I assign almost no written homework

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   artladerposted 14 years ago

   I have been reading through the education-related posts in the forums here at Hubpages. Very interesting and often entertaining.
   
   I do have a question, though.
   
   I teach high school German and I assign almost no written homework.
   
   My students are supposed to study 15 - 20 minutes a night and put in extra time before a big test.
   
   That's it, with very few exceptions throughout the year.
   
   That really seems like enough to me and my students generally do quite well.
   
   If I were teaching your child, would this homework policy upset you?
   
   Just wondering.
   
   Thanks,
   Art

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      artladerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      On the other hand, there is this -- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 … 98754.html
      
      Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior
      
      A lot of people wonder how Chinese parents raise such stereotypically successful kids. They wonder what these parents do to produce so many math whizzes and music prodigies, what it's like inside the family, and whether they could do it too. Well, I can tell them...

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2. 61

   KristenGraceposted 14 years ago

   Not at all.
   
   In my experience, many teachers don't realize or take into account how much other teachers give for homework on a nightly basis.  If the students are succeeding, don't question your methods.

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      Rafiniposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Good answer!
      
      I was going to say something completely different, but I gotta agree with you - don't question success!

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         KristenGraceposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks, Rafini!  Glad I'm not alone with that response

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         artladerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you, Rafini.
         
         Yep, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
         
         Regards,
         Art

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      artladerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for that response, KristenGrace.
      
      My students have seven classes a day. Even if they had only fifteen to twenty minutes of homework in each class, that would be a couple of hours every evening.
      
      And they're kids. They need time to be kids.
      
      Regards,
      Art

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3. 59

   Evan G Rogersposted 14 years ago

   The problem with that system is that there's no evidence that they did anything.
   
   It's not necessarily true, but they probably go home and just ignore their "practice" and play video games.
   
   That means that they might be holding back your lessons because they aren't performing as well.
   
   But not assigning homework isn't such a nutty idea. It's catching on.

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      artladerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You are absolutely right about not having evidence that they did anything, Evan. I would never dispute that.
      
      What I have observed, however, is that the "evidence" that they did my written homework was not terribly reliable. Many students run their stuff through online translators or copy each from their classmates during lunch or during other classes.
      
      Basically, if you do not do it in front of me, I cannot know that you really did it yourself.
      
      However, I still have classroom performance and the results of tests and quizzes to go by.
      
      You are right, though. It's far from a perfect solution.
      
      I have done it this way for many years, though, and it seems to work out pretty well.
      
      Thank you for posting, Evan.
      
      Regards,
      art

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         arizonataylorposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I've seen so many teachers assign homework, but they don't take advantage of time in class.  Success doesn't necessarily mean homework.  If time in class is utilized, less homework is necessary.  That being said, I'm certainly not opposed to meaningful homework that doesn't require too much time to do.
         
         Ultimately, each teacher is different.  Some great teachers assign no homework, and others assign daily homework.  It all depends on how and what the teacher teaches.

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   kateperezposted 13 years ago

   The question is good.  I think that if someone is capable of teaching the children adequately so that when they leave the class for the year they can repeat the processes learned during class time then homework is not so necessary.
   
   Reinforcement is never a bad thing, but if you treat your students with attention and respect while they are in your class, they are likely to take advantage of the class time to get the most out of the lessons.
   
   Heck, I think that foreign languages, especially not the *standard* Spanish (and sometimes French) are kind of cool and give many students the opportunity to talk in front of others or write secret notes without being found-out.  You sound like you've got a good method.
   
   I would not be upset if you did not give my children homework as long as they were proving that they knew what you were teaching, which is the "practice" you are asking for.

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   Paul Kuehnposted 13 years ago

   I have been teaching English as a Foreign Language in Thailand now for about 4 years.  In the private all-girls school where I teach maybe 20-25 percent of the kids will turn in any homework which I assign.  For that reason, I try to reserve at least 10-15 minutes each day for the girls to work on individual exercises which I go around to check.  I have to go through material at a slower pace, but at least I have some feedback as to which students understand and which need extra help.

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   Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years ago

   the only aim of homework is to make the students learn. but if your students are doing good without homework then I don't think they need to be assigned some home work.

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