Set The Hook.
Follow me:
  • Home
  • Fishin' Solo Blog
  • MTBoS
  • Table Talk Math
  • The Classroom Chef
  • Would You Rather...?
  • Meet the Fisherman
    • Resume
  • Flipping 2.0
    • Flipping Your Classroom
    • Troubleshooting a flipped classroom
  • Choose Your Own Assessment
    • Student Work Samples
  • Apps In Class
  • Pre-made Math Lessons

The Homework Struggle Continues

10/24/2013

1 Comment

 
To a fault, I care about my kids.  Every single one of them takes up space in my heart and mind.  When planning lessons and pacing, I try to think of as many learners as possible.  Of course, it's tough to get all 185 accommodated for 180 school days, but it's worth a shot.  My latest ear to the ground has told me that kids hate homework.
OK, so even the deaf could hear a student whisper about homework and their disdain for it.  Even still, multiple high school geometry students have come to me and complained about the workload that they are experiencing and their extracurricular activities. On top of that, there is always a kindling ready to be set ablaze on the Twitterverse about homework.

I stopped giving homework.  It felt good, too.  Nothing to grade on a nightly basis. Kids come in less stressed.  Students are appreciative and it feels like there is a better relationship because of my willingness to listen to their requests. None of these are the real reasons that I stopped.

I have been trying to make an effort to improve my lessons.  While students are in my room, I want them to get a full dose of the content.  Homework is unnecessary if students get the work done that they need in order to truly grasp a concept.  After all, a meaningful lesson will stick in the minds of human beings.

The problem?  It didn't.  We just took a quiz, a pretty heavy one, that was inclusive of everything we had done in the past 4 weeks.  I guess it wasn't a quiz.  It was a summative assessment.  One that told me what my students really knew.  What did they "know"? The average score was a 64%.  AKA it was awful, and if it was a true reflection of what we've been doing, it was that the past 4 weeks have virtually been a waste.

The easy answer is the homework.  Students come in, get engaged, learn some stuff, work with some shapes, then leave and dismiss it.  They are busy doing work for other classes, other priorities, and other responsibilities.  Are my students struggling because I'm NOT giving homework?  It is clear that they aren't studying, so would homework force their hand?  Even a little?

The hard answer is that my teaching needs to improve, but I already know that.  In my 8th year of teaching, I feel like I'm back to square one.  Not to say that I'm in the "teach the same year 30 times" at all, because I'm not, but damn, this year has been a head-scratcher.  Less tech, no curriculum, and a new scene, no homework, but those are excuses.  I'm searching for answers in the aftermath of what I see as a crossroad in a pedagogical shift of homework in my classroom.  Will I ever find what I'm seeking?  At this time, the outlook is uncertain.
Still Fishing
1 Comment
Ric Reyes (@MrRicReyes) link
10/24/2013 10:22:46 pm

Keep it up! I sounds like your struggle stems from the profound respect for your students, respect for both their learning and their time outside of class.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Author

    Math nerds tend to have a reputation for being math nerds.  I'm here to continue that trend.

    For more blog posts, click HERE

    Picture

    Archives

    August 2021
    April 2021
    October 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from timlewisnm, leppre, KristinNador, Jarosław Pocztarski, Martin Pettitt