Rethinking
Homework
Homework…generations of parents and children have loved to
hate it. The debate over homework is an old one, with attitudes shifting over
the years. My opinion has shifted over
the years as well. When I went to school
it was expected that you would have homework every night. Nobody questioned it. As it turns out most of that homework was
simply busy work. I sure wish I could
have that time back.
As a teacher, I rarely gave
homework outside of preparing for an exam or finishing a project. I always made an effort to give the students adequate
time to work on assessments in class. All
subjects are unique and require varying levels of homework. Homework can help
students review and reinforce skills, but it cannot take the place of quality classroom
instruction. I do believe homework has
its time and place, but it clearly must have value.
It’s very important for educators to understand the
complexity and changing values of today’s families. Gone are the days when children received the
same messages about right in wrong from school, church, and at home. Vatterott (2009, p.33) states, “the diversity
of family values, family priorities, and individual differences in students
renders the one-size-fits-all homework plan virtually useless.” It is not our place to judge families based on
our values. We need to be careful that they are not punishing children that
have extenuating circumstances beyond their control. However, there needs to be a balance where we
are still challenging all students.
There has to be cooperation among the teachers to make sure
students aren't inundated with homework. There also has to be communication between
teachers, administration and parents. We need to develop relationships with
students that are built on trust, respect, and mutual understanding. Through these relationships we can learn more
about our students and become more flexible with expectations and homework.
