The Great Homework Debate

I am a keyboarding teacher therefore I don't give a lot of homework assighnments. However, I am a parent and I feel homework is very important. I feel it helps develop good study habits.

I am a substitute teacher so I don't really assign homework, but I have seen the different amounts of homework teachers give. It obviously changes from grade to grade. However, it is common for most teachers in the building (including my mother who teaches 4th grade) to give out the following on a nightly basis: at least 20 minutes of reading a night, spelling (whether it be a packet, workbook pages, or to study words), math (packet, worksheets, workbook pages, etc.), and some type of science or social studies homework (depending on the unit they are on). I do think homework is necessary because it helps develop responsibility and good study habits; however, too much homework can be detrimental to the student.
I found this topic to be particulary interesting because I am currently reading a book recommended to me by my Vice Principal called "Rethinking Homework: Best Practices that Support Diverse Needs” by Cathy Vatterott. I have really enjoyed reading this book and I thought I would recommend it to all of you. Vatterott presents both sides of the pro-homework vs. anti-homework debate, but chooses to focus on a different approach that supports quality over quantity of work. Her approach encourages children to get homework done, but not punishing them too harshly if they cannot. I highly recommend this book and hope it helps!

Thanks for sharing the book recommendation, Emma. I'm definitely going to check it out. I teach fifth grade, and the homework issue is something I've been struggling with. Some parents tell me I give too much, others complain I don't give enough. I always tell parents at our Open House that homework should never take more than an hour, maximum.

At the beginning of the year I explain to students that the only days that they will possibly have homework is Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Knowing this seems to put them at ease. When they do have homework, it is usually no more than 10 problems. I make sure that we start the assignment in class and have had practice with the skill. My hope is that they put it away and get it out again when they get home. This serves a couple of purposes: One, to see if they have retained the information from the days lesson, and two, to help them become more productive and responsible citizens by remembering their homework. It works well for me because it gives me a break a couple of days they didn't have an assignment and allows them to be better mathematicians. I rarely have complaints from parents. Most are able to see what their kids are working on through the problems that they have already started and sometimes are able to help them.

Hey all, I teach high school math. I do believe homework is important on occasion, but by no means do I assign it 5 nights a week. I try to average 2-3 nights a week where they should be taking work home. The other days we would be doing stirctly in class work which must be completed before they leave class. The problem with homework seems to be that some kids will not do it either way, others will just copy it to get it done, and some will get it done without taking it home. Few actually will take it home and sit down and take time to complete it. Therefore for many kids homework is not really homework. It is not viewed as practice problems to help them learn the material and be successful. It is seen as something that is worth points towards your final grade.

I teach third grade and each night I assign a math sheet with ten problems that represent a mix of skills, a DOL type sheet, and a reading passage with 5 questions. I used to assign a reading log but since the students are doing so much independent reading and responding during reader's workshop this year, I no longer require the log to be completed. Twice a week I give optional math challenge homework. If it is turned in, I count it as extra credit. Throughout the week I give out "brain tickets" to students demonstrating good thinking. Students write their names on the tickets and put them in a special box. Each Friday I pull two tickets out of the box and those students can choose a pass as a reward. There are many types of passes but No Homework passes are the most popular. I also throw a homework party at the end of each month for all students that miss two or less nights of homework that month. This has been so popular that homework completion is generally 100% by January.

I teach third grade and each night I assign a math sheet with ten mixed review problems, a DOL sheet, and a short reading passage with five questions. I used to assign a reading log but since my students are doing so much independent reading and responding during reader's workshop this year, I

I teach third grade and each night I assign a math sheet with ten mixed review problems, a DOL sheet, and a short reading passage with five questions. I used to assign a reading log but since my students are doing so much independent reading and responding during reader's workshop this year, I no longer assign a reading log. Twice a week I pass out optional math challenge homework. If it is turned in, I count it as extra credit. Understanding the busy nature of kids and families, I allow two missed nights of homework per month and at the end of each month, we have game day to celebrate with all students that have two or less missed nights of homework. This has proven to be so successful that my homework completion rate is close to 100% by December. I also give out "brain tickets" throughout the day to students that demonstrate good thinking. The students write their names on the tickets and put them in a special box. Each Friday I pull two tickets and those students can select a pass as a reward. There are many passes to choose but "no homework" passes are the most popular.

I am a first grade teacher . My grade level team plans homework together. We have a homework sheet with four blocks for four weeks. On the front of the sheet we have spelling homework for each day of the week. On the back in each of the four blocks is math or grammar homework for each day of the week except Friday (no homework). The students copy the problems in a notebook and turn it in the next day.
There are five or less math or grammar problems for each day. The parents know the homework for four weeks at a time. Our math and grammar homework is review concepts that we have already taught for extra practice. At our school we follow the same policy about the time for working on homework (1st-10 min., 2nd- 20 min. etc.). I do give less work for my special education students. The goal of homework for our grade level team is to practice the skills we have already taught. I also allow my students to work on homework while waiting on their bus. Some students get home late and don't have support at home, so if I can help them, I will. I still make them take it home to show their parents.
Thanks Emma for the book suggestion. I look forward to reading it and sharing it with my colleagues.

I am a first grade teacher. My grade level team plans homework together. We have a homework sheet with four blocks for four weeks. On the front of the sheet we have spelling homework for each day of the week. On the back in each of the four blocks is math or grammar homework for each day except Friday (no homework). The students copy the problems in a notebook and turn it in the next day. There are five or less math or grammar problems for each day. The parents know the homework for four weeks at a time. Our math and grammar homework are review concepts that we have already taught for extra practice. At our school we follow the same policy about the time for working on homework (1st-10 min., 2nd- 20 min. etc.). I do give less work for my special education students. The goal of homework for our grade level team is to practice the skills we have already taught. I also allow my students to work on homework while waiting on their bus. Some students get home late and don't have support at home, so if I can help them, I will. I still make them take it home to show their parents.
Emma, thanks for the book suggestion. I am looking forward to reading it and sharing it with my colleagues.