Author Archives: Sara Bennett

Teacher Magazine: What to Do About Reading

Here’s an interesting conversation in Teacher Magazine among members of the national Teacher Leaders Network about why students aren’t reading very much or very well. To me, the issue is simple. If students were encouraged to read for pleasure, were allowed to choose their own reading material, and reading weren’t turned into a chore byContinue reading “Teacher Magazine: What to Do About Reading”

New York City Councilmember Proposes Resolution to Limit Homework

Yesterday, a New York City councilmember introduced a resolution to limit homework to 10 minutes per grade per night. The resolution, if passed, would not be binding, but, at the very least, it will spark some discussion. I am dismayed, though, by the comments to a <a Wall Street Journal blog entry, “So What’s theContinue reading “New York City Councilmember Proposes Resolution to Limit Homework”

From My Mailbox: “I want to reclaim our life”

Here’s a recent email I received from a mother in Atlanta, Georgia: Dear Sara, I just found out about you, your work, and your website via an internet search spawned by my mounting frustration with the homework load. I hope that you can help me channel my own heated feelings on the issue into aContinue reading “From My Mailbox: “I want to reclaim our life””

Survey Question Ideas from Alfie Kohn

These days, a lot of parents are sending me sample homework surveys they’ve created to distribute in their communities. When I’ve looked at them, I’ve been struck by how even seemingly innocuous questions can be loaded. Here are some ideas from Alfie Kohn, author of The Homework Myth, with whom I have ongoing conversations: IContinue reading “Survey Question Ideas from Alfie Kohn”

Special Homework Issue of Encounter Magazine

The Winter issue of Encounter: Education for Meaning and Social Justice is completely devoted to homework. The issue includes an introduction by Etta Kralovec (coauthor of The End of Homework), an interview with Alfie Kohn (author of The Homework Myth), and articles by Etta Kralovec, William Crain (author of Reclaiming Childhood), Chris Ellsasser, Mollie GallowayContinue reading “Special Homework Issue of Encounter Magazine”

Eleventh-Grade Stress, New York City Style

New York magazine’s recent issue, “Peace and Quiet,” profiled an eleventh-grade student at Dalton, a private school in Manhattan. This is how the student describes his life: Especially around college-application time, things get pretty stressful at school. In addition to all my academics, I take creative writing, percussion ensemble, and jazz ensemble. I don’t haveContinue reading “Eleventh-Grade Stress, New York City Style”

Iowa School District Begins to Eliminate the Zero as a Grade

A few blog entries ago, I wrote about how assigning a grade of zero is unfair and should be abolished. Now, a School District in Iowa has begun abolishing the zero. When the Superintendent visited the high schools last week, she suggested that an F range from 50 to 60 instead of zero to 60.Continue reading “Iowa School District Begins to Eliminate the Zero as a Grade”

Teachers’ Thoughts on Homework in the 1950s

A few people sent me a link to this 1950s Educational Leadership article surveying 7th and 8th grade teachers in rural New Jersey about their homework practices. One of the people who sent it to me, the editor of readingtonparents.org wrote, “Somehow the children in the 50’s managed to grow up and send men toContinue reading “Teachers’ Thoughts on Homework in the 1950s”

High School Teacher Explains Why He Doesn’t Assign Homework Revisited

Last March, I provided a link to the blog of a high school math teacher near Santa Cruz, California. The teacher, Dan Meyer, explained why he doesn’t assign homework. I dropped back in on his blog entry recently, and discovered that there were close to 80 comments, all worth reading. Read “Why I Don’t AssignContinue reading “High School Teacher Explains Why He Doesn’t Assign Homework Revisited”