Homework. To assign or not to assign? That is the question and great debate these days. Assigning homework provides practice and practice makes perfect, right? Wrong! Practice makes progress. It makes sense then that teachers would want to provide students with as many opportunities as possible to boost academic achievement. Homework will certainly provide opportunities to practice what was taught, but at what cost?
This year, I stopped assigning homework to students. That’s not to say some students didn’t have to finish up work outside of the classroom. There were times schoolwork was not completed in class for this or that reason and had to be taken home. Still, whenever I can, I avoid assigning my classes (and ultimately myself!) more work after hours. Here’s why:
#5 One (worksheet) size does not fit all.
Students have all kinds of strengths and weaknesses. Shouldn’t homework reflect those differences? More often than not, the same exact homework assignment is given to a whole class, regardless of individual student understanding. Learning occurs at all levels with the appropriate curriculum modifications. Your high-achieving student may need a challenge while your struggling student might require more modeling/support.
Reflecting on the diverse needs of our students, teachers should also take into account their class learning styles and unique student motivators. What excites one child bores the next. Differentiating homework and tailoring it for each individual child takes precious time that teachers already don’t have.
#4 Homework helps very little.
Research shows the level of academic gains to be negligible whether you assign homework or not. It’s not a good investment of time.
#3 I got 99 problems… and homework is one!
Kids don’t want to do it. Parents don’t understand the “new school” teacher’s way of doing it. It’s no surprise: homework is a known source of contention in many homes. Everyone is burnt out from the everyday stressors of life. Homes should be safe havens and places of refuge. As a teacher, I really try my best to reduce stress in student homes, not contribute to it!
#2 Homework hinders honest work.
I had a student. Let’s call them Alex. Alex was a terrible homework hander inner. The few times Alex did turn in homework on time, I noticed Alex had done their homework in beautiful calligraphy-like cursive… which was strange because, you know, Alex had terrible penmanship. It was actually one of their IEP goals, but I digress. Obviously, Alex wasn’t doing the homework. An adult was.
Then there was another student. Let’s call them Brett. Brett did their homework every chance they got. They completed the assignments with flying colors. It made my Inkjoy pens so happy! That is until I would grade Brett’s exams with the same exact questions. Brett would bomb… terribly! Turns out Brett and the older sibling couldn’t play video games until all homework was completed. (I guess that’s one parenting hack to promote brotherly love!)
Bottom line: there’s no way to ensure your actual student did the actual homework. Parents have been known to do work for their kids. My middle schoolers were notorious for copying each other’s work. It’s why I used to check for completeness but not accuracy. There’s no validity to homework scores.
#1 Not all homes are created equal.
Homework ultimately is an equity issue. Home situations, resources, and parental involvement vary from home to home and day to day. Not all kids get the same level of support at home. In my own single-family home, there are nights I don’t see my people (and dog!) until bedtime. If you absolutely must assign homework, be sure it is something students can do independently and without many additional supplies. Some of your students may not have a place to call their own, going to an afterschool latchkey program or utilizing a corner of the kitchen table for schoolwork. Others might be in the care of a guardian that does not speak/read/write English or did not attend formal schooling themselves. You just never know.
Assigning Homework: The Final Verdict
For me, it’s a done deal. Unless required by my district, I no longer plan to assign homework. It took teaching in the middle of a global pandemic and being a mom to learn firsthand that ain’t nobody got time for that! Let the littles stay little while they still can. Leave work at work (or school at school) and enjoy the simple ways of home.
ACTIONABLE STEPS: What do you say? Is homework a yay or nay in your classroom? How does it fit into your pedagogy? Let us know in the comments below, along with any other reasons why or why not!
