HW#13: HOME WORK

If we define homework, it is said to be tasks that are assigned to reinforce the student's knowledge outside the school hours; frequently done at home.This mean that it includes take home seat works, exercises, practices, research, answering and such. With just mentioning that, it is already too tiring, what more if it is the real thing which you are already doing. But you are fortunate enough if your "homework"is the only thing you need to do after school. What if there are other things like house chores, church activities, part time job or sports training? Wouldn't that be a suicide?

Given all the things you should be doing after school plus the never-ending homework, is it even possible to accomplish all in a day. Given that the day only has 24 hours and 8 hours already spent inside the classroom. How many hours are left? 16 hours? Is it enough? -- Mission impossible!

These factors affect the approach of students towards homework. Which is a possible reason why the 'homework' today is turning to be ineffective. Homework plus "Home Work" is way too much for students to handle. Some teachers tend to assign many homework disregarding the other things that a student will also be doing.

Conducting interviews and surveys confirmed this theory. That some, means not all cases, teachers give out too much homework that students can't manage to finish it because of other things that they shall be doing -- this  includes church activities, extra-curricular activities, and leisure/family time.

HW#12: Not a Big Deal

In every school year, the first day has always been the introduction day. A very boring day, for some, to keep on introducing yourself to your classmates who already knew you; and your teachers who does not really care in any single word you've blabbering in front of the class.

How ironic life is, right? Well, other than the non-stop introduction speeches you gave is the presentation of study plan; what we don't usually paying attention to is to how the percentage of our grades are computed. Which is a big factor that will impact our academic life the whole school year. And now that I finally took attention with these percentages, I've noticed that the part most us students exert effort most is where the percent have been allocated small. I'm talking about homework. As time, effort, and resource consuming as it is; the smaller it is in the percentage of the final grade. Why is that so?

Majority can say that one of the things that students spent time and effort is in doing homework but have you ever notice it's very small part on your grades? It can be as small as 2% which is I think is a very small portion as an exchange to all the efforts we've exerted in accomplishing it. Isn't that unjustifiable?  If the homework's purpose is also to help students achieve much higher grades because it's easier than test, exams and seat work given; therefore, it's the students last haven. So they exert so much effort in doing homework. But if the percentage is that small, maybe it's one of the reason why the effectiveness of homework is not present nowadays.

As a student, if you think you're efforts aren't gonna have any gain to you then might as well just turn it down. If your a student and there are lots of homework assigned to you considering it's only a small part of your grades, why would you try to burden your self if you won't lose or gain much? One reason why student's don't do homework -- law of reciprocity not much evident.

Conducted my research, I've surveyed some of my block mates and I did saw the answer to why they don't like homework. The respondent said it's just a small part of the grade so they didn't like homework. As a block mate of theirs, I know what kind of homework was being assigned to us. College students don't get homework like high school students does. What we have are those very complicated ones. Not that it is just hard but also the quantity is twice as much than when we it was in high school.

So if I were to ask you, would you still do something you won't be gaining much? If you'll just lose a little just to avoid making too much effort, won't you take that chance?

HW#11: Homework Triggers Students to Cheat

They say that if people were left unsupervised, how they act or how they behave is being affected. People tend to behave on what they think is right and not what they normally should be behaving. As what one of my  professor, who is also a psychologist, had shared with us; it's a human nature. Whenever people are being observed they tend to act differently than if they were left in a room with no one supervising them. Which only means that they perform task better if being watched. Sometimes if they are not supervised they tend to do bad things like slacking, doing unrelated stuffs, and even fraud things.

The bad thing about this scenario is that it did not just start in a single snap but it started while a person is still young. For some reasons, it is very common to all that it seems to be already socially accepted by everyone and with that, this bad behavior is being acquired.

In school this is very evident and present. As young as a student can be, this trait can be observed already. The most common example is the issue in homework. Since homework, as assigned to be done at home, is a task that is not being supervised. As what is said in the beginning of this article, a person acts differently if left unsupervised. Unfortunately regarding on how differently they do, it is more of in the negative aspect.

As what students usually does, stated on the existing research done abroad, when they were assigned homework -- they cheat. Students tend to cheat in many different manners. They can plagiarize and just copy paste whatever they can find in the internet or let other people do their homework. Mostly, they ask their elder siblings, parents or even a classmate to do their homework. Looking at this scenario, it totally thrown away the purpose of homework and worse, gave students a chance to cheat.

