Homework (Again...)

To follow up the post from last week, I wanted to share an article with you that I found while doing some personal PD recently.  The article discusses some wide bearing studies about homework, not only in the US, but in countries around the world.  I think that some of the information presented will surprise.  I believe that some of the information presented will only re-affirm what you already know about homework.

Click here to read the article.

Questions to Consider:
1.  How much homework is too much:  Do you know how much an average length of time a student in your class works on homework in a week?  Challenge yourself to think of a number and then ask some students to see how close you are.
2.  The article talks about repeating instruction.  What do you think of repeating instruction or reteaching?  When do you do it, how do you know when to do it?
3.  Does homework you gave in class reinforce learning, extend learning or help you gauge learning?

Meaningful Homework

Homework has been around since the beginning of school.  Discussions about homework have been around since the beginning of school also.

What constitutes meaningful homework in your room?  How often do you give homework?  What is the purpose of the homework that you give?

The above questions are for you to consider.  Below is a link to a short video that can be found on the teaching channel website.  Take a look at it and see how this teacher views homework.


View the video here.

Questions To Consider:
1.  Is it useful for students to talk about homework in a group setting and then share out about it?
2.  Can you be comfortable with assigning homework and not "taking a grade" on it?
3.  Should homework be an extension of the classroom or a way to show mastery of content?

Wait Time

We are in the business of asking questions.  We ask questions to our students, to our leaders and to the parents/guardians of our students.  Asking questions helps to gather feedback and information.  Previously this Blog has been written about feedback and its importance.  But we often ask questions that we are more than willing to answer ourselves and do so quickly.  Sometimes it is important to remember we are asking the question for a reason.  To find out what someone else knows.  In most cases, we know the answer and we want to know if others do.  Wait time is a struggle for educators.  It is good to be reminded of the importance of wait time.

Here is an article from Mary Laverty Bigelow .  The article is about wait time.


Here are some questions to consider:

1.  Do you have a method of ensuring you are waiting a sufficient time for answers?
2.  Do students recognize your wait time and help to clarify/rephrase questions in your room?
3.  How can "wait time" become a "game changer" in your classroom as the article mentioned?

Building Relationships

Building Relationships with students is the most important "to do" for educators as a year starts.  In saying that, building relationships is maybe the most important part of the whole school year.  Students have reported in many surveys and research studies that they value having direct contact with the adults that work with them at their schools.

Here is an article from @pernilleripp  Nicholas Provenzano.

Here are some questions to consider after reading the article.

1.  What do you think of the three methods listed in the article to build relationships?
2.  What other methods do you use to build relationships with students?
3.  Think about past built relationships with students and how it helped the student succeed.