Edutopia

The real question we should be asking is, "What do we believe should happen after the end of the school day to help ensure that students retain what they have learned and are primed to learn more?" Any answer with the word, "work" in its name, as in "homework," is not typically going to be met with eagerness or enthusiasm by students. Ideally, we want children to understand that they are always learners. In school, we refer to them as "students" but outside of school, as children, they are still learners. A realistic homework strategy should be a key topic of back-to-school night and the first parent-teacher conferences of the school year. Home Activities That Matter the Most Children should be encouraged to read, write, perform arithmetic, better understand the world around them in terms of civics, science, and the arts, and, of course, develop their people skills -- their emotional intelligence. Parents Playing Their Part Reference Elias, M.

Replacing homework with sporting activities The research around the impact of homework on learning outcomes is not conclusive, and at times contradictory. If your school is considering stopping formal homework and encouraging students to do something else, what are the alternatives? Here’s one school’s approach. Richardson Primary School doesn’t have an after-school homework club; in fact, it doesn’t set formal homework. It was a different story when Principal Jason Borton arrived at the Canberra school four years ago. ‘There’s not an ACT [Australian Capital Territory] policy on homework, it’s a school-based decision. He says there were several issues with the old approach at Richardson Primary. ‘After watching the homework club for about a term, [I could see] kids were coming in there tired, irritable from the school day and then being expected to sit and do these boring worksheets – practising spelling words, etcetera … it was very uninspiring. The approach has also received strong support from the vast majority of parents.

How to create digital homework that students love US History teacher Jennifer Hesseltine combined TED-Ed Lessons with an interactive blackboard to create a digital homework space that students love. Let’s redesign homework. When’s the last time your students got excited to do homework? Or said things like, “Wow…just WOW. It is amazing how much is out there that we just don’t know about”? For her TED-Ed Innovation Project, US History teacher Jennifer Hesseltine created a digital homework space that students love. 1. You can either create a lesson using any engaging video of your choice, or simply customize an existing TED-Ed Original or TED-Ed Select lesson. 2. Give this homework space a fun title and a quick description. 3. If you need help sharing a customized lesson link, read this. “Wow…just WOW. 4. Students love TED-Ed lessons and the opportunity to learn. “TED-Ed videos are more fun than normal homework assignments.” 5. 6. 7. Tips:

edutopia The real question we should be asking is, "What do we believe should happen after the end of the school day to help ensure that students retain what they have learned and are primed to learn more?" Any answer with the word, "work" in its name, as in "homework," is not typically going to be met with eagerness or enthusiasm by students. Ideally, we want children to understand that they are always learners. A realistic homework strategy should be a key topic of back-to-school night and the first parent-teacher conferences of the school year. Home Activities That Matter the Most Children should be encouraged to read, write, perform arithmetic, better understand the world around them in terms of civics, science, and the arts, and, of course, develop their people skills -- their emotional intelligence. Some parents will select focused programs or after-school experiences to help foster their children's learning in one or more of the aforementioned areas. Parents Playing Their Part Reference

Primary school homework debate leading some parents to opt out Parents should make use of a little-known power to negotiate with teachers over the volume of homework set for their children. As the debate over the value of homework heats up again, Parents Victoria said it was a good idea to talk to teachers about homework and these discussions should include students. Some primary schools in New South Wales are allowing parents to opt their children out of homework, and others are reviewing their homework policies as time-poor families struggle to keep up with the extra schoolwork being sent home. Meanwhile, in Victoria, homework practices are under review, with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development considering recommendations from a 2014 parliamentary inquiry. That inquiry found strong evidence "and general agreement" that homework had almost no academic benefit for primary-school students, although it may help prepare them for secondary school. "I think that's probably a great idea. A Sydney mother's stand against homework

Research Trends: Why Homework Should Be Balanced Homework: effective learning tool or waste of time? Since the average high school student spends almost seven hours each week doing homework, it's surprising that there's no clear answer. Homework is generally recognized as an effective way to reinforce what students learn in class, but claims that it may cause more harm than good, especially for younger students, are common. Here's what the research says: Why Homework Should Be Balanced Homework can boost learning, but doing too much can be detrimental The National PTA and National Education Association support the "ten-minute homework rule," which recommends ten minutes of homework per grade level, per night (ten minutes for first grade, 20 minutes for second grade, and so on, up to two hours for 12th grade) (Cooper, 2010). Homework Pros and Cons Homework has many benefits, ranging from higher academic performance to improved study skills and stronger school-parent connections. Grade Level Makes a Difference Homework Across the Globe

edutopia Many teachers and parents believe that homework helps students build study skills and review concepts learned in class. Others see homework as disruptive and unnecessary, leading to burnout and turning kids off to school. Decades of research show that the issue is more nuanced and complex than most people think: Homework is beneficial, but only to a degree. Students in high school gain the most, while younger kids benefit much less. The National PTA and the National Education Association support the “10-minute homework guideline”—a nightly 10 minutes of homework per grade level. The guideline doesn’t account for students who may need to spend more—or less—time on assignments. However, the 10-minute guideline is useful in setting a limit: When kids spend too much time on homework, there are real consequences to consider. video Small Benefits for Elementary Students Moderate Benefits for Middle School Students In other words, it’s the quality of homework that matters, not the quantity.

Teacher’s bookshelf: Rethinking Homework Nine years after releasing Rethinking Homework: Best Practices That Support Diverse Needs, US education professor Cathy Vatterott is back with a second edition. The former teacher and principal says much has changed since the original publication, but the debate over whether school homework should be seen as essential, alienating or even harmful is an enduring one. Rather than eliminating homework all together, she suggests a new paradigm to guide educators in setting tasks that work for all students. ‘Students are often unmotivated to do homework because they do not perceive it as important. ‘What’s wrong with this picture? ‘Think about all the imperfections we accept from very young children as they learn skills like feeding and dressing themselves. ‘… Like those milestones in early childhood development, student ownership of homework is not perfect, but it is powerful. ‘How is student ownership of homework achieved? Create your own method to memorize your multiplication tables.

Homework is wrecking our kids: The research is clear, let's ban elementary homework “There is no evidence that any amount of homework improves the academic performance of elementary students.” This statement, by homework research guru Harris Cooper, of Duke University, is startling to hear, no matter which side of the homework debate you’re on. Can it be true that the hours of lost playtime, power struggles and tears are all for naught? That millions of families go through a nightly ritual that doesn’t help? Homework is such an accepted practice, it’s hard for most adults to even question its value. When you look at the facts, however, here’s what you find: Homework has benefits, but its benefits are age dependent. For elementary-aged children, research suggests that studying in class gets superior learning results, while extra schoolwork at home is just . . . extra work. Before going further, let’s dispel the myth that these research results are due to a handful of poorly constructed studies. This is what’s worrying. Then there’s the damage to personal relationships.