High School Students Admit they Cheat to Get Their Homework Completed is a compilation of different confessions of students that they admit cheating with their homework. A person told that they did it for survival. Since, they did not learn much on the classroom and for fear that they will flunk out or to have good grade -- cheating is the easiest way to take.

I, myself, also conducted some research (interviews and survey) as if these situation does apply in the Filipino students. Sadly, it is does present as it is in the other countries. They have shared that if they don't know what to do with the homework, instead of just helping them, their parents or siblings does the entire homework for them. A respondent also shared that with their other classmates, some bribes or pay their fellow student to do a homework for them.

With homework as a school work that has to be done unsupervised at their homes, the whole goal of the homework was somehow proven unattainable. If students will only cheat their school works every time they were not being watched by their teachers then might as well let the whole concept of homework be disregarded. If homework cannot help students at all but rather gives them negative effects, let homework be removed in all students curriculum.

HW#9: Types of Homework

Which would you prefer; a hundred pages of story to read, a ten chapter review to answer, a research and experimentation making, a project model of a structure, or a whole unit to be presented? Isn't it all a suicide task? If any of those were assigned to you with a very short period of deadline, I know some will just give up. Specially, if the kind of task assigned to you is the type that you've hated the most. So for example you hate to read and you were assigned to read a whole book as a requirement, most probably, you wouldn't finish the ask or just totally bail on it.

Numbers of homework had been assigned on students since the very first time they've entered school. There is these "read a story" or "draw something". Of course the "defining the terms" assignment is a usual kind also. But as we all know, each student has a preferred type of homework. And also, preference on what kind of assignment to be assigned is a crucial factor in the effectiveness of homework.

There are three main types of homework according to New South Wales Department of Education and Training: practice exercises, preparatory homework, and extension assignments. As what is said on the document created by the institution mentioned above, the three types of homework were defined as the following :

• Practice exercises let students apply new knowledge or review, revise and reinforce newly acquired skills. Examples of such exercises are memorization of mathematical tables, practicing spelling words, essay writing and reading for pleasure.

• Preparatory homework where students gain background information on a unit of study to better prepare them for future lessons, for example, reading and collecting geometric shapes.

• Extension assignments encourage students to pursue knowledge individually and imaginatively. Assignments might include writing a book review, researching local news or retrieving items from the Internet. 

If all the different homework were to be classified in these three main types it would all fall on a particular type. Like all the math/science/English activities and exercises will fall on the the "practice exercises" type of homework. While those advance reading assignments, defining of terms for the future discussion falls on the "Preparatory homework" type. Lastly, all those tasks that needed further researching, additional activities for other information belongs on the "Extension assignment" type.

All different types of homework, if analyzed, have different goals and agendas to be met after each tasks were to be finished. A type aims to practice the student on what they have learned from the lesson and for them to be polished in all the parts of the lesson The other type goals to make students prepared for the incoming lectures; a brief overview on what will the lesson be about. While the other type's purpose is to add up more info that has not been included in the discussion proper. 

As what has been aforementioned, type of homework is a crucial factor in the effectiveness of homework. All types have different approach on the lessons and also with the students. Each types also serves different purposes to be achieved after each assigned homework. These little details should be given much attention when deciding what homework should be assigned to make sure that all efforts will be worth the prize. 

Effectiveness is a must!

HW#8: Intended Purposes of Homework

Homework is a usual task to all students. It's like a common thing when you're at school. After the class bell rung, it is certain that there would be take home activities or list of task to be done at home; as a school extension of things not done in school. Dictionary meaning of homework is, as defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary, an assignment given to a student to be completed outside the regular class period. In simple words, a task done not in school but usually at home -- maybe that is why it is called as homework.

I've been doing lots of homework ever since I started going to school. Then approximately, maybe I've done at least thousands of homework but the thing is, I never thought of knowing what are the purposes of homework really are. 

I have done research and I found this discussion paper entitled "HOMEWORK: What are the upsides and downsides?" and realized the purpose of why homework was designed. I found some obvious aims of homework and also those unexpected purposes that had never crossed my mind. The researcher compiled the idea of another researcher named Epstein that came up with The Ten Ps of homework. Each purpose was elaborated according to my understanding.

