Homework and Practice

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How important is homework?
"Homework and practice both provide opportunities for students practice, review, and apply knowledge. It also enhances a student's ability to reach a level of expected proficiency for a skill or concept. Research referenced in Marzano, Pickering, and Pollock's book indicated students need to practice a skill 24 times to reach 80% competency, with the first four practices yielding the greatest effect."
(Robert J. Marzano, Debra J. Pickering, Jane E. Pollock)

Don't Let Homework Stress You Out!

PUPIL: Teacher, would you punish me for something I didn't do?

TEACHER: Of course not.

PUPIL: Good, because I didn't do my homework!

Tips for promoting healthy homework habits

• As class, create a homework mission statement.For example: "Our mission is to do the best that I can do inside school and home when completeing assignments."
• Create a link between home and school by making interactive assignments that include parents, siblings or pets.
• Invent a different and fun nickname for homework to up its appeal to students.
• Have a set homework cycle for each day of the week to help maintain focus and manage assignments, For example: Monday - Spelling and Reading; Tuesday- Math and Numbers; Wednesday- History and Social Studies; Thursday-Science. Fridays should generally be left open.
• Student planners are a fantastic device for keeping the lines of communication open between teachers and parents.

Setting Up a Routine:

1. Set a time based on your child's temperament. If you have multiple children, one homework time should be used by all of them.
2. Set a place that is quiet and fully supplied with paper and pencils at all times.
3. Eliminate distractions such as the television, other children and video games.
4. No phone calls!
5. You do homework, too. Balance your checkbook, review appointments, read a book or do actual homework if you are in college.
6. Figure out the best way that your child absorbs information. If they need to be able to wiggle a little bit, then allow it as long as it is not distracting from the task at hand.
7. Communication with your child will help you realize if there is difficulty with the homework. Find out the circumstances before punishing for neglecting homework.
8. Beware of the ADHD label! Do not be bullied into believing that your child is or is not ADHD (which ever suits the need of the accuser) before you have a proper diagnosis.

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• Understand the four types of homework. Know when and why to have students practice:
  1. Memorization of basic rules, algorithms, or laws so the skill becomes rote.
  2. Increase in skill speed, used for improving students' abilities to apply these skills in more complex problem solving.
  3. Deepening understanding of a concept—providing students time to read further, elaborating on a new idea and expanding their understanding.
  4. Preparation for the following day's learning, such as an advance organizer or cue to increase readiness for new information.

Important Points of Research

• Grade level is important. Homework in higher grade levels has a greater impact on achievement than in lower grade levels.
• Teachers should give homeowork based on students' skill levels and provide postive consequences for completion.
• 80% of surveyed teacherss assign homework yet very few are within the instructional level of their students.
• Teachers need to provide feedback. Comments on homework are more motivating than just receiving a letter grade.
• Homework provides the time and experiece a student needs to develop study habits and coping skills.
• Mastery requires focused practice over days or weeks.
• Complex processes should be broken down into smaller bits.

Comments: Homework is very important and most children hate doing it. In all aspects your wiki is really great. Excellent and very cool, Penny

Comments: Christol, I like your job, it is excellent. As a mother you give a better understanding about how to improve the homework time in my house.