Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mehamrick]

So my public school elementary kids specifically the 5th and 6th graders I decided to give them a homework assignment each week. Nothing hard just some pictures with words at the bottom. They had to translate the word to korean and then write the words next to the numbered items on the pictures. My thinking is to just introduce some new vocabulary to them. I didnt think this to be very difficult, Hell I even did it in Korean just to see for myself. I warned the kids that if everyone didnt do the homework, even if it was one person, the next class we would spend the entire 40 mins writing "I will do my homework as instructed" for class. The Korean teachers nodded translated and the kids said ok..

Fast forward to today out of 9 classes 2 had everyone complete them. Two missed it by 1 person, and yes I informed the classes they will be writing next time.

Am I being unreasonable expecting them to follow simple instructions, or are they trying to see if i am bluffing. Should I care or just say to hell with it?

Thoughts? Opinions?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

No but I think you're being unrealistic for Korea. In an elementary class of 20-40 someone's going to forget to do / bring their homework no matter how drastic the consequences.

[ajgeddes]

I have the same problem at my school. If I give the kids work, they just don't do it. I am lucky if I can get more than 5-10 kids to actually bring the homework the next time. Usually after the class where I have given the homework, there are at least 4-5 sheets still sitting on the desks or tucked away into the desks after they have left. And further, I can usually find 5-10 papers scattered throughout the hallways just thrown around.

I mentioned this to my co-workers and they just kind of gave me the old "what can you do" look and said there was no point in giving them homework because they won't do it.

[Scott in Incheon]

I would say that you are being unreasonable. You are punishing the kids who did their homework. Why? They don't have and are not responsible for the actions of their classmates, especially as this is homework...and not something done in the class where they might have a chance to influence their classmates.

Only the students who didn't do their homework should be punished. It is unreasonable to punish the whole class.

[mehamrick]

[kat2]

I don't think its unreasonable ot have everyone right, but 40 minutes seems a bit much. Maybe just 10 minutes or make a minimum number of reps each kid has to write, but everyone has to write until all kids have finished hte minimum.
One thing that really seems to deter my students is keeping them after class. You have 10 minute breaks after your class right? Keep the whole class and make them write during htat time. My kids hate not being able to run around like maniacs in the hall for ten minutes.

[mehamrick]

[spliff]

5th & 6th grade HW! Hahahahahahahahaha...