Bringing Homework Into Focus: Tools and Tips to Enhance Practices, Design, and Feedback

by Eileen Depka

Overview

In many classrooms, teachers assign homework out of habit. Learn to design quality, purposeful homework instead. The author urges educators to reflect on the purpose of student assignments to determine if and when homework is valuable. Prepare students and measure their comprehension by assigning purposeful work, setting clear expectations, and providing feedback as the unit of study unfolds

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936763245
Publisher:	Solution Tree Press
Publication date:	10/09/2014
Series:	Classroom Strategies
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	152
File size:	7 MB

Table of Contents

About the Author ix

Introduction 1

Focus and Organization of the Book 1

Importance of a Team Approach 2

Chapter 1 Types of Work and Their Purposes 3

Diagnostic Work 4

Introductory Work 9

Formative Work 13

Summative Work 15

Final Thoughts 16

Collaborative Team Discussion Questions 18

Chapter 2 Four Components to Ensure Quality Homework 21

Purpose 22

Relevance 25

Doability 26

Quantity 31

Final Thoughts 32

Collaborative Team Discussion Questions 33

Chapter 3 Quality Homework: The Result of Quality Design 35

Recognition and Design of Quality Work 35

Assignment Evaluation 38

Bloom's Taxonomy 42

Webb's Depth of Knowledge 43

A Menu of Options 45

Evaluation of Student Work for Quality 46

Final Thoughts 49

Collaborative Team Discussion Questions 49

Chapter 4 Homework: To Give or Not to Give, That Is the Question! 53

Awareness of Student Needs Inside and Outside of School 54

Evaluation of Teacher Capacity 56

Evaluation of Student Capacity 61

The Impact on Class Time 64

The Impact on Achievement 65

Final Thoughts 68

Collaborative Team Discussion Questions 69

Chapter 5 Grading and Homework: The Two Worlds Can Coexist 71

Grading and the Type of Work 71

Progress Assessment 73

Does Late Matter? 75

If I Don't Grade It, They Won't Do It! 77

The Crucial Nature of Feedback 80

The Essential Elements of Record Keeping 84

Communication of Homework Expectations 91

Final Thoughts 96

Collaborative Team Discussion Questions 97

Chapter 6 Next Steps: Evaluating and Changing Practices 99

Identify the Desired State 99

Evaluate Current Practices 101

Implement Practices to Close the Gap 105

Evaluate the Effectiveness of New Practices 106

Collaborative Team Discussion Questions 107

Epilogue 109

References and Resources 111

Index 117