Margaret Dunlap, Challenge Success HOMEWORK 2.0 ... · HOMEWORK DATA Nightly homework load: Middle...
Transcript of Margaret Dunlap, Challenge Success HOMEWORK 2.0 ... · HOMEWORK DATA Nightly homework load: Middle...
HOMEWORK 2.0 - CHALLENGING CONVENTIONAL HOMEWORK PRACTICES
Stella Beale, Marin Academy Margaret Dunlap, Challenge Success
SESSION GOALS
• Participants will learn the latest research on homework.
• Participants will explore practical and effective solutions to make homework assignments more effective, meaningful, and relevant.
• Participants will discuss ideas for effective change of homework practice and policy to increase student learning while avoiding overload.
THINK PAIR SHARE
• Identify one challenge related to homework you face at your school, in your classroom, or even in your home
• Turn to a partner
• Share your thinking with one another
HOMEWORK ARGUMENT 1
Homework is good for kids. It teaches organizational skills, and keeps them out of trouble.
HOMEWORK ARGUMENT 2
Kids spend less time on homework than they used to, and kids in the U.S. spend less time on homework than kids in other countries.
HOMEWORK ARGUMENT 3
Homework leads to higher student grades and test scores.
HOMEWORK ARGUMENT 4
Doing too much homework leads to burnout and disengagement from school.
SURVEY
Completed by over 170,000 middle & high schoolers at over 200 schools
Questions include items on:Academic engagementPhysical and mental healthHomeworkAcademic worryBeliefs about teacher care/supportStress and ways to alleviate it
HOMEWORK DATANightly homework load:
Middle School: 2.1 hrs/nightHigh School: 3.1 hrs/night
% doing more than 3.5 hours/night
Middle School: 15%High School: 30%Exhibit poorer mental/physical health
Over 50% perceive most of their homework to be busywork
TENSION FOR TEACHERS
∕ Standards + tests = more homework
∕ Too much to cover in class
∕ Pushed to prepare kids for the next level
TENSION FOR PARENTS
∕ Some want more, some want less
∕ Agree that homework is a bigger issue than in the past
∕ Feel it’s out of their control
TENSION FOR STUDENTS
∕ Still dislike homework
∕ Most common cause of stress, according to our survey
∕ Longer days, overscheduled
USING A CRITICAL LENSChanging the homework conversation from quantity and achievement to quality and engagement
PURPOSES OF HOMEWORK
PURPOSES OF HOMEWORK∕ Review, practice skills
∕ Preparation for next class
∕ Individual assessment
∕ Opportunity to involve family in schoolwork
∕ Extension of classwork
ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE HOMEWORK∕ Clear directions
∕ Allows for student choice and voice
∕ Differentiated
∕ Authentic
∕ Connects to “big idea”
SAMPLE HOMEWORK
Use the cover sheet torate the sampleassignments
ONE SCHOOL’S STORY - HOMEWORK DATA
SHIFTING THE CONVERSATION
from one exclusively about quantity and achievement to one that included quality and engagement.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
HOW MIGHT WE...Use research and experience to find practical and effective solutions to make homework assignments more effective,
meaningful, and relevant?
StrategiesChallenge Success Speakers
Shadow Days & Student Focus Groups
Additional In-House Data Collection
Homework Experiments
● cover sheets● no homework● optional homework● ungraded homework● in-class homework● differentiated homework
Initial Results
Additional Take-Aways
WHAT EDUCATORS CAN DO∕ Aim for the “just-right” challenge
∕ Show clear purpose/meaning
∕ Offer students voice and choice
∕ Use homework for out of class tasks
∕ Monitor timing
∕ Check grading policies
∕ Educate parents about appropriate roles
LESSONS FROM CS SCHOOLS∕ Homework surveys
∕ Modify the schedule
∕ Test/project calendars or assigned days
∕ HW packets and flex time
∕ HW passes and other student “choice” options
∕ No homework on weekends/vacations
∕ Late policies, zero policies, no homework grades
LEARN MOREWEBSITEwww.challengesuccess.org
NEWSLETTERText “kids” to 38470
FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ChallengeSuccess
TWITTERwww.twitter.com/chalsuccess
YOUR HOMEWORK1. What I like best about my homework
assignments
2. An actionable commitment I would like to make...