Please help stop homework before its too late!!!

[freerangeeggsnookie]

I would like to appeal to all parents who are fed up with homework and encourage you to email, phone, tweet & post your school to stop it.

Having taught for a number of years in various schools I am sick and tired of the absurd homework we are setting. Here are some facts about homework from Visible Learning by John Hattie (summarising research on homework):

1. Homework makes no visible difference to pupils progress until they are in about year 10 and in high ability groups.
2. Homework does not help pupils learn time management skills.
3. For the homework to be effective the teacher must be actively involved.
4. Anyone who asks a pupil in year 7 and above to make a poster is taking the piss (pet hate, not from VL).

Now this is not to say that pupils shouldn't do any studying at all. If a student is independently studying at home doing extra work that they have requested then this will have a benefit. Also as stated above as pupils get older and are studying complex content it can be essential.

Unfortunately most pupils are snowed in with ridiculous tasks which teachers are forced to set by heads who are terrified of parental complaints. It is these complaints that need to be balanced out. If you are not sure if your childs homework is useful ask them after its marked "What improvements could you have made?". If they cannot answer then they have learned nothing. What was the point of that?! So if you are sick of homework like me please, please, please complain. Nothing would make schools a more happier place!!!!

cortina - Focusing on good feedback, planning engaging lessons and intervening with those who need it. Planning is very time consuming and the most important part. I think you would be shocked by the amount of teachers doing crash lessons due to a lack of time.

cortina - Sounds like a miserable time in maths. Too common a tale unfortunately.

Agree. I'm a teacher and hate the rigid 'one homework per week per class' thing. SOmetimes you don't need to set homework, so you do it for the sake of it. Two thirds of teh class don't do it; you waste time chasing up stuff you don't actually care about.

Our kids are rubbish at independent learning, but I don't think weekly homework is the way forward. I'd much favour project type things where they have to actually look stuff up, then present to the class.

We tried soemthign new this year where the whole class were given a book according to ability. They then had a term to read it and complete two tasks (from a list) on it. THe final task was to give a presentation to the class. For me, this meant that they would have to be dipping in and out of the task over the term , rather than doing it the night before like I used to .

I think part of the problem with HW is that it's unfair; conscientious kids can take ages and ages over it but still not do very well, whereas others can rattle something off in minutes and it can be brilliant. Trouble is, you're not there to see.

purits - that only happens for kids with engaged parents. I watched a Y7 completely deteriorate when she started secondary as she realised she would never keep up with the other kids. She had stopped attending school by Christmas. For some kids it can have a really serious effect.

The thing is, I have had dd2 in tears when she hasn't had time to do her homework, as she really doesn't want detention. I spoke to the teacher when we had a family funeral and she was (sort of) understanding - in that she didn't give a detention - but said dd2 should do the homework that night at home instead, on top of that night's homework...
All homework is marked within 2 days, with positive comments and suggestions for improvement - and offers extension work (which I always ignore!)
I went on the school's parent council to raise the issue of homework. I was a lone voice, with the other parents asking for more! Even the headteacher disagreed with that!

I agree with stateeducationisboss - that's not a great argument for homework: not all parents know about MN or are willing to take the time to help and try to figure things out.

If a child is being given homework where they're completely unable to have a go at it or understand what's being asked, then that's a problem the school should be addressing. Because either something hasn't been taught very well, or the child is struggling for some reason. MN providing the answer doesn't really solve either problem.

I have no objection to a limited amount of well thought out flexible HW, that accepts all children are different.

Reading and tables are necessary, but please don't insist they read every single night or that Mum puts a comment in a stupid book.

I had the worst and best readers in the class.

There are only so many ways you can write "just as bad" or "just as brilliant" as last night and the night before.

Especial as neither child is stupid and they were well aware Mum was writing rubbish.

HW that shows what they are learning in class is nice occasionally, but bringing books home would be better.

Senior school HW that is practice maths or write an English Essay in peace I didn't mind.

Research history, geog or science is fine if the amount is sensible, there is sufficient time and the guidelines are clear

Posters, leaflets, copying the text book and the sort of primary projects that are clearly just work for parents are pointless.

And please never ever set any HW for Tomorrow, on Friday for Monday, Whether over a weekend or half term.
Sorry school can take over family life for GCSEs etc., but it shouldn't the rest of the time. Six hours a day, 191 days a year is quite enough.

