The weather soon worsens. Each gentle lift of PVA-ballasted cardboard prompts twitches and gasps, and the circle moves ever tighter. Their desperation grows: “Where is the teacher?” they mumble. “We can’t hold out for much longer...”
You recognize the signs; you’ve been there yourself: it must be homework deadline day in Year 2.
Homework has always been dogged by doubters: it is too often a pointless task unconnected to learning; it takes up valuable family time; it highlights the haves and the have-nots; it leaves children feeling distressed as they have no teacher guidance on hand; the parents just do it for them; and you get ridiculous scenes like that described above on autumn mornings for no apparent benefit.
It’s true that homework is a risky teaching strategy. There is no qualified teacher present. That means little control over who completes the tasks that have been set and little help if the child encounters problems. Potential distractions multiply with every new generation of mobile phones and digital devices – the perfect attention-grabbing machines. Homes can be frantic places with little space for quiet study.
It’s also true that the impact of homework on classroom achievement is patchy – some studies have found little or no learning gains, particularly for primary-age pupils.
Bu hikaye TES dergisinin October 25, 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye TES dergisinin October 25, 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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