Entry #10

        As a fifth grade teacher I walk a fine line with homework.  I believe that homework should be purposeful and meant solely to practice and reinforce skills that students have been introduced to and practiced in the classroom.  However as a fifth grade teacher part of my role is to help students prepare for the challenges and demands of middle and high school.  In these environments, homework becomes far more independent and meant as an extension of learning not a review of learning. For me, this means that my homework philosophy must support student learning but also much present scaffolding to ensure my students are successful in the future.
       My purpose for giving homework and independent work is to help students build and maintain skills. I feel that homework should be something students can complete independently. It should be a review of skills and concepts we have practiced several times in class, not new learning or exposure. "[Homework] should be approached not as an afterthought to the school day, but as a focused strategy for increasing understanding" (Northwest Regional Education Laboratory, 2005).  The homework that is assigned should hold significant value for the students.
    This value is developed through giving students a sense of ownership and valuable feedback. Ownership gives the students a feeling of investment in the work. Students who are invested in the work complete it and practice the skills because they have a sense of pride in their learning. One way I accomplish this is through offering choices for assignments. In creating this variation students have a sense of personal power. Students become invested in the work. This is easily created using a Tic-Tac-Toe homework structure. Students choose three assignments out of nine possible options. These assignments all reinforce the same skill and practice but students can have a choice in the work.  "When we customize tasks to fit student learning styles and interests, the task becomes theirs. The goal of ownership is to create a personal realtionship between the student and the content" (Vatterott, 2009).
    Feedback also is imperative to giving homework purpose and value.  Feedback is essential communication between the teacher and the student.  It is important that feedback is represented not only in the form of assessment but also through genuine comments and response to work. " Grading homework is helpful, but homework in which a teacher has embedded instructive comments has the greatest effect on learning" (Northwest Regional Education Laboratory, 2005).  Students want to know where they have succeeded and where they need to improve. A written dialogue between students and teacher acts as a road map to mastery of a skill.  I try to give feedback to students on each piece of work. We as a 5th grade team do grade homework and homework counts as 10% of a students grade.  This helps to prepare students for the expectations held in middle and high school.  As well as a letter grade I try to give comments on all homework as well. This allows me to keep a running record of student growth. It also gives needed recognition to students for their independent success on homework.
     Parents play a key role in homework. While they should not be completing the homework. "Parent involvement can hinder student learning" (Balli, 1998; Balli, Demo, &Wedman, 1997, 1998; Perkins &Milgram, 1996) Parents are the supervisors of the job. Much like any supervisor it is important that parents understand and be aware of the expectations of homework. I create a weekly blog that informs parents and students of the areas of study for the week as well as the assignments for the week and due dates.  This allows for ongoing communication with little intrusion into family life. I also make a homework hotline available where students or parents can call and get a recording of the nights assigned work. This allows me to maintain communication and involve parents.
    Each week I work with my 5th grade co-teachers to develop meaningful and obtainable homework goals and assignments. We try to maintain a level of about 50 minutes of homework a night.  This homework can at times be adjusted to differentiate students needs. Students should be able to complete homework independently without parent input. Students continual demonstrate the value of homework and a strong homework structure by continued grown in subject areas. Students also begin to understand the role homework plays in their educational career.