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jestert79 · Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 44

One of my "teaching weaknesses" has always been homework. How do you deal with it?

It's not such a problem with adults - but sometimes I forget the answer key, and waste 5-10 minutes of classtime droning through the workbook answers.

With teenagers, it's a much bigger problem. It sounds good to set up rules like - if you don't have your homework you're getting a mark in the register, and so many marks = parental call, but I end up with several issues:

1) Students who were absent last class and didn't know the HW.
2) Students who just wrote gibberish in the gaps to make it look like they did it.
3) Maintaining classroom control while going around the class checking for 1 and 2.
4) Actually getting them to correct their own mistakes - I give them an answer key and they just shrug and stuff it in their workbooks.
5) Peer correction doesn't quite work if 1/3 of the class hasn't done the HW.
6) I COULD collect workbooks at certain times, but in the end it's very time-consuming to have a big stack of workbooks to check through.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

On day one, when I explained my rules to my students, one rule was that if they were absent it was their responsibility, not mine, to contact their peers or see me about what they missed in class, including homework. I do a quick scan as they enter the room (it takes a few minutes for all of them to arrive) to see who has done it, and they get a little mark in the register by their names. I correct it in class with them, and I don't see it as a waste of time at all.

I only give them homework a couple of times a week, because there's only a teeny little 5% slot in their course grade where homework counts. Seems unfair to pile them with work every day if they won't get any credit for it.

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arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

how many times a week do you have the same students? In China, there sems to be a custom, that you can hand in homework anytime.
it takes several times of collecting homework before they actually believe that if they are absent, they are still responsible, and late homework is late and will receive a low grade.

But here in China, the final test is traditionally 80% of the final score, so in the student trained mind, everything else is of little value, just like the 5%. So what you said makes me reflect. It is hard for them to take it seriously

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I send ALL kids no matter what the reason outside if they don't have the homework. I walk around and make sure they have it done for real.

Threaten punishment if they get out of control, missing recess works for me. Reward the good students with stickers or candy.

Go over the answers as a class and make sure they use another coloured pen.

Collect WB every once in a while or simply make them use separate paper.

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

Home work: Just some of my thoughts

Set the rules for home work right at the start of the course; create a handout stating the rules as well, clearly explain the rules, go through each point.
It also helps that you explain why the home work is important.

Such as: It helps them prepare for their exams/ is same as study for their exams plus they get extra marks for the work handed in.

The importance of meeting deadlines will help them honor commitments and prepare them for the realities of the real world.

I would not use the workbook as the homework mark, but rather tell them you will check their workbooks maybe two times during the course half way and at the end of the course . I basically flip through the workbooks just to see if they have actually done the exercises.
The workbooks could be a percentage of the homework mark.

The homework they hand in should be a separate assignment done on a separate paper maybe a paper from their notbook?...much easier to manage and mark.

I agree that it is too much hassle to have them hand in the workbooks and mark them. It's best to just go round quicky and assess if they have completed the exercises that you assigned over a specific period of time.

I teach adults and concede that it is probably more difficult assigning homework for teenagers and younger.

Example: in an 8 week session -homework is worth 10% of final grade, have 4 assignments to hand in based upon the workbook or what was taught in a given week.
~ each assignment is work 2% or 20/20 move the decimal.

~ Then the last 2% is a bonus depending if student hands in all 4 assignments the student recieves an additional 2%bonus point

~ if only handed in 3 assignments then they only get 1 1/2%bonus point

~ 2 assignments then 1% bonus

~ only 1 assignmnet done then .5% bonus.

Each homework assignment handout has a list of what they must do for the assignment point by point.

They key is to be very clear on what you expect.

However no matter how clear you are there will always be students that don't understand or just don't care and don't bother.

~ It is important that you explain clearly as you can and allow for feedback;for students to ask questions about the assignment.

The ones that don't do the work...well... You can not do very much about that...except keep reminding them the importance of the homework.