• Practice – With homework, all the things that had been discussed in the classroom can be put into practice. By doing exercises based on the day's lesson, students can apply what they have learned from the lecture.

• Preparation – Homework makes students be ready on the next lessons to be tackled. If there are things not yet that clear, assignments can clarify these questions and make them able to move on to another topic the next meeting.

• Participation – Although not all students are that active in participating in class, homework can force them to do so. Despite of some students being passive about it they will be required to participate in the discussion with the help of homework.

• Personal Development – With a task like homework being assigned on students it can create a sense of responsibilities among the students. They can acquire some competent study skills, giving attention in following direction and being conscious about the limited time given to finish the job. Also, with the grades given to each homework, the can boost their confidence by excelling some activities and having achievements through homework. Various activities assigned can open opportunities to students to explore and improve talents and skills.

• Peer Interactions – Group tasks or homework can able students to collaborate wit each other and compare and share new ideas for the benefit of all. Working with a team also creates a good "teamwork" skill in all students. 

• Parent-Child Relations – Homework can serve as a window for the parents and the students to have a good communication with each other and exchange ideas for the learning purposes.They can share ideas about expectations, school and how to apply the things they learn in real life. Also, this can be a means for the parents to give positive remarks for their children.

• Parent-Teacher Communications  –  Homework does also bridges teachers and parents. With homework, teachers can fill in parents on the learning progress of their children and how and what are they learning so far.

• Public Relations – A motivation is sometimes what homework is being assigned to. As to state that the school has a high standard to the families of the communities and one of its requirements is to accomplish these tasks or activities.

• Policy  –  Some are already a part of policy and that schools are required to accomplish a certain task or activity as ordered by an educational institution. 

• Punishment – Homework can also be served as punishment to students who lacks focus and attention in studying or when in class. Common example is writing some lines or essays on how to behave properly in class. But this purpose is not that accepted or rather in appropriate because as said in the discussion paper: "It serves merely as an exercise of teachers’ power to use up students time, with a negative focus on behavior rather than learning."

Given all the said intended purpose of homework, gave much clearer view of what homework and what it is for. As for my all the research I've currently done, homework seems to fail in meeting its aim and purpose. For according to some of my data, homework can result to the opposite of what is the intended outcomes should be.

Why are the adverse results occurring in spite of the positive intentions of how the homework is actually designed? The question that remained unanswered for the years of research done about the matter. The only thing sure is that there are lots and lots of factors and they kept on stacking and increasing as long as there are changes in our educational system -- as long as change is present the hunt for the answer in the question will always be left unclear. The thing we can only do is to catch up on these changes as close as we can possibly be.

HW#7: A Teachers Excuse.

"Okay class, were going to open a new topic next meeting. So, I'll be giving you a homework to have an overview and for you to learn in advance the lessons." -- have you ever heard of a line something like this? Your teacher asking you to define terms, search for a number of people, read about a process and such. Isn't that one of the most worse things you could ever heard of? But wait, there's more. "..and there would be a lucky person to report the lesson for us. So be ready." Okay, great! somebody will be a teacher for tomorrow. Weird, isn't it? I even remembered once that a teacher asked  us to do an assignment like this, a prior research about a science thing and she gave a book and instructed us to use that as our only reference -- the reference; her teachers' manual.

Isn't it weird that a teacher will lend a student his/her own manual which should only be used by teachers; to be used as an aid and a guide on what to teach to their children. I think, the reason they do that is for them to lessen their tasks and transfer their work in students. In that way, they won't have to worry about making anymore visual aid (notes/lesson) to give to their students and won't sweating too much in discussing the lesson; since they already have assigned students to do that and to figured those things for themselves.

They used these homework for their own benefit and not for the good of the students which is a very sad situation in our country's educational institutions. Not all teachers have this kind of intention, but we cannot also say that this is not true, for somehow it is really present in the school today. This homework is just an excuse -- that's how I see it.

This kind of assignment is an excuse themselves from their responsibilities. But what they don't know is that instead of helping their students to be independent and to learn by themselves they may lead them to a misdirection. Without much guidance of teachers on their students this is a dangerous risk for the children's learning. Teachers should always practice professionalism and consistency in spite of any other outside factors. As like what the article The Arguments Behind the Professionalization of Teaching, it can be detrimental to students. If they will just keep on assigning things to students and let them discussed things on their own. They can have misleading understandings that can only be aided if the teachers full supervision is given.

Homework is not really the worst thing in the world, but its promised benefits seem to be too good to be true. That some people abuses the concept of it, and take the opportunity to do something for their own interest. This leads to permanent imprint on people’s mind, as what had happen to this scenario. Teachers, as one of the most influential people on students, shouldn't be one of those who take advantage of homework. As to set example on their students; teachers, themselves shouldn't be the first one who uses things like homework in something it's not created to be used as.

HW#6: Unnoticed Source of Bullying

Everyday it's a usual situation that teachers give tons and tons of homework. The more the students complain about it, the more they assign additional homework and the much complicated ones. So, better keep yourselves silent  to prevent much more burden. But regardless of those extra torments, the original amount of work already assigned is too much to handle that is why some students just give up and not do it anymore. But the worst thing that they can do is to scare and force a classmate. a schoolmate or anyone that the bullies think is smart enough to do the homework.

I never did believe in this scenario, for I thought it was just in movies in which is a product of imagination with some exaggeration that this thing are being done. Until, a friend and classmate shared me an experience that is just like this. My friend told me how the bully threatened them, which means there were many others, to do his homework or else, he will hurt them.

Bullying is very much evident in schools from primary to middle and even in high school level. Means, age is not an issue to bullies. If they can see an opportunity to abuse someone, they'll grab the chance to do so. Unfortunately, this chances includes homework-- a thing that is considered as a frequent task given to students. Isn't that scary for your siblings, your niece, your nephew or your own child? You didn't even know that as simple as homework; triggers the chance of them being bullied.

I've read about an article in titled Ninth-Grader Bullied for Homework that stated a story about a student being bullied because of homework. The parent of the child asked an expert on what to do about the situation. The story goes like this. The student is a consistent honor student and loves school, which may be the reason why the bully chose him/her as a target to be bullied. The victim didn't ever told his/her parents' about it, until his/her cousin saw what happened. The bully threatened the kid to not forget to do his/her homework. When the parents confronted their child, he/she told not to report the incident in the school and to forget about it. The parents did consider what their child said and the opinion of the expert said a different action to do.The adviser Connie Collins, a professional school counselor, told them that their child needed the help of the school. A teacher or faculty member or anyone that can be trusted to tell the situation of the student. That even if not directly, the school should find out what is happening to the kid.

I do not blame the concept of homework in being a cause of bullying, but the sad reality is that kids does bully others because of homework. The whole purpose of homework is being trashed in this situation. Not only it does not help students to have a positive academic impact, but it rather gives other student an opportunity to abused. If homework is not much of a help in totality, then it should be fully taken away from the schools' curriculum. With this, at least, the doors for bullying can be lessen a little.

Being bullied is one of the most traumatic scenarios that a child can ever experienced in being a student. It just starts to be just nothing until, without noticing it, it leads to bad effects on students -- depressed, paranoid and even suicide. Sadly, this said helpful thing, homework, is one of the sources of bullying. You ma not know it or notice it, but it is really a big deal. What to do? Think about it. What would you do?

HW#2 : Time Out on Homework

One week of only two to three hours of sleep and yet what you've done is not yet enough or the output has so much errors in it because there is no more time to edit your work. The reason? Well, some teachers often just assign and assign lots of task and give a short period until the deadline. Have they ever considered if there are other teachers in other subjects who have done the same? Imagine all your subjects having lots of homework, projects, exams, practicums and others things all due at the same time? Who could ever accomplish all that? I may say we need a miracle.

It is said that this "sufferings" all has a purpose and in the end we'll get something useful and beneficial to us. But is this applicable in all cases? I don't think so. Like in homework, the more you get the more you'll get from it? The harder ones you get, the bigger benefits you'll obtain? Do you think so? But according to most students it doesn't really helps them but rather adds up to their pile of problems and the main 'cause of their daily dose of stress. An assumption of students which is supported by some research conducted.

According to research, piling too much homework on kids doesn't improve test scores instead it can even lower the test result. Besides the negative effect on students like being stressed, fatigued; now an effect on academical aspect of a student is an absolute NO!

This article in titled Too Much Homework Can Lower Test Scores, Researchers Say, is an article to read if you're also curious about this matter. Just an overview of this article and just some highlights, it says that homework can make the results of a student's test much lower as the title says itself. The author also noted some research he