I got lots of finishing off HW because some of my teachers let our classed misbehave. I resented it mightily and very rarely did it. Made no difference to my results.

I'm still required to sign and write comments about DS1's reading in Y7. He reads every night entirely voluntarily (and during the day, and gets told off in class for sneaking in some extra reading time). He's very good at reading. The school know this. Yet, I still get nagged via the homework planner if I don't fill in his reading log religiously. I fear they'll still expect it in sixth form.

Damsel, I am that you have to fill in his reading log in Y7!

shall we all tell the schools we will provide a single termly report on a) the quality of the homework provided b) the effort our DC's put in and c) suggested improvements for next term if the school still wishes us to ensure homework/reading logs/diaries etc etc are completed.

I'm thinking that since i spend time explaining other teachers homework to my form group there must be parents scratching their heads at some of he homework that goes home!

Feedback is afterall a two way street!

Freerange can you link to the 161 -> metanalysis study? I don't trust meta-analyses very much, if I'm honest, much as I want to agree with you.

I have a DS in y7 who mostly doesn't do hw unless under duress, so all this debate dear to my heart, & I still don't know what to do for best.

I really do agree with the op here . . I have 2 kids, both are very different educationally. We've never pushed them to do irrelevant homework at home - in fact alot of the time it doesn't get done (we've never had complaints from school and if it was so necessary then we would of been called in.) We make sure they do the 'important' ones, like everyone else and it clearly shows that it doesn't make a difference.

DD really struggles (possibly has an underlying problem, which doesn't help) and always has with just the basics, so to throw in ridiculous tasks of making models, doing this, that and the other irrelevant pieces of work has always frustrated and made her anxious.

DS is very bright, hates making any effort to do homework, does very little in the way of revision but 'gets' (maybe it's from how he's taught at school.)

Either way they've introduced tasks - they work in a group, all have to give ideas, get involved . . you get the jist and this has worked wonders. DS is loving working like this as they feel in control, independant and get lots of feedback from the teachers. This worked so well as it was done in school and not by himself at home where we end up doing it for him as he thinks it's 'pointless'

In fact, I like the idea so much, i'll be talking to the teachers about every piece of homework (either through a letter or a quick word) to find out what the purpose is and to see if there could be better suited homework for him.

ragged - Heres a link to it on Amazon.

www.amazon.co.uk/Visible-Learning-Synthesis-Meta-Analyses-Achievement/dp/0415476186/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334228008&sr=8-1

I wrote a feature on this for a broadsheet national paper last year- won't out myself, but am a former sec teacher.

But...I talked to eminent 2 professors of education as part of that. They were both divided on some issues but both agreed that homework has its place.

First- it does help them to start applying independent learning strategies.
It shows that learning does not stop at the school gate.
It ( may) involve parents - which is not a bad thing in most cases.
It lays the foundations for learning at uni etc when self-reliance is vital.

Above all though, homework has to have meaning and not simply be something the teacher has handed out " because it's on the timetable" that day.

In some subjects at GCSE level I know that teachers would find it hard to get through the syllabus without resorting to HW, and certainly that applies to A level.

What I don't agree with is homework for homework's sake- it has to tie in with the lesson or preparation for the next topic.

I agree with you, Ameliagrey..... I do think it is useful to continue learning beyond the school gate but just have to say that learning at home should widen the range taught at school...and homework often doesn't 'widen the net of knowledge'. Our DS doesn't like doing homework at all but if you can intrigue/interest him (which is quite easy for me to do - think I'm a teacher manque) he will go on a roll with asking questions and thinking through information very keenly....

At the selective secondary school our DS has just been lucky enough to obtain a place at, it was recommended by OFSTED that they reduce the amount of homework and parents have suggested that they are only now given it if it useful to their studies..

So much of our secondary school homework involved copying chunks of text out of books etc.... which was just homework for homework's sake.

It's interesting that many boarding prep and public schools have 2 hrs of homework each night - and they get the best results!

Now this may be nothing to do with homework- or it might be!

Homework is a minefield and alway ways has been.

Some kids don't have the right circumstances at home to study, their parents often can't help them- either they are not there, too tired, or not educated themselves.

I think teachers need to set homework bearing in mind the child's personality and situation, rather than a "one size fits no one" approach.

When I was teaching, I liked to set an element of choice as far as I could along the lines of "If you would like to read x,y,z, before the next lesson it will help".

The whole point is to give pupils responsibility for their learning so that they can do extra if they want to, or need to perhaps.

