). I went from a no homework primary school to a homework every night secondary school (this was just short of three decades ago). At my second secondary school I grew to loath homework. I was never shown any skills in essay writing or maths. Homework became a screaming match between myself and mystepfather. I received no help from my parents either. The only good thing was that I grew up without a TV as a teenager so I read a lot. The third secondary school I went to was the best experience of my life. It was small and the majority of the students were the outcasts of the other local high schools. Once the other students warmed up to me I really improved my literacy and numeracy because the teachers encouraged me to help the other students. This lead me to a better understanding of my subjects because I had to think about how I could explain it to the other students. I also learnt some things from the other students teaching me. With my oldest boy starting Primary school next year, and with homework starting in Grade 1, I'll be in for some intersting times ahead. The school system in Australia, is basically Primary school (Prep and then Grades 1 – 6) & Secondary school (Years 7 -12). I went from a no homework primary school to a homework every night secondary school (this was just short of three decades ago). At my second secondary school I grew to loath homework. I was never shown any skills in essay writing or maths. Homework became a screaming match between myself and mystepfather. I received no help from my parents either. The only good thing was that I grew up without a TV as a teenager so I read a lot. The third secondary school I went to was the best experience of my life. It was small and the majority of the students were the outcasts of the other local high schools. Once the other students warmed up to me I really improved my literacy and numeracy because the teachers encouraged me to help the other students. This lead me to a better understanding of my subjects because I had to think about how I could explain it to the other students. I also learnt some things from the other students teaching me.

With my oldest boy starting Primary school next year, and with homework starting in Grade 1, I’ll be in for some intersting times ahead.

]]> By: homework revolution « leading from the heart http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-12362 homework revolution « leading from the heart Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:25:49 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/10/09/how-much-homework-is-enough/#comment-12362 [...] Posted on October 10, 2007 by Tracy Rosen I just read a post by Elona Hartjes at Teachers at Risk on homework and came across this wonderful twist on homework: I like Damion Frye’s approach to [...] [...] Posted on October 10, 2007 by Tracy Rosen I just read a post by Elona Hartjes at Teachers at Risk on homework and came across this wonderful twist on homework: I like Damion Frye’s approach to [...]

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