New curriculum = no homework?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This push for homework is pretty crazy. Kids don't need it, and if ppl say ot prepared them for tons in MS and HS, my question is why should they get tons at all?

Kids do need homework. In grade school, homework teaches children to manage their time and to manage their homework, to remember to bring it home and then bring it to school and turn it in. It also teaches them concepts/gives them practice. In middle and high school, homework gives practice of concepts that they learn in class.

Kids who play a sport, play an instrument, or have a hobby know that the more time you put in, the more lessons or classes you take, the more practice you do, the better you are. But somehow we don't apply that thought to homework anymore. And academically, it shows.

Homework is how I got out of a working class family and into college. The repetition/reinforcement provided by homework made all the difference both in learning and in school grades. Cancelling homework is really a way to trap people into the working class. Well off families still will supplement for their kids outside school, but working class families cannot afford to supplement (because working class parents have to focus on basics - having food, clothing, and shelter). That said, it IS important that homework be corrected & returned to the students, and also important that homework NOT be a significant part of any student’s grade.

This is why it's so sad that teachers are held to higher standard at wealthier schools. There they have to give homework and maintain reasonable standards of rigor or the parents revolt. In working class areas of the county we get no homework, because, I guess, some kids might not do it?

[Anonymous]

This is why it's so sad that teachers are held to higher standard at wealthier schools. There they have to give homework and maintain reasonable standards of rigor or the parents revolt. In working class areas of the county we get no homework, because, I guess, some kids might not do it?

I went to a public school where homework was normal. In fact, for years, my mom complained about the amount of homework that my fourth grade teacher gave. (It was too much!) But, looking back, I think it paid off.

In fact, I really don't remember any teachers from then on that did not give homework. Some was practice and some was demanding. In high school, we were expected to do research in history, etc.

Practice is useful--even if you know the information. Sure, it can be boring. Sometimes, work is boring, too.

And, a friend took her son to counseling some years ago because he felt he did not need to do the homework. The counselor told him: "You may not be doing it to learn, you are doing it to get the grade you want!"
That's not bad advice.

[Anonymous]

I'm not currently teaching in FCPS, but in a previous district I taught in, we were discouraged from assigning homework, to include finishing work started in class, because it was an equity issue since not all students have the same supports available at home. If we did assign homework, it could take no longer than 15 minutes, which was hard to do since the time required to complete work varies so much with each student. This may the reason for lack of homework in some schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not currently teaching in FCPS, but in a previous district I taught in, we were discouraged from assigning homework, to include finishing work started in class, because it was an equity issue since not all students have the same supports available at home. If we did assign homework, it could take no longer than 15 minutes, which was hard to do since the time required to complete work varies so much with each student. This may the reason for lack of homework in some schools?

Bingo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not currently teaching in FCPS, but in a previous district I taught in, we were discouraged from assigning homework, to include finishing work started in class, because it was an equity issue since not all students have the same supports available at home. If we did assign homework, it could take no longer than 15 minutes, which was hard to do since the time required to complete work varies so much with each student. This may the reason for lack of homework in some schools?

This is the reason.

I was told that kids in general classes won’t do homework so let them do it in class. Honors/AP students will do homework. Our FCPS school stopped giving homework to honors/AP students a few years ago when they switched to SBG. Occasionally, my kid has a project due that requires extra work. No finals at this school; it’s usually a group project.

This is all about equity. But this is not what happens in private schools so your kid goes to college and is not as prepared. The kid can still succeed but is at a disadvantage compared to the private school kid and may not go as far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This push for homework is pretty crazy. Kids don't need it, and if ppl say ot prepared them for tons in MS and HS, my question is why should they get tons at all?

Kids do need homework. In grade school, homework teaches children to manage their time and to manage their homework, to remember to bring it home and then bring it to school and turn it in. It also teaches them concepts/gives them practice. In middle and high school, homework gives practice of concepts that they learn in class.

