Good Morning and welcome to Springtime on the 'Net!
I never really understood the point of teachers giving homework. I mean, really, we were just in school for nine hours, why do I need to do extra work at home.
As I moved through my school years, I pushed off enough homework assignments that many of my mornings were spent frantically finishing 100 division problems.
Now, though, it seems even more pointless.
It's almost like teachers these days feel like they have to give homework, because, well, they had to do homework. I very rarely see the point when the schoolies come home and pull out their stuff.
Sometimes, I feel like just telling them to put down gibberish and get outside.
School is different these days. Students are subjected to biased standardized testing and inundated with work, work, work during the day.
It's time to take a No Homework stand.
Who's with me?
Showing posts with label homework. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homework. Show all posts
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Taking the work out of homework
Good Morning and welcome to the place you always wanted to be!!
Yes, I still remember when I was in school.
Yes, I still remember watching out my window as the rest of the children in the neighborhood played while I dilly-dallied with my homework.
Yes, I still remember the very last thing I ever wanted to do was homework.
All these years later, I still don't get the whole homework thing.
Seriously, the students are in school for long enough all day, why do they need homework.
Can anybody explain how homework is anything more than busy work? Is it the teacher's attempt to show you how tough it is to teach?
I don't know. All I know is, I'm sick of fighting the battle.
The homework will get done, but maybe not every night and maybe not to the full extent it's supposed to be.
Tell you what, if we get rid of all the testing, I'll re-evaluate the homework thing.
That's a pretty good deal.
Yes, I still remember when I was in school.
Yes, I still remember watching out my window as the rest of the children in the neighborhood played while I dilly-dallied with my homework.
Yes, I still remember the very last thing I ever wanted to do was homework.
All these years later, I still don't get the whole homework thing.
Seriously, the students are in school for long enough all day, why do they need homework.
Can anybody explain how homework is anything more than busy work? Is it the teacher's attempt to show you how tough it is to teach?
I don't know. All I know is, I'm sick of fighting the battle.
The homework will get done, but maybe not every night and maybe not to the full extent it's supposed to be.
Tell you what, if we get rid of all the testing, I'll re-evaluate the homework thing.
That's a pretty good deal.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Skype? Skype this
Good Morning and it's nice to see you all again!
The question came so innocently: "Dad, can I play with my friends?"
Without even thinking, I said, "Sure. Do you need a ride to their house or are they coming here."
First there was a perplexed look, then: "No. We are using Skype."
So, that's what it's become. The boy and his friends connect on Skype and play a video game called Minecraft. They battle each other, build worlds and eat pork chops.
All across the Internet of course.
I sometimes shake my head at these things. Other times, I just see it as a normal part of life in 2013.
When I was 11, most of the time was spent outside playing football, riding bikes or whatever. These days that doesn't happen.
Now, I'm not like some people who look at it and see the downfall of society. Would I prefer they go outside or to a friend's house? Sure, but as long as they are interacting, that's OK too.
At least once a day, I make all electronics turn off and make them do something else. I could be reading. I could be going outside. I could be just sitting and breathing in the air.
Now that school has started, it will change a little. Games are only allowed to be turned on two days a week and that's after all homework has been finished and checked.
I don't look forward to that fight.
The question came so innocently: "Dad, can I play with my friends?"
Without even thinking, I said, "Sure. Do you need a ride to their house or are they coming here."
First there was a perplexed look, then: "No. We are using Skype."
So, that's what it's become. The boy and his friends connect on Skype and play a video game called Minecraft. They battle each other, build worlds and eat pork chops.
All across the Internet of course.
I sometimes shake my head at these things. Other times, I just see it as a normal part of life in 2013.
When I was 11, most of the time was spent outside playing football, riding bikes or whatever. These days that doesn't happen.
Now, I'm not like some people who look at it and see the downfall of society. Would I prefer they go outside or to a friend's house? Sure, but as long as they are interacting, that's OK too.
At least once a day, I make all electronics turn off and make them do something else. I could be reading. I could be going outside. I could be just sitting and breathing in the air.
Now that school has started, it will change a little. Games are only allowed to be turned on two days a week and that's after all homework has been finished and checked.
I don't look forward to that fight.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Rise and Shine --- School days...
Good Morning and do we really need a remake of the 'The Munsters?'
So, here we are about a week and a half away from the end of school and the homework wars continue.
I get it, homework is of the lowest priority. I know it ranks below sitting around on the couch or sneaking a couple of cookies out of the jar or even fighting with your brother, but it still has to get done.
It's not like the middle of the school year where you were burdened down with homework. The teachers understand it's getting near the end of the year, so they aren't giving as much.
That project weeks in the making? Yeah, that doesn't need to be done the night before.
The math worksheet? Uh, all that time you just spent arguing with me about doing the work could have been used to get it done.
Reading? Shouldn't we all be reading every day anyway?
So, let's just work out a truce, OK? Get the homework done and everybody will be happy.
So, here we are about a week and a half away from the end of school and the homework wars continue.
I get it, homework is of the lowest priority. I know it ranks below sitting around on the couch or sneaking a couple of cookies out of the jar or even fighting with your brother, but it still has to get done.
