September 22, 2012

A Week Without Homework Challenge #weekwithouthomework

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I've written before about my belief that homework is far more destructive than constructive. I don't think it increases learning, adds to motivation or develops a strong work ethic. For a long time, I assigned homework out of a sense that I was "supposed to." I never questioned it as a practice. After getting rid of it, I remained quiet on the topic. After watching my sons lose necessary playtime and learning time to do extra-duty schoolwork (mostly packets), I grew more vocal.

I want to see a change.

So, here's how it works:

  • The concept: If you typically give homework, take one week off of assigning homework and see whether it made a positive or negative impact.  If you don't give homework, you can still participate in
  • Reflect on it: How did you respond to the lack of homework? How did your students respond? How did parents respond? After the week is up, will continue to go without homework or will you assign it regularly again? What were some of the pros and cons of this? How did students spend their free time? 
  • Communicate your results: You can tweet about it using #weekwithouthomework or you can comment on this Facebook page. You can blog about it and e-mail me the link (john@educationrethink.com) or leave the blog link at the bottom of this post. If you plan to abolish homework completely, you can add your information to this spreadsheet. 
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18 comments:

  1. Seems like we're assuming all homework is worthless. Too bad. While I agree we should dump the worthless homework - what is truly busywork - there is great value to independent learning. Let's fix the homework rather than remove it.

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    1. If the best homework is independent learning, why not get rid of homework and let kids learn independently? Let them play. Let them read books. Let them paint and draw and fly paper airplanes and do science experiments. The key there is "let them." If it is independent, then it shouldn't be assigned. It should be optional. It should be in their hands.

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    2. Kids need time to have free play, be inquisitive, and wonder about the world. I don't know about you, but I don't like homework after a long day of work. Then again, I'm a teacher and I'm kind of stuck with it. Let's give children time to explore. Get them off the video game systems, and out into nature more. I think we need to reassess what learning really is.

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  2. In the area I teach in they wouldn't choose the things you suggest...they would play video games or cause problems.

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    1. Homework shouldn't replace the need to be supervised. I'm not convinced that keeping kids busy should be a reason to assign work. If kids are going to be risky and make bad decisions, the existence of homework isn't going to keep them from doing destructive things.

      In terms of choices, some of the brightest friends I had chose video games. There's more learning there than many adults assume. The point is that it's their time and not yours. Give them some freedom. Give their parents some freedom as well.

      I teach in a low-SES school and I don't assign homework. Students often read books, volunteer to interview people, post on their blogs, etc. But it's never assigned.

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    2. I would add that homework is not the solution to kids who live in an 'area' where they may get into trouble after school. Why not advocate for after school programs or rec centers that provide safe havens after school and opportunities for students to play games, sports, create or just socialize? These skills are just as important, if not more important, as assigning academic work.

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    3. I'm curious about your thoughts about high level course such as AP courses, or preparing students for the rigor of college in general. I don't assign homework either, and as head of my social studies department I constantly have to defend my position. The loudest arguments come from teachers and parents who say I'm not preparing students for homework they will receive in college. Just curious on your thoughts. My blog next week is on homework, I will tweet it out with #WeekWithoutHomework. Thanks.

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    4. In terms of AP Courses, there's still a big difference: in college, you go to school for half the time that you do in high school. If they want to assign homework and prepare for rigor, let the students go to school half time in order to prepare them for the freedom they also experience. I've seen more students fail college because they weren't prepared for the freedom they would experience than the number of students who weren't prepared for the rigor.

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    5. Great point about preparing for free time. What do you mean by "AP courses, there's still a big difference"? My teachers complain the only way to "cover the material" is to assign homework in the form of reading. I caution them about "covering", but I think they have a valid point.

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  3. Apparently you've become a Joe Bower clone. This is, at best, a gimmicky proposition. At worst, you're damaging kids and their future. Have you thought about that?

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    1. How exactly is a lack of homework "damaging kids and their future"? That seems a bit hyperbolic. Is it possible that relentless homework can also do some damage to students motivation and engagement in education? By the way, Joe Bower is not the only person who advocates for an end to homework.

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  4. We have just completed week six and I have yet to give a homework assignment to either of my middle school social studies classes. Parents at open house were so relieved. My students have lives outside of school and many are involved in sports with practices ending at 6:30. By the time they get home and have something to eat there's not too much time before they should be in bed. I want them to come to school ready to learn not up half the night doing worksheets or writing reports that will be lifted from the Internet because there is no time to really research or care about what they are doing.
    Another issue I have are teachers that don't consult each other and all have tests scheduled on the same day.

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  5. I'm not a fan of homework. I have to assign reading, or we'd never get through all our (high school) novels, but I've cut homework down to the bare minimum. I really don't like it in the elementary years. I remember my first year of homework - 6th grade. We were assigned 15 minutes of rudimentary work, and I felt so mature because I finally got to do homework! I think it's good to read together as a family and enjoy fellowship in the evening. For those who don't have this option, I would suggest clubs like Boys & Girls to fill the need. Free time is a glorious thing.

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  6. John,
    Here is a blog entry I wrote last year on this topic, which also appeared in our provincial principal association journal (BCPVPA Adminfo). http://peterjory.blogspot.ca/2011/12/after-all-these-years-still-not-that.html
    PJ

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  7. Thanks for this! Last spring I posted the following as my Facebook status update. I figured I'd try to at least address (in the tiniest of ways) the ways in which homwork affects family life. You would not believe the panic that ensued...


    The One-Week Homework Vacation Challenge for Parents (feel free to forward).

    by Stephanie Howell on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 12:28p

    For one week you vow to take a parental break from discussing or managing/scheduling homework. During that entire week the word "homework" will not pass your lips (or those of your spouse if applicable.) No, "Do you have any homework?" or "How much homework do you have?" No, "It's time to do your homework." or "You can't _____ until you've finished your homework."

    No begging, pleading, cajoling, threatening, checking, negotiating.

    If you find yourself starting to mention it, stop, regroup, change course. "Do you...uhhh...want to go to the park?" "How much...ehhhh...do you think an ice cream from that ice cream truck I hear costs?" "You can't...errr...believe the cool thing that I heard about today."

    Just for a week. See what happens. Then let me know.

    How did you feel? How did your kids react? What was the week like?

    NOTE: I'm not suggesting that your kid should take a week-long break from homework. That's between your kid and his/her teacher and is a separate "challenge" entirely. Just you. I can't wait to hear how it goes! Who's with me?

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  8. Homework should be given for the enhancement of the education of the child. To some people, this means nothing more than that.

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  9. A piece of my HW/no HW journey can be found in this post: http://livingislearning.edublogs.org/2012/10/03/homework/

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  10. After 16 years of teaching grade 8-12, I've found that assigning homework is often a means test and a punishment for students who are already successful. The students who do well in class are consistently the only ones who complete homework, while those who need it most do not do it, placing them even further behind the next day. I think homework has a place, but not simply as a way to extend the school day.

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Please leave a comment. I enjoy the conversation.

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