I wonder about the deep, wide abyss between good intentions and concrete action...
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QuestionsHow much is too much homework?
How much homework are other teachers giving their students? What should children be doing after school to help retain what they learned DURING school? How can we foster getting children outside and sociable after school (instead of on their devices or playing video games)? |
Choice Boards
How to Use Choice Boards to Differentiate Learning
When you search for "choice boards" under Google Images: |
Check out the "learning menu" on this post by Mark Anderson
Design Your Own Digital Choice Board by Catlin Tucker |
Flipped Instruction |
Further ReadingBretzman, J. (2013). Flipping 2.0: Practical strategies for flipping your class. Bretzman Group, New Berlin, WI.
Felicello, Kris. (2/12/18) Homework Is Broken. Glei, J.K. (2016, October 19). Take a Load Off: The missing key to productivity is reflection. Kohn, A. (2006). The homework myth: Why our kids get too much of a bad thing. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Life Long. Mcleod, S. (2019, June 10) "How Am I Going to Make This Work Relevant" (leading to a Forbes article). Miller, J. Matt. (2017, January 16) "How to Get Parents On Board with Your Big Changes." Schmalbruch, S. (2016, November) "Here's How Homework Differs Around the World." Schwartz, K. (2019, Oct 8). "Is Homework Valuable? Depends on the Grade. Teachers Share Their Approaches" Spencer, J. (2015, May 7). You Get Four Items and Forty-Five Minutes. What Will You Make? Spencer, J (2018, Nov 17). Taking Choice Menus to the Next Level Sztabnik, B (2014, Oct 14). Is Homework Helpful? The 5 Questions Every Teacher Should Ask. Waters, Erin (2016, July 7). Why I'm Quitting Homework {and what I'm doing instead} Willingham, D.T. (2009). Why Don't Students Like School? A Cognitive scientist answers questions about how the mind works and what it means for the classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Wujec, T. (n.d.). Instructions for Running a Marshmallow Challenge. |
Reflection & Call to Action
Find out if your school or district has a policy about how much homework needs to go home, and begin the conversations about the value of homework with coworkers.
Complete the work you assign. See how long each assignment takes, how much effort it requires, and then share this information with your students prior to assigning it. This may result in you tweaking (or tossing!) the assignment prior to the students finding issues with it.
What worksheets do you give that could actually backfire if practiced incorrectly? Consider eliminating those. What kinds of activities could go on a choice board instead?
What challenges could you give your students that would enhance your curriculum and also engage students enough that they’d want to share their progress when they come back to the classroom?
Consider renaming the section on the board for homework, especially if you’re not going to collect or grade it. What are some possible names you could try? Are you willing to ask students to choose from three that you like?
What does “practice” mean? What are your thoughts on including practice in a student’s final grade?
List all the reasons you can think of as to why assignments might not be completed and turned in on time (think of your OWN reasons, as well). After you list them, ask students - you can bet they’ll have even more reasons. Next, consider what the consequences should be. Are there natural consequences? Are there also reasons you’d consider as valid excuses? (Again, think of your own life and when/why you don’t complete certain things when you expect to.)
Complete the work you assign. See how long each assignment takes, how much effort it requires, and then share this information with your students prior to assigning it. This may result in you tweaking (or tossing!) the assignment prior to the students finding issues with it.
What worksheets do you give that could actually backfire if practiced incorrectly? Consider eliminating those. What kinds of activities could go on a choice board instead?
What challenges could you give your students that would enhance your curriculum and also engage students enough that they’d want to share their progress when they come back to the classroom?
Consider renaming the section on the board for homework, especially if you’re not going to collect or grade it. What are some possible names you could try? Are you willing to ask students to choose from three that you like?
What does “practice” mean? What are your thoughts on including practice in a student’s final grade?
List all the reasons you can think of as to why assignments might not be completed and turned in on time (think of your OWN reasons, as well). After you list them, ask students - you can bet they’ll have even more reasons. Next, consider what the consequences should be. Are there natural consequences? Are there also reasons you’d consider as valid excuses? (Again, think of your own life and when/why you don’t complete certain things when you expect to.)