It's not like the middle of the school year where you were burdened down with homework. The teachers understand it's getting near the end of the year, so they aren't giving as much.
That project weeks in the making? Yeah, that doesn't need to be done the night before.
The math worksheet? Uh, all that time you just spent arguing with me about doing the work could have been used to get it done.
Reading? Shouldn't we all be reading every day anyway?
So, let's just work out a truce, OK? Get the homework done and everybody will be happy.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Rise and Shine --- School days
Good Morning and welcome back to the fog!
So, the first week of school is out of the way. That means now things can really get down to business.
I warned everybody this weekend to expect homework to start, probably today.
Since they are all still in summer mode (my fault, maybe), the cold slap of the homework bug is going to be a major wake up.
Now, instead of getting off the bus, throwing down the bags and tossing around the Frisbee, it's going to mean get the sharpened pencil and get back to work. The biggest problem is there hasn't really been any homework since late May.
The schoolies have taken great pride in coming home and saying, "Well, Dad, you have homework!"
OK, I expected that. Fill out all the forms, cover the books and make sure all the ducks are in order.
This week, I expect the fight.
Sure, you can have a snack, but I want the homework done. I don't want to argue. I don't want to hear how tired you are after school.
If the homework doesn't get done, well, you'll be more tired tomorrow. Welcome to the vicious cycle.
My goal this year is to try to make homework fun. Let's play a game. Get the math done, get a treat. Spelling done? Another treat. Reading? OK, it's time for dinner, no more.
Somehow, I don't think it will work out that way.
So, the first week of school is out of the way. That means now things can really get down to business.
I warned everybody this weekend to expect homework to start, probably today.
Since they are all still in summer mode (my fault, maybe), the cold slap of the homework bug is going to be a major wake up.
Now, instead of getting off the bus, throwing down the bags and tossing around the Frisbee, it's going to mean get the sharpened pencil and get back to work. The biggest problem is there hasn't really been any homework since late May.
The schoolies have taken great pride in coming home and saying, "Well, Dad, you have homework!"
OK, I expected that. Fill out all the forms, cover the books and make sure all the ducks are in order.
This week, I expect the fight.
Sure, you can have a snack, but I want the homework done. I don't want to argue. I don't want to hear how tired you are after school.
If the homework doesn't get done, well, you'll be more tired tomorrow. Welcome to the vicious cycle.
My goal this year is to try to make homework fun. Let's play a game. Get the math done, get a treat. Spelling done? Another treat. Reading? OK, it's time for dinner, no more.
Somehow, I don't think it will work out that way.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Rise and Shine --- Homework
Good Morning and welcome to the rain!
When I was a student (so many moons ago), like everybody else, I hated homework. I would do whatever I could to push off the doing of homework. I would pretend I was asleep. I would pretend I was sick. I would pretend I didn't have any homework.
Eventually, of course, I had to get the homework done. I can remember more than a few times trying to do my homework when my friends were outside playing. I can remember my friends ringing the doorbell, only to be told I was still doing homework.
What I don't remember is having as much homework as is being assigned now. A fifth-grader I know can spend hours a night (late afternoon, actually) doing math, spelling, grammer, social studies.
One Canadian family got so fed up with the homework, they worked out a deal with the school to stop it from coming home.
This is a big dilemma. I know children need to do homework, but I also know there are so inundated with tests and the like during school hours they need down time as well. So, we try to get the homework done right after school so the rest of the night is free.
Teachers say it's better to let the children decompress after school before doing homework. Well, with work, activities, dinner and the fast-approaching bed time, that doesn't fly.
If teachers really want children to be so well-rounded, don't give so much homework. You have them all day, get the work done during school hours. Give them a half hour at the end of the day to get some work done. Of course, thanks to the fabulous 'No Child Left Behind' mandate, there is virtually no time for lunch let alone extra work.
I wish there was a better solution.
When I was a student (so many moons ago), like everybody else, I hated homework. I would do whatever I could to push off the doing of homework. I would pretend I was asleep. I would pretend I was sick. I would pretend I didn't have any homework.
Eventually, of course, I had to get the homework done. I can remember more than a few times trying to do my homework when my friends were outside playing. I can remember my friends ringing the doorbell, only to be told I was still doing homework.
What I don't remember is having as much homework as is being assigned now. A fifth-grader I know can spend hours a night (late afternoon, actually) doing math, spelling, grammer, social studies.
One Canadian family got so fed up with the homework, they worked out a deal with the school to stop it from coming home.
This is a big dilemma. I know children need to do homework, but I also know there are so inundated with tests and the like during school hours they need down time as well. So, we try to get the homework done right after school so the rest of the night is free.
Teachers say it's better to let the children decompress after school before doing homework. Well, with work, activities, dinner and the fast-approaching bed time, that doesn't fly.
If teachers really want children to be so well-rounded, don't give so much homework. You have them all day, get the work done during school hours. Give them a half hour at the end of the day to get some work done. Of course, thanks to the fabulous 'No Child Left Behind' mandate, there is virtually no time for lunch let alone extra work.
I wish there was a better solution.
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