Homework in the Hot Seat?

Homework is so debated. So passionately debated. If you're not a teacher, then I doubt you'd believe the amount of passion that goes into discussions on homework.

Is it best practice? Does it make a difference? Do kids really need to do homework? Is it just busy work? Do I have to assign it? Why do I have to assign it? Do we all have to do the same thing?

You name it, and it's been discussed.

There are many views. Many teachers believe that homework makes a positive difference in the education of a child. And, you know what? Just as many disagree.

Many teachers believe that sending home a reading log is crucial to reading homework. And... I bet you can guess it... just as many completely, wholeheartedly, disagree.

Many teachers think that sending home pages upon pages of math problems each night is the ticket to knowing how to do math. And, there are so many teachers who will stomp their feet and yell, "absolutely not!"

You see, teachers are passionate people. They are people who want what is best for children. They are people who are forced to do many things throughout the day that they KNOW are not best for children. But, have no fear, they don't ever go down without a fight.

I'm one of those people. I am a teacher. I am a passionate teacher. I am a teacher who does what's best for my kids. I am a teacher who does not go down without a fight.

I believe that children should have time to be children. I do my best not to take work home with me so that I can enjoy time with my family. I think it's important that kids have the opportunity to do the same. However, I am not completely against homework.

I think that reading each night is important to the growth of a student. There are many statistics that prove this is the case. (See images I borrowed below.) But, there are so many people who just fill out the reading log, making the reading log pointless.

Thank you, http://schenkgr4.blogspot.com/2013/04/why-read-20-minutes-pinterest-inspired.html

This one really speaks to me. People skip reading homework all the time... and it breaks my heart.

What about you? Do you have an opinion on homework?

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