Dear Sara, I teach first grade and give homework only for math and reading and occasionally science and social studies. I give it because the district says we have to. The kids have been there for 6 hours. Why do they need more work when they get home? When I get home I want toContinue reading “From My Mailbox: Miami First-Grade Teacher Hates Homework”
Category Archives: Teachers Speak Out
The Trouble With Packaged Reading Programs
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”
Teacher says “No” to Homework
I really liked this comment posted by a teacher in response to my blog entry, Middle School Teacher Says There’s Plenty of Time For Homework. As both a parent and a teacher, what bothers me most is the middle school teacher’s claim that parents who schedule after school activities are saying “athletic achievement and ‘well-roundedness’Continue reading “Teacher says “No” to Homework”
Seattle Middle School Teacher Suspended for Refusing to Administer WASL
According to seattlepi.com, a Seattle middle school science teacher has been suspended for two weeks without pay for refusing to administer the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). The teacher, Carl Chew, who has been teaching for about eight years, said he has seen kids struggle through the test with few positive results to showContinue reading “Seattle Middle School Teacher Suspended for Refusing to Administer WASL”
From My Mailbox: Letter from a Teacher in England
The other day I received thiis letter from a middle school teacher in England: Dear Sara I have been a teacher for the past thirty years and I completely agree with you about homework. I often feel like a lone voice in the staff room. My brother’s two children (ages 9 and 12) have beenContinue reading “From My Mailbox: Letter from a Teacher in England”
Teachers in England Will Soon Debate Motion to Abolish Homework
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) in England, a union which represents 160,000 teachers, will debate a motion at its annual conference next week calling for an end to homework for elementary school children and cutting back the amount for teenagers. According to The Telegraph, “The move comes amid growing fears that children areContinue reading “Teachers in England Will Soon Debate Motion to Abolish Homework”
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”
From My Mailbox: Letter From an Eighth Grade Teacher Requesting Help
The other day I received the following email from a teacher in a private school in Toronto, Canada. Teachers: She’s really looking for advice and support from you, so please help her out by posting a comment. Dear Sara, As a veteran English teacher, I totally concur with your views about homework. I do notContinue reading “From My Mailbox: Letter From an Eighth Grade Teacher Requesting Help”
Liberty, Missouri, Math Teacher Gives Less Homework and Finds Students Learn More
A math teacher from Liberty, Missouri, revamped his own personal homework practice after noticing that his students’ grades were unnecessarily low because they didn’t complete the numerous math problems he assigned. According to KCCommunityNews, the teacher began assigning math homework twice a week, never on weekends, and only a few problems. Then, after discussing andContinue reading “Liberty, Missouri, Math Teacher Gives Less Homework and Finds Students Learn More”
Ohio School District, Continued
I had a conversation today with Steve Price, the School Superintendent of Middletown, Ohio, where school board members are considering a policy which would eliminate the grading of homework. Price, who supports the policy, is hearing from parents who think it’s a bad idea. From the editorial in the local newspaper, you’d think the schoolContinue reading “Ohio School District, Continued”
Stop Homework 