A Solution for Homework

Just what is the purpose of homework and what value does it have in our children's schooling?

The typical answer is that it teaches responsibility and initiative. Another answer is that homework provides important practice for children on new concepts outside of the classroom.

These are the assumptions teaching and parents have been applying to homework for generations. However, we don't have any data that backs up these assumptions so they just stay assumptions and not fact.

Some teachers (http://bluebirdsclassroom.blogspot.com/2008/03/weird-homework-thing-we-do.html) are starting to adjust the way they do homework. There are basically three types of homework students. Those that will also do the homework and most likely do it correctly. Those who will do the homework but sometimes struggle with some of the questions and then finally those who won't be the homework at all. There are plenty of reasons they won't do it....they don't see it important, they don't have someone at home to encourage them, and a multitude of other reasons.

The teachers at the above site have changed their homework in an interesting way. They put 4 homework signs out at the beginning of the week. A student needs to turn in two of the assignments by the end of the week. Not only that they make the homework answers available for students so that students may check their answers as they work. However, they don't make the answers readily available...rather than only have them in the classroom and they only make 10 copies. They have seen their homework rates way up from where they were earlier.

I wondering if all schools should take a look at their homework policies. Perhaps something as posting some homework answers might make it possible for more students to complete their homework. Perhaps we even need to look at the amount and quality of the homework that we assign. If homework is truly practice doesn't the teacher have the obligation to review each student's homework assignments so they can determine whether or not the student has indeed learned the new concept. However, I don't think this happens very often. There simply isn't enough time in the day for a teacher to review each homework assignment with their class.

It has been a long time since we have evaluated our homework policies....but I think we need to do so. For anyone serving on that committee I would certainly recommend they research some of the changes other schools across the country have made with regards to homework.

A good start would be Alfie Kohn's book the Homework Myth.