As a veteran teacher of some 30+ years working in inner city schools (and who still is engaged in classrooms as a substitute teacher) I recognize that setting homework is very important aspect in a child's learning... but not ...primarily... as 'a reinforcement of learning' or 'an encouragement to learn self- discipline and time management' - valuable though such things are!!

The PRIMARY value of homework is in the 1:1 teacher: student communication involved.

In a previous post I have mentioned that, on average, a teacher can only give between 10-15 minutes of individual 1:1 time with their students per week!

This is because the teacher has to present their information to the whole class at any one time and reasonably presumes, that unless told otherwise, all the students clearly understand the task set before them.

This simple fact speaks clearly to the necessity of

a) students using the ‘magic word’ “Help!” whenever they do not understand and

b) equally parents talking in depth with their child about what has been happening in their child’s classroom!

I have touched on these in previous posts and it is helpful to recall them now!

What is ‘good’ homework?

The exact nature of a homework assignment would be as varied as the subject any child is taking at their school, however the key component that I would look for is ‘engagement’.

I frequently say in the classroom to students that “knowledge and understanding is like dirt… the more you handle it, the more it sticks to you!” and encourage them to do a LOT more than simply passively read their textbook!

This means that anything set as a homework that can stimulate creativity and any personal interpretation is going to be valuable.

Quality homework should reflect Quality teaching!

Any form of student assessment that does not engage students’ understanding is … let’s be real…. pretty darned useless!

As mentioned in a previous post I overheard a student talking to his friend about his ‘having a grade of B-‘ in a particular teacher’s class but admitting ‘he didn’t know why as he didn’t understand anything (about the information that he was being presented with by that teacher) in that class!’

That’s appalling!!

To me he was simply being presented with that required of him little comprehension but just compliance with simple tasks!

As a teacher who has achieved National Board Certification, I am acutely aware of the type of activities needed to engage students’ understanding as well as the teacher’s needs to manage a classroom, generate meaningful assessment of each student’s learning and meet the criteria required of them from the School Board as expressed by administrators.

The absence of homework being set in my view is therefore NOT a good thing and to my way of thinking puts more significance on the need for parents talking in depth with their child and contacting with the teachers of their child about what is happening in the classroom!

I recently was chatting to a group of students and asked them this question: “Why do some of you actually DO homework and then NOT hand it in?” (I confessed that it really didn’t make sense to me at all!) They replied, in all honesty, that when that happens it’s because they simply forget and admitted that they are not very organized! As we continued to chat, I commended to them that they would all be very well served by getting an organizer which are so inexpensive and use it to improve their GPS.

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