Also praise the ones that do a good job; encourage the ones that handed in the work on time but didn't do a great job. Tell the ones that handed in on time but did poorly...that they will do better next time...the ones that didn't do the work at all...frown and say your disappointed and then move on...

This helps somewhat to motivate them to do more of the homework for some students...not all...you will always have some students that are just plain lazy. Also ignore the excuses excuses excuses....be very consistent and do not waver and make exceptions, stick to your rules.

They may not like it, but trust me they will get used to it if you remain consistent and will appreciate the boundaries you set.

It does help them in the long run. I wouldn't even bother to punish them if they don't do the homeowrk...I would think receiving a failing grade is punishment enough. If they have been told exactly what to expect at the beginning of the course and reminded throughout the course there is no reason for them to complain...even though they will try to manipulate you into giving in.

I am quite strict and tell them that deadlines are important. I try to help them understand that deadlines are a part of life in the real world.
I give them a whole week to do the homework and they know exactly when it is due. I do not allow any excuses, unless a student is absent then they must hand it in the following day/ or next time I see them. If they were absent the day the assignment was handed out then they get it the next time they are in class, but have less time to complete it and hand it in.

I think the key is to set ridgid guidlines and be consitent; stick to the rules...you will eventually figure out what works and what doesn't work and alter the rules for the next course.

Of course the age group you are working with will also be a consideration when setting the rules.

Okay that's enough...I could go on and on, but think you get the idea...

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

my biggest problem is how to get the students to use notebooks. Once they know the rules about homework, the vast majority do good homework, once they believe that I will actually look at it. Many Chinese teachers just glance at the homework.

Many (perhaps almost half) of my Chinese students come to the first class with no notebook. I have even on occasion told the students (mostly the boys) to go buy a notebook and then come back to class
Fo my style of teaching (for any teaching)using the notebook is important. perhaps the notebook is even more important because we rarely have a textbook (okay by me usually) But out of a class of 40, there must be ten who consistently have no notebook, or write something on a piece of paper that they won't have next week. of course the student say he will remember. As a test, I ask them my name. The ones with the good notebooks know, or can imediately find my name.
As what i do this week often is based on the last week class, this gets to me I want to scream!

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

No notebooks...LOL ...along with forgetting textbooks, pens and pencils...I tell them they would forget their head if it wasn't screwed on properly...they just laugh at that...so much for humor...This is a huge problem in Saudi Arabia or at least where I work.

I teach adults and it is a big problem.

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do.

Anyone one have an effective method to encourage students to bring notebooks besides the shame and blame game.....?????

I usually tell them after the first week, if they still do not have a note book that I will mark it in in my register. I also conduct random checks and say it will affect their grades...I admit this is not so effective, but at least it makes me feel better...LOL

Chancellor · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject:

Then, of course, there are those who believe homework should be abolished.

http://www.alfiekohn.org/books/hm.htm
http://www.thecaseagainsthomework.com/

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

PS, an excerpt from the review blurb

Chancellor · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject:

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

I teach adults but they also like to get away with not doing their homework Smile

I often give them handouts or exercises with an answer key (trying to develop autonomous learners LOL) and they ask me only if they have questions. I make sure homework is relevant and often on their problem areas (like -ed and -ing adjectives) and that is motivating enough to do it. If they skip it, I leave it with them and only point out that they might have problems with not faciliating their own learning.

Chancellor · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject:

I teach adults, so my method probably wouldn't work with younger students.
I do give homework, but this is what I tell them:

If you do the homework, and all the answers are right, you get 100%.

If you do the homework, and al the answers are wrong, you get 100%.

If you don't do the homework - well, you give me nothing, so I give you nothing: 0%

My main reason for giving homework is to try to find out where students are experiencing difficulties. By taking off the "grade pressure" for wrong answers, I've found that the students overwhelmingly respond by doing the work and not copying it. Why copy? They'll get 100% anyway if all the answers are wrong, and I tell them that they can't learn by copying someone else's mistakes.

It may seem weird, but I've found that it certainly works wonderfully in my (adult) classes.