Contrary to many parents, I do think that HW is needed at primary school because learning some things- times tables, spellings etc is better if done little and often, but making models etc is just a joke.

There was an interesting article in one of the broadsheets recently (was it the one you write for ameilagrey ) about how many young people at university really struggle to work independently, surely this is why some homework is really useful? University professors were reported having to teach their students the basics of writing and presenting an essay, how to do research etc etc - that is quite worrying.

Not to mention the problems many employers state on employing school leavers who can't write properly, use grammar correctly, do simple maths etc etc .

I only did HW very sporadically until I was 14 (y10 equiv) when suddenly I clicked (didn't want to fail English) & started doing every bit to my best. Became very organised very fast. Got excellent results in the end.
I am just not convinced that my 12yo needs to be on top of it.

1. Homework makes no visible difference to pupils progress until they are in about year 10 and in high ability groups.

1. Homework does not help pupils learn time management skills.
2. For the homework to be effective the teacher must be actively involved.
3. Anyone who asks a pupil in year 7 and above to make a poster is taking the piss (pet hate, not from VL).

1. Really? I don't believe it doesn't make a difference in essay type subjects.
2. Bollocks. My DD (now yr8) certainly has improved enormously since she started secondary (I'd agree for primary that homework should only be a little, gradually increasing, to ease them into the idea).
3. yes - the work should be thoughtfully set, and marked appropriately. DDs is, on the whole
4. I was going to agree, but actually DDs had a couple which were reasonable tasks.

Homework is not 'independent' learning! The teacher and the parent are providing the pressure, the homework sheet is providing the guideline. Independent learning is surely DC driven. At primary level, I find it sad if people feel their DC do not have enough natural curiosity to freewheel towards activities that are just as educational as anything invented by the teacher.

However, when there is homework, I vastly prefer very regular and predictable approach. If you know ten spellings (or whatever) come in every Monday for a Frday test, you can build that into your routine. DC can learn what is expected, & so can reasonably complete the homework themselves. You can also use if DC reckon there's no homework/lose the sheet. Scattergun projects are much more irritating.

I would agree but primary schools only started giving homework because parents wanted it- many still do.

Our school sets no homework in KS1.

I am happy that my children don't have to bake/make silly models etc, so no complaints there.

I am unhappy though that I have no idea what my children are struggling with/could do with reinforcing. I would be supportive of teachers sending home bits to do where a child is struggling or just needs a little bit of extra practice. I guess you could call this "homework" too.

As a final point a significant number of children in my daughter's class (KS1) are being tutored at home either by their parents or by a tutor. I guess you could also class this as self inflicted homework. The argument that these children do not progress faster and way beyond their classmates is a huge fallacy - of course they do!!!

University professors having to teach students how to research though, and write essays - that is nothing to do with homework. Children/teenagers still need to learn the skills of essay writing, referencing and researching, being able to tell a reliable source from a bad one, for example. I don't think this is taught in schools, it is part of certain subjects such as RE or History, but not focused on in nearly enough detail.

I think that with the wealth of information so easily available now on the internet etc, these kind of skills are crucial, whether you go on to university, a job, or just for use in everyday life.

Yellow, the tutored children might be coming along faster, but does that necessarily matter?

yellow homework just risks making a conflict out of a normal conversation with your DC about what they're learning in school.

I pick up a few age appropriate work books every year & leave them in Dds room. Hand on heart - she independently works through pages here and there - which I then mark and sit down with her to explain if she's struggling anywhere. I also look through them as a guide to what I can expect her to have covered - and then i'm pre-armed if there is a fallow moment suitable for a spot quiz (e.g telling the time puzzles while we're waiting for an appointment, or sums while we bake, or make her in charge of keeping track of spending in a shop.).

Homework - ime - is dull, and you spend a disproportionate amount of time trying to understand what is required, and getting DC sat down with a sharp pencil, compared to the 'learning time'.

Since KS2 - DD has been required to write a weekly book report. A para about the plot, and then choose 2 out of a standard list of twenty questions to prompt the DC to analyse the text more closely. I like this homework because it is both predictable, and also open ended.

I did no homework till 11. Then we started and it was a novelty and we were proud to be doing it.

I hate homework for under-11s. I have had DC at a London day school with hyper-amounts of homework and at a country school with about 2 preps a week. Both reached the same standard academically by 13, but one had had far more running about outside/extra-curricular time. I know which I prefer.