A New View on Homework
Schools consider eliminating homework grades
This article reports on an initiative in Middletown Ohio to revise their policy on homework. According to the article:
Under the proposed policy, homework would no longer be graded toward a
report card grade and is clearly defined as specific tasks to be
completed outside of school hours. The proposal also includes a
stipulation that homework not be assigned with the assumption that
parents or guardians will provide students with supplemental materials
or assistance.
One of their basic ideas is to refocus the homework on self-assessment and reflection. Interesting, these are the types of assignments that I have found most effective on my class blog. Another key idea is to achieve parity. Since parents often help with homework and not all students have access to this type of help at home, changing the emphasis of homework tries to level the playing field.
Check here too for some commendary from Education Week magazine, along with a video of part of the Board discussion.
Blogged with Flock
June 11, 2007 @ 8:50 am
Dear Mr. Ardito
I think if this new idea would be fine for some students,
and on the other hand those students who don’t do home work now would fall behind in learning to be responsible and independent for getting assignments and home work in on time. I as a parent fortunately worked around my children’s school schedule and I think that more parents need to take responsibility for ensuring that their children doing what they need to do instead of putting the burden the teaching system.
Thank you,
Gloria Papelian
After School Director
June 11, 2007 @ 9:06 am
Hi Gerald,
Well I guess I should have read your blog and visited the class
projects you have been doing. It sounds like it is working and students
are responding. I am curious of the per cent of students who do well with this home work theory. Would you let me know. I do have some fifth graders who always complain about the materials their parents have to go out and by on a short notive to complete home work assignments and then what ever material that is remaining is wasted and discarded. That seems to be an issue. I like the e-mail computer link idea to send the teacher the finished work. I myself am always looking for more ways to help my after school program students when they come in to do their home work and projects.
Thanks for the information, Gloria Papelian
November 22, 2007 @ 10:08 am
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