I know lots of schools use packaged, mandatory reading programs. Here’s a great opinion piece from the Los Angeles Times by a children’s librarian explaining the problems with those types of programs. (Thanks to this parent who alerted me to the piece.) Reading shouldn’t be a numbers game Applying numerical ratings to books does nothingContinue reading “The Trouble With Packaged Reading Programs”
Author Archives: Sara Bennett
Moms (and Dads) On A Mission–Scotland
Sasha Reynolds, the mother of a 7-year-old and a 5-year old, recently wrote me to tell me what she’s doing in her children’s school in Scotland: I have finally approached the school my children attend with regard to the homework issues as I am on the Parent Council. I have found to my pleasant surpriseContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) On A Mission–Scotland”
England’s Newest (and Largest) School Won’t Have Homework
Nottingham East Academy, slated to open next year, will be England’s largest school with 3570 students, from nursery school to age 19. The school will have no homework, but instead will have an extra lesson a days. According to the principal-to-be, “If you ask most heads what most detentions are for, they will tell youContinue reading “England’s Newest (and Largest) School Won’t Have Homework”
A High School Student Speaks Out–I Love School, But It’s Killing Me
Today’s letter is from high school student, Sophia Warren, a 10th grader in Brooklyn, New York. I Love School, But It’s Killing Me by Sophia Warren Dear Sara, My name’s Sophia Warren (we’ve met before a few times now). I’m a sophomore currently at Packer in Brooklyn Heights, NY. Packer is a school that pridesContinue reading “A High School Student Speaks Out–I Love School, But It’s Killing Me”
Washington Post Reporter Admits that Many Students Study Algebra Before They’re Ready
In a piece called, Recalculating the 8th-Grade Algebra Rush, Washington Post education reporter Jay Mathews admits that he has second thoughts about pushing all math students into algebra by 8th grade. The reason: a new study by the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, which found that almost 1/3 of the studentsContinue reading “Washington Post Reporter Admits that Many Students Study Algebra Before They’re Ready”
Boys’ School near London, England Cuts Way Back on Homework
The Tiffin School, ranked as the 2nd best boys’ state school in England, has limited homework to 40 minutes per night–a huge drop from the four hours a night the boys had been doing. After spending two years examining its teaching and learning in class, the school concluded that much of the homework was “mechanistic”Continue reading “Boys’ School near London, England Cuts Way Back on Homework”
Baltimore School Implements Innovative Homework Policy
I came across an article about the Jemicy School in Baltimore, where homework is minimal and tailored to the needs of each student. According to PRNewswire.com, Parents often assume hours of homework lends better test scores and greater comprehension for their students, but Jemicy School of Owings Mills and Towson takes a much different stanceContinue reading “Baltimore School Implements Innovative Homework Policy”
Why Is It So Hard to Become a Teacher?
Here’s a great opinion piece by Ellie Herman, a television writer of 20 years who is trying to become an English teacher at an L.A. public high school. Testing my patience California needs teachers, so why is it so hard to get a credential? By Ellie Herman After nearly 20 years of working as aContinue reading “Why Is It So Hard to Become a Teacher?”
Guest Blogger: A High School Student Forms a “Stunt the Stress” Club
Alexandra Keehan, a high school senior from Indiana, started off the school year with a mission to put a halt to stress at her high school She formed a “Stunt the Stress” club and encourages other high school students across the country to do the same. I Have Obscene Amounts of Useless but Nonetheless Time-ConsumingContinue reading “Guest Blogger: A High School Student Forms a “Stunt the Stress” Club”
New Survey: 43 Percent of Parents Have Done Their Kids’ Homework
In a survey conducted by AskKids and released in late August, 43 percent of parents admitted to having done their kids’ homework. According to the Los Angeles Times, here’s what the survey found: Forty-three percent of parents queried in a survey this month admit to doing their children’s homework at least once to ease theContinue reading “New Survey: 43 Percent of Parents Have Done Their Kids’ Homework”
Stop Homework 