Homework: the controversy

1. Homework:the controversy Presented By: Michael Barrow Lori Reeder

2. The Experts • Homework is good • Rob Marzono • Homework is okay • Ruby Paine • Homework is bad • Alfie Kohn

3. The Good • 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.

4. The Okay • 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.

5. The Bad • 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.

6. The Bad • 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.

7. Reference • 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