So why create a blog? I was inspired by my daughter...a very talented and free spirit...a mother to my grandson...and a young wife...she writes a blog. I have never read her blog (respecting boundaries is important) and she probably won't read mine...well maybe...but she writes a blog with information that she thinks is interesting to young moms! Like cloth diapers vs disposable and organic baby food vs the jars...She suggested it...but I told her I would have nothing to say...and she said..."Mom if all teachers were like you, then you wouldn't have anything to say...but they are not!"...wow...sometimes we just have to listen to our kids.
So now here is my first entry of my blog...HOMEWORK....this in not a dirty word...however great thought needs to be given to your purpose for assigning homework. In the math world most of us use homework to have the students practice...but what should they be practicing...something new or something they know? After over 25 years in the classroom I can tell you that having a clear purpose is essential and your students should know the purpose too.
What works...well there is not magic potion but I can tell you what worked for me...when teaching middle school...(yes I taught and loved teaching middle school)...I made a promise to my students on day one that I would assign no more than 10 problems a night...and they were to always hold me to that number....and trust me middle school students did....why 10....middle school students are busy...this is the time in their lives when they start to explore the outside world and define their niche....middle school students are social...they need time to learn to make connections with people...this is an important aspect of their development...I chose 10 because they would buy into 10...it is not much....the key is that I chose the 10....I took time to evaluate each of the 10 problems...it was not busy work...it gave the students the opportunity to demonstrate their learning...of the 10 problems only 2-3 problems were over new material...I did not want the students to repeat errors and then have to unlearn lessons...2-3 gave them the opportunity to develop an understanding and develop knowledge pathways or questions...I then chose 1-2 questions that really challenged their thinking...these were usually questions that could have many answers or methods to solve....sometimes they required outside help or investigations...they might have to "talk" to their parents, siblings or study buddies...they would have to communicate math...the rest of the problems were foundations...problems that were building blocks to future lessons...assigning homework to middle school students took planning and thought...it took time.
Next time I will tell you about homework and the elementary students.....
Until next time....
Wendy
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