This is not going to be a post about how I am against homework. (Although, I do have mixed feelings about it.)
This is not a post about how we need to make homework more meaningful for our students. (Although it may get there eventually.)
It’s about the societal attitude in this country (and possibly others) towards homework as stated by my now six-year-old son.
You see, just the other night, for his 6th birthday, he was given a Big Nate Boredom Buster book, an activity book of sorts by Lincoln Peirce. It is far above his level, but he loves it. Right away he took the book and started writing in it with his pencil.
“Mommy, is this homework?”
“No sweetie, you don’t have homework yet.”
“Good. Homework is boring.”
And there you have it. My six-year-old already has it in his head that homework is boring.
Where does this come from – this bad attitude toward homework?
Is this a work ethic problem or an issue that schools need to deal with? or both?
It saddens me to know the uphill battle I undoubtedly will face once my kids do start getting homework. I am a believer in meaningful homework: homework that provides purposeful practice, that challenges students and inspires them to work hard. (I told you we’d get here…but I’ll save that for another post.) But let’s face it, not all students get that type of homework, nor do they expect it.
How do we change this bad attitude towards homework? I would love your thoughts here!
~EMP
I was just speaking with a colleague about the great debate of homework. His discovery was interesting. Once he stopped counting homework as a grade, more students completed it. Then, homework was viewed as a true tool for assessing what was learned in class, which then guided instruction more accurately.
That is interesting. Homework can be a very complicated topic. I’d be interested in hearing more about what you’ve found to be true about homework in your classroom/school. Thanks for the comment!
I found that homework is better received when students (and parents) know what is coming. For the most part, I keep homework on a regular schedule. On Fridays, they know what the upcoming homework will be for the following week. There are daily add-ons, of course, but it teaches students time management.
I’ve tested http://fablelane.com for a while now in my classroom, and I must say that the results are quite interesting. Motivation gets a new boost, and now my kids actually WANT to make homework.
Homework Homework
Give us a brake!
I will give you all my computers
till you give us no homework
I will give you my TV
I will give you my games
But all you schools do to me
is give homework
You take everything I have
But here I stay
in an empty home
nothing to do
no lights
no bills (yay)
No nothing to eat
no nothing to drink
Nothing in my house
but me
and
Homework
and a pencil
The end
Ya I feel that homework can shut kids thougts out! and like when I do homework I feel streesed and like I am not good enough! So if teachers were to make homework a more enjoyible thing that would be awesome!!!!!