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”
Category Archives: Resources
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”
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”
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”
The Case Against the Zero
Most of us assume that getting a zero for failing to do work is fair. But here’s an article that shows why the zero is unfair and should be abolished. It’s a must read. I know of a teacher who slipped the article in her colleagues’ mailboxes as an “FYI.” You might consider doing theContinue reading “The Case Against the Zero”
Brookings Institute: Time Spent on Math Homework Doesn’t Help Test Scores
According to a press release issued by the Brookings Institute, the 2007 Brown Center Report on American Education finds that homework DOES NOT improve scores on standardized math tests.
Senior Dad Revisits Homework
In the last two weeks, Stan Goldberg, a podcaster from the Bay Area who is better known as Senior Dad has interviewed two parents involved in trying to change homework policy in their communities, Amanda Cockshutt and Tracy Mason. Amanda, who wrote a guest blog entry last June, and whose letter to a local newspaperContinue reading “Senior Dad Revisits Homework”
No Big Surprise: Study Links Drop in Test Scores to a Decline in Time Spent Reading for Pleasure
According to an article in The New York Times, the National Endowment for the Arts released a report showing that as students read less for fun, their reading test scores are declining. In addition, “performance in other academic disciplines like math and science is dipping for students whose access to books is limited, and employersContinue reading “No Big Surprise: Study Links Drop in Test Scores to a Decline in Time Spent Reading for Pleasure”
Great News: Wyoming Elementary School Continues No-Homework Practice
I just learned from Christine Hendricks, the principal of Grant Elementary School in Glenrock, Wyoming, that her school, which implemented a no-homework practice in September, is going to continue its practice for the foreseeable future. After a trial run, and surveying the parents, Hendricks shared her findings with the School Board. Among other things, theContinue reading “Great News: Wyoming Elementary School Continues No-Homework Practice”
Stop Homework 