Kids who play a sport, play an instrument, or have a hobby know that the more time you put in, the more lessons or classes you take, the more practice you do, the better you are. But somehow we don't apply that thought to homework anymore. And academically, it shows.

Homework is how I got out of a working class family and into college. The repetition/reinforcement provided by homework made all the difference both in learning and in school grades. Cancelling homework is really a way to trap people into the working class. Well off families still will supplement for their kids outside school, but working class families cannot afford to supplement (because working class parents have to focus on basics - having food, clothing, and shelter). That said, it IS important that homework be corrected & returned to the students, and also important that homework NOT be a significant part of any student’s grade.

This is why it's so sad that teachers are held to higher standard at wealthier schools. There they have to give homework and maintain reasonable standards of rigor or the parents revolt. In working class areas of the county we get no homework, because, I guess, some kids might not do it?

Some of the high socio economic schools banned homework as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This push for homework is pretty crazy. Kids don't need it, and if ppl say ot prepared them for tons in MS and HS, my question is why should they get tons at all?

Kids do need homework. In grade school, homework teaches children to manage their time and to manage their homework, to remember to bring it home and then bring it to school and turn it in. It also teaches them concepts/gives them practice. In middle and high school, homework gives practice of concepts that they learn in class.

Kids who play a sport, play an instrument, or have a hobby know that the more time you put in, the more lessons or classes you take, the more practice you do, the better you are. But somehow we don't apply that thought to homework anymore. And academically, it shows.

Homework is how I got out of a working class family and into college. The repetition/reinforcement provided by homework made all the difference both in learning and in school grades. Cancelling homework is really a way to trap people into the working class. Well off families still will supplement for their kids outside school, but working class families cannot afford to supplement (because working class parents have to focus on basics - having food, clothing, and shelter). That said, it IS important that homework be corrected & returned to the students, and also important that homework NOT be a significant part of any student’s grade.

This is why it's so sad that teachers are held to higher standard at wealthier schools. There they have to give homework and maintain reasonable standards of rigor or the parents revolt. In working class areas of the county we get no homework, because, I guess, some kids might not do it?

Some of the high socio economic schools banned homework as well.

+1. Sometimes high socio-economic families want their kids to be doing other enrichment (or free ranging, depending on the family) during that time. Also sometimes teachers just don't want to grade homework. I'm not calling all teachers lazy or anything - but I've literally been told that by multiple teachers across one grade at our elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This push for homework is pretty crazy. Kids don't need it, and if ppl say ot prepared them for tons in MS and HS, my question is why should they get tons at all?

Kids do need homework. In grade school, homework teaches children to manage their time and to manage their homework, to remember to bring it home and then bring it to school and turn it in. It also teaches them concepts/gives them practice. In middle and high school, homework gives practice of concepts that they learn in class.

Kids who play a sport, play an instrument, or have a hobby know that the more time you put in, the more lessons or classes you take, the more practice you do, the better you are. But somehow we don't apply that thought to homework anymore. And academically, it shows.

Homework is how I got out of a working class family and into college. The repetition/reinforcement provided by homework made all the difference both in learning and in school grades. Cancelling homework is really a way to trap people into the working class. Well off families still will supplement for their kids outside school, but working class families cannot afford to supplement (because working class parents have to focus on basics - having food, clothing, and shelter). That said, it IS important that homework be corrected & returned to the students, and also important that homework NOT be a significant part of any student’s grade.

This is why it's so sad that teachers are held to higher standard at wealthier schools. There they have to give homework and maintain reasonable standards of rigor or the parents revolt. In working class areas of the county we get no homework, because, I guess, some kids might not do it?

Some of the high socio economic schools banned homework as well.

+1. Sometimes high socio-economic families want their kids to be doing other enrichment (or free ranging, depending on the family) during that time. Also sometimes teachers just don't want to grade homework. I'm not calling all teachers lazy or anything - but I've literally been told that by multiple teachers across one grade at our elementary.

Grading homework isn’t necessary. Kids come to class and go over answers first thing with teacher. Challenging problems are worked out together as a class. It takes very little time to do this. If it’s a grade, it’s just graded for completion and a small percentage of overall grade.

[Anonymous]

Homework also gives parents a sense of what their kids are doing in school! It can spark conversations and encourage parents to be more engaged in the classroom. I can't understand how this is "equity." Especially when 'no homework' policies would never fly in more privileged publics and privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This push for homework is pretty crazy. Kids don't need it, and if ppl say ot prepared them for tons in MS and HS, my question is why should they get tons at all?

Kids do need homework. In grade school, homework teaches children to manage their time and to manage their homework, to remember to bring it home and then bring it to school and turn it in. It also teaches them concepts/gives them practice. In middle and high school, homework gives practice of concepts that they learn in class.

Kids who play a sport, play an instrument, or have a hobby know that the more time you put in, the more lessons or classes you take, the more practice you do, the better you are. But somehow we don't apply that thought to homework anymore. And academically, it shows.

Homework is how I got out of a working class family and into college. The repetition/reinforcement provided by homework made all the difference both in learning and in school grades. Cancelling homework is really a way to trap people into the working class. Well off families still will supplement for their kids outside school, but working class families cannot afford to supplement (because working class parents have to focus on basics - having food, clothing, and shelter). That said, it IS important that homework be corrected & returned to the students, and also important that homework NOT be a significant part of any student’s grade.

This is why it's so sad that teachers are held to higher standard at wealthier schools. There they have to give homework and maintain reasonable standards of rigor or the parents revolt. In working class areas of the county we get no homework, because, I guess, some kids might not do it?

Some of the high socio economic schools banned homework as well.

+1. Sometimes high socio-economic families want their kids to be doing other enrichment (or free ranging, depending on the family) during that time. Also sometimes teachers just don't want to grade homework. I'm not calling all teachers lazy or anything - but I've literally been told that by multiple teachers across one grade at our elementary.

It's not that they don't want to grade it. FCPS policy is that it isn't graded. You grade the students on their in-school performance. There's no way to tell how independent the student was in completing hw.

[Anonymous]

Parents: If possible, get workbooks for your students and set a reasonable weekly practice schedule, especially for math and language. Consistent practice is essential for any success.

[Anonymous]

Teachers can assign homework without grading it, provided they share the answer key so students can check their work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers can assign homework without grading it, provided they share the answer key so students can check their work.

My 7th grader's math teacher does this. But she also grades on "did you try and hand it in."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not currently teaching in FCPS, but in a previous district I taught in, we were discouraged from assigning homework, to include finishing work started in class, because it was an equity issue since not all students have the same supports available at home. If we did assign homework, it could take no longer than 15 minutes, which was hard to do since the time required to complete work varies so much with each student. This may the reason for lack of homework in some schools?

That might explain why homework is not part of the grade.

As PP explained, not having homework at all primarily harms the working class kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not currently teaching in FCPS, but in a previous district I taught in, we were discouraged from assigning homework, to include finishing work started in class, because it was an equity issue since not all students have the same supports available at home. If we did assign homework, it could take no longer than 15 minutes, which was hard to do since the time required to complete work varies so much with each student. This may the reason for lack of homework in some schools?

This is the reason.

I was told that kids in general classes won’t do homework so let them do it in class. Honors/AP students will do homework. Our FCPS school stopped giving homework to honors/AP students a few years ago when they switched to SBG. Occasionally, my kid has a project due that requires extra work. No finals at this school; it’s usually a group project.

This is all about equity. But this is not what happens in private schools so your kid goes to college and is not as prepared. The kid can still succeed but is at a disadvantage compared to the private school kid and may not go as far.

Correct.

Banning homework and Skills Based Grading (SBG) are both racial equity and ses-equity, driven issues.