Homework

             Homework and independent assignments should be used as a tool to reinforce and practice the concepts developed in class. Allowing student the time to apply their knowledge and extend their learning will allow students to develop the concepts and skills taught in the classroom.

 Homework should never be new skills never practiced in the classroom. It is much harder to teach students to undo bad habits developed through faulty practicing, then to teach the concept right the first time. It is also important that all homework is meaningful and not just assigned to give homework. A student can demonstrate their knowledge of a concept by doing five to six problems. For example, it does not take thirty problems a night for a student to demonstrate what they know. If a student goes home and practices a skill wrong for thirty problems, they will develop bad habits. Less is more in this case.

Meaningful homework should be differentiated for all the students and allow the students to apply their knowledge they have already developed. Teaching fifth grade, I believe that all students should be reading every night. The text should be at their independent level. Students also need to have a purpose for reading. Completing reading logs every night based on a skill learned in the classroom will set this purpose for the students. For the ELL students, the reading log can be composed of graphic organizers to help organize their information. Visuals on the graphic organizers will also help support their understanding of the different reading skills. The key to all of this will be to model what is expected from the students and what a proficient reading log looks like.

Along with reading, student can have a variety of problems that are from any of the other subjects, but all the problems need to have an example for how to complete it and should never be more than five or six problems for each topic. At a fifth grade level, students should not have more than an hour homework, which included the thirty minutes of reading. The objective for any homework sent home is to apply their skills and demonstrate their learning. Most of my students do not have access to a computer, but for the ones that do, I encourage using it to support their learning. Students have an account with the math program my school has, which allows them to practice their skills online. Technology can be a wonderful tool if students have access to it.  

Students need to have feedback about their homework nightly. First thing in the morning, I will grade the homework and discuss any issues or how to improve on each assignment. Students also get to track their progress on a homework chart that charts their points and each night students give themselves an effort grade. Self monitoring one’s own learning is very powerful.