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by Gisele Glosser
| When establishing a homework policy. it is
important to create one that is fair and consistent for the students, and, at the same
time, realistic for the busy teacher. Student lateness and absence can make it difficult
to enforce a homework policy, especially in a class period of 35 to 40 minutes. |
| I use a homework and preparedness policy that
works very well. I never penalize a student for being absent. However, I will deduct
points if a student fails to make up missed assignments. |
Each marking period, all students start out with
a test score of 100 for homework and preparedness. Points are deducted as follows:
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-5 for each missed assignment |
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-3 for each late assignment |
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-2 each time the student is unprepared |
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I use a clipboard with a copy of the class list to
track students' scores. Absent students are given back a full 5 points once
assignments have been made up. If a student does not have the assignment in class
when it is due, 5 points are deducted; 2 points are given back when the student shows me
the assignment (at lunch or after school). Points for being
unprepared are deducted when a
student fails to bring his/her pencils, notebook, and textbook to class.
As a
general rule, students may not show me missed or late assignments during class.
There simply is not enough time. I have them come after school or at lunch to show
me the assignments. |
| This policy may seem elaborate, but it is
actually quite effective. Students are motivated to make up missed work in order to
get points back. It teaches them to be responsible. There is only one
drawback: If you do not give many tests during the marking period, the homework
score may have too heavy a weight on the student's grade. |
Going over homework assignments is just as
important as having a system for grading it. If you don't go over the assignment at
all, students will think homework is unimportant, regardless of your policy.
As a
math teacher, I like to emphasize that some mistakes on homework are okay, as long as you
learn from them. Each day, I go around the room checking that homework was completed,
marking missed assignments on my clipboard. Next, I go over the answers with the
class in one of the following ways depending on the assignment. (Each student is
responsible for checking and correcting his/her own homework paper.)
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Aloud in a round-robin fashion |
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Aloud through teacher dictation |
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By distribution of a small answer sheet to each
student |
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At the chalkboard, with students' oral
participation |
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At the chalkboard, with students writing out the
solutions |
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In cooperative
learning groups |
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On the overhead projector, with students'
participation |
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By collecting and grading students' assignments |
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The important thing here is to go over the assignment
somehow. By the second marking period, I am able to check the assignment for
completion AND go over the answers in 5 to 7 minutes. (Of course, there are exceptions to
this.) To demonstrate the importance of homework, from time to time I place a homework
problem on a quiz or a test. |
| Generally, I assign homework every day.
Some states forbid the assignment of homework on certain religious holidays.
Check
with your school administrator for more information. |
| Whatever homework policy you devise, remember to
create something that is realistic and enforceable. Also keep in mind that your time in and
out of the classroom is valuable. Take the time to spell out your policy to students at
the beginning of the school year. You may even want to send your policy home to parents in
a letter -but have a colleague or administrator review it first. |
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