With increased accountability, a child's typical school day is packed. With the numerous assessments teachers are required to administer, instructional time during the school day continues to dwindle. Time during the day to get the adequate practice students need to master the skills we are teaching is not enough. Homework vital to help our students practice and acquire the skills necessary to be successful, particularly in disadvantaged and ELL populations.
Anderson, Willson, and Fielding (1988), found that, for second graders, the number of
books that students read is the best predictor for reading comprehension, vocabulary, and
reading speed. Students need to be reading books at their level, either aloud to a parent or older sibling or silently. Independent reading should be of high interest to a student and self-selected.
Homework should be based on class objectives, short, and focused. Students should not be expected to complete homework activities on concepts or content that have not been taught. Students' parents should also have had training or communication from the classroom teacher on the expectations for homework completion. The level of help a chid receives from a parent is also a contributing factor to the effectiveness of homework.
Language can be a barrier in the completion of homework in large ELL populations. Many curriculum companies provide Spanish versions of homework and letters in Spanish to improve the home-school connection. Students may be provided with leveled readers in Spanish that parents can read with them.
Many schools provide after-school homework and tutoring clubs when language is a barrier in homework completion. Many students may live in multiple-family dwellings and not have a quiet place to complete homework nor the adequate tools to do so.
Technology can be incorporated by communicating assignments to parents via blog or website. With disadvantaged populations, however, technology is not always accessible. Again, students may be provided time on the computer after school to complete assignments in a homework club. Study Island is a standards based program that is utilized by some parents and students at home to practice skills.
Corrective feedback on homework should be given expeditiously. Students will continue to make the same mistakes if not made aware of their mistakes. Teachers can use the homework to drive instruction, determining what skills to reteach if the majority of the class was low in that skill.
Homework continues to be a battle that teachers face. By providing clear expectations to parents, aligning assignments to specific skills that are being taught in classrooms, and being purposeful, homework can benefit all students.
You have presented some good ideas to make homework more accessible and successful for the diverse learner. I am a firm believer that without corrective feedback the student will continually make the same mistakes. It is important that teachers never give more work than they are able to handle by giving communication to each individual student.
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