EFFECTIVE HOMEWORK

CAROLINA B. LAXAMANA

Not all our students would be able to easily do the homework we give them, as there is no one-size-fits-all homework. With no teacher around to help them, students usually break down at home when they find no possible solution to the problem given them to work on.

One way to solve this is to create multiple homework assignments tailored to the needs of each student – but teachers don’t have time to create this, what with all the paperwork they have to deal with every single day. There is always a choice, however. Teachers should focus on reinforcement. Why not use homework to practice and review skills learned in class? This way, students should be able to do homework independently. Homework should be skill-based, simple, and brief. Homework that is used for practice and reinforcement don’t need to be corrected.

Avoid big projects; these belong in school, where the teachers can guide and support students’learning.

Homework should be structured in such a way that students are given the same amount of time to work on it – not assigning them a specific number of examples to complete.

Instead of creating multiple activities according to students’needs, let them do the choosing. This will help them learn how to choose appropriately challenging work for themselves. Let your students meet their needs as learners and spend more time in their learning zone.

In making them choose however, teach them to choose well. Do some brainstorming and share ideas together. Offer good choices and make sure that options for homework focus on the skills being practiced and are openended enough for all students to be successful.

Use homework as an opportunity to share some power and control with students, and help them practice in ways that best meet their needs. — oOo— I at Tinajero Elementary School, Bacolor The author is Master Teacher North District, Pampanga