Day 6: No Homework

I'm not a fan of homework for several reasons.

• Students don't do it
• Homework, being the least favorite part of school, extends those bad parts into home life
• If students are confused, there is no one to ask
• Collaboration requires extra effort

I avoid homework as much as I can.  I know that sometimes it's important to continue a new concept, but that continuation must be meaningful rather than rote.

I discussed this with my classes as a means of explaining why we would be doing more homework-like practice in class.


I made up small packets for my classes, handed them out and unleashed the kids to work.

"Please use the whiteboards! Being up on your feet helps with blood flow and thinking!"

In the Integrated class, I had planned to have them work from the text book, but my planned introduction took a bit longer (read: the whole period).  I think it was worth it, however, since we had an in depth discussion about sampling methods, biases and survey design.  Several of those students are very excited to design surveys and bring their findings forward as policy change proposals.


I'm getting a better idea for the current ability level of my students and am gearing my questions towards where they need to move.  There is lack of familiarity with many requisite concepts.  I'm torn between "you need all of this info, we need to cram it in" and "you need to be able to think better, so we will focus less on content."

I'm leaning towards the latter.  Front-loading skills, rather than concepts, is a better approach for long-term learning.