Category Archives: General

10 Tips to Start off the School Year

Over the summer, I kept on seeing the same type of article I’ve been seeing for over a dozen years about how to help your kids succeed in school and with homework. By now I’m sure you’re as familiar with that advice as I am: establish a routine and schedule for homework; limit distractions duringContinue reading “10 Tips to Start off the School Year”

See You in September

I won’t be posting again until September but I will be answering email, so please feel free to write me with your questions, concerns, and requests for speaking engagements. If you’re looking for an end-of-the-year gift for your children’s teachers, consider giving The Case Against Homework. When teachers and administrators read it, they think about,Continue reading “See You in September”

Student Made His Homework Optional

A few weeks ago, I read a story in examiner.com, about a student, now 25, and a cum-laude graduate from college, who made his homework optional, both in high school and in college. Intrigued, I emailed his mother, Julia Rhodes, to find out a little more. She told me that her son, who had beenContinue reading “Student Made His Homework Optional”

Connecticut School District Slows Down Its Math Curriculum and Its Students Learn More

Here’s an interesting story from this week’s New York Times about how the high-performing Westport, Connecticut, school district has created its own math materials and slowed down its curriculum, resulting in students who ultimately learn and understand more. Math students in this high-performing school district used to rush through their Algebra I textbooks only toContinue reading “Connecticut School District Slows Down Its Math Curriculum and Its Students Learn More”

Interview With Kerry Dickinson, a California Parent Who Successfully Changed Homework Policy in Her District

Today’s interview is with Kerry Dickinson, who has written many times for this blog including here, here, here, and here. Kerry, who has a M.A. in Reading, was a part-time teacher in Michigan before she had children. She now lives in Danville, California, with her husband and 9th and 7th grade sons and is currentlyContinue reading “Interview With Kerry Dickinson, a California Parent Who Successfully Changed Homework Policy in Her District”

Interview with Jodie Leidecker, Kentucky Parent Who Successfully Pushed her Local Elementary School to Institute Daily Recess

Today’s interview is with Jodie Leidecker, a native Kentuckian and a graduate of Berea College, the first interracial and coeducational college in the South. Leidecker lives in Berea, Kentucky, with her husband and their two children, a 9th grader and her currently home-schooled 10-year-old. She pushed her local elementary school to institute daily recess andContinue reading “Interview with Jodie Leidecker, Kentucky Parent Who Successfully Pushed her Local Elementary School to Institute Daily Recess”

Georgia Grad Student Seeks School to Study

Can anyone help this Georgia grad student? I am currently a PhD student in the Mathematics and Science Education Department at the University of Georgia. For my dissertation, I want to investigate a school that has implemented a no homework policy, preferably a school that has continued to meet AYP and has had other positiveContinue reading “Georgia Grad Student Seeks School to Study”

A Home Without Homework is a Happy Home–Plumsted, New Jersey

Several times over the past year, Diane Hewlett-Lowrie of Plumsted, New Jersey, wrote about the overwhelming amounts of homework her second grader was getting in his local public school and the toll it was taking on her family. In January, she moved her son to a democratic community school. Last week, she wrote to theContinue reading “A Home Without Homework is a Happy Home–Plumsted, New Jersey”

More from Yesterday’s High School Senior

I got a second email from yesterday’s high school senior, who had even more to say on the problems with homework. More Thoughts on Homework by a high school senior Camarillo High School, California As always, the homework load depends on the individual teacher. When homework is excessive, it simply turns into “drill.” The teacherContinue reading “More from Yesterday’s High School Senior”