Whether or not to assign homework ah, there's the rub. In my school alone there are various opinions on the matter. Should it be compulsory, a choice, or by circumstance? Many teachers I know give it to give it. "They need homework to help review and prepare for the next day," giving it nightly out of habit or will power I am unsure. While some never give homework, believing it is a chore unnecessary to the educational process. Most however, as far as I have observed is that homework is only given if necessary, meaning classwork is not complete, or assignments assigned over a week long period giving students days to complete. However, nightly homework as much as it appears to be declining in some circles is very much a part of most students lives.
A study from Duke University states that homework offered a benefit to test scores but after digging deeper into the data discovered that this was the case with excessive homework and very stressed out students. How do we raise test scores without piling on the homework? There have also been numerous studies claiming girls put more effort into homework then boys and have less late work. This of course being anecdotal because I have a mix of both girls and boys who turn in the bare minimum and sloppy work. Homework I feel is only beneficial if it purposeful, relevant, and non-excessive. Giving 50 questions just to keep your students busy is not fruitful, many wont finish it, giving them low homework scores and 10 problems can be more effective because it will caquse less stress and students will not resent doing it.
Sometimes I hear teachers say, "They made me mad today so I gave them extra homework." Or "I gave a pop quiz just to let them fail because they didn't do their homework." Rather than digging deeper and discovering why they didn't do their homework, they simply get frustrated and get set in a vicious circle of homework and missing grades. Evidence does suggest that excessive homework just causes stress and anxiety in students. Amplify this by 6-7 courses and it is amazing that any of us made it through school. Robert Pressman of the New England Center for Pediatric Psychology,discusses how this stress and anxiety does not merely affect the student but also their family. Parents get discouraged when they can not help their child do their homework due to difficulty and subject matter. But, also excessive homework disrupts the family dynamic and takes away from family time.
Should we ban homework? No, of course not. At times it is necessary, finishing a paper, lab write up, reflection. But giving it nightly just to give it needs to be stopped. If the lessons in class are engaging and purposeful then homework is not always going to have to be given. Making sure students have some time to reflect and absorb the new information with a ticket-out-the-door or reflection can be all the review they need. I assign a set of discussion questions, encompassing the weeks vocabulary and higher concept on Monday's and they are due Friday. They are posted on Canvas so students can ask each other and me questions from home throughout the week. Every other week we have a blog post or podcast. If they ever have any other homework it is because they were not on task during class. Being a student-driven classroom they have plenty of time to discuss and complete assignments in class. The last 5 minutes of every class is a recap/reflection time where we make sure we all understand the days concept. Every week I also have a 1-minute check-in with every student and this is where we identify any issues or concerns.
In my opinion, setting up a blended classroom is the best way to make sure every students needs are being met. Create a safe learning environment for them to discuss concepts, challenge each other, and collaborate towards a common goal. The more students take the lead the more they feel empowered. Empowerment leads to self-actualization and responsibility. If I assign a project, podcast, blog post or discussion questions very few students will not complete them, usually everyone does. This is because they are purposeful and meaningful and short, I hate excessive or lengthy assignments unless it is experimental design. The less directions or specifications I give the better the assignments because the more they get to be creative and innovative. Homework is not a bad thing unless it is used as a teacher to make them feel powerful and in control rather than the student being empowered. Offer homework as a choice, optional, yes I said optional, I do all the time and you know what? Almost every one of my students competes it because they see the benefit not the command.
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