Homework: the controversy

Presented By:

Michael Barrow

Lori Reeder


Homework is good


Rob Marzono



Homework is okay


Ruby Paine



Homework is bad


Alfie Kohn


Homework can be seen as a way of prolonging
the school day on a limited budget.


Homework gives students more time to master
a topic or skill.


Homework “reinforces” the skills that students
have learned.


Make sure that students see the purpose of a
homework assignment or are interested in the
topic so that they are more likely to do it.


Allow students to select the topic or apply the
work to their own lives or interests so that they
will put more into the assignment.



Lots of practice can help some students get
better at remembering an answer, but not to get
better at
–

or even accustomed to
--

thinking.


Harm to economically disadvantaged students,
who are unintentionally penalized because
their environments often make it almost
impossible to complete assignments at home.



Stress, frustration, family conflict, loss of time
for other activities, a possible diminution of
interest in learning


Negative attitudes on the part of students who
get more assignments.



Alfie Kohn
http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/edweek/homework.htm


“The Homework Myth: Why our kids get too much of a bad thing”.

Alfie Kohn


Education Week. September 6, 2006.
“The Truth About Homework”
.
Alfie Kohn


Ruby Payne
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/weeklytips.phtml/130


“A Framework for Understanding Poverty”.

Ruby K. Payne, PH.D.


“Learning Structures”. Ruby K. Payne, PH.D.


Robert Marzano
http://www.marzanoandassociates.com/pdf/homework.pdf


“What Works in Schools: Translating Research Into Action”.

Robert J.
Marzano