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velvetpageOne of my parents wants to specifically discuss the small amount of homework their son is getting, and why.
I have a feeling my answer won't appeal to them, but here it is for your edification, at least:
1) The research shows that the traditional types of homework don't work - that is, they don't improve the student's learning or work habits as much as previous generations might have thought.
2) I can't mark work that goes home, because I can't tell for sure whose ideas are in it - the student's, or the parent's, or an older sibling's. So if it goes home before I've at least looked at a draft, I can't use it for marks. (I do occasionally ask students to finish almost-complete work at home, if I've looked at it and seen and that they're on the right track and their own ideas are sufficient.) I'll often ask a kid to do a good copy of a corrected draft at home for that reason.
3) Other types of learning should be taking place at home, and I'd rather not interfere extensively with those - karate, music, soccer, cooking with Mom, building things, and generally healthy play. As a corollary to that, I don't want either students or parents thinking that the things that are done in school can ONLY be assigned by a teacher, and are only valuable if a teacher sees them. If my kids come up with a story idea that doesn't fit the assignment I've given them, I tell them that I think they should write that story at home, and I'd be happy to look at it, because writing isn't something that should be limited to school. Ditto research ideas that we don't have the time for in school. Asking me to give more homework is a way of making sure all school-type activities are school-related, which is counter-productive. (I think this is the one they're most likely to see the point of.)
4) We're not into the part of the year when there will be lengthy projects. I have to teach them a lot more basics before we're ready for those. So for a couple more months, there will be a lot of little, mostly in-class assignments, and then we'll get projects that will involve an at-home component.
I have a feeling my answer won't appeal to them, but here it is for your edification, at least:
1) The research shows that the traditional types of homework don't work - that is, they don't improve the student's learning or work habits as much as previous generations might have thought.
2) I can't mark work that goes home, because I can't tell for sure whose ideas are in it - the student's, or the parent's, or an older sibling's. So if it goes home before I've at least looked at a draft, I can't use it for marks. (I do occasionally ask students to finish almost-complete work at home, if I've looked at it and seen and that they're on the right track and their own ideas are sufficient.) I'll often ask a kid to do a good copy of a corrected draft at home for that reason.
3) Other types of learning should be taking place at home, and I'd rather not interfere extensively with those - karate, music, soccer, cooking with Mom, building things, and generally healthy play. As a corollary to that, I don't want either students or parents thinking that the things that are done in school can ONLY be assigned by a teacher, and are only valuable if a teacher sees them. If my kids come up with a story idea that doesn't fit the assignment I've given them, I tell them that I think they should write that story at home, and I'd be happy to look at it, because writing isn't something that should be limited to school. Ditto research ideas that we don't have the time for in school. Asking me to give more homework is a way of making sure all school-type activities are school-related, which is counter-productive. (I think this is the one they're most likely to see the point of.)
4) We're not into the part of the year when there will be lengthy projects. I have to teach them a lot more basics before we're ready for those. So for a couple more months, there will be a lot of little, mostly in-class assignments, and then we'll get projects that will involve an at-home component.
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Date: 2007-12-06 03:13 pm (UTC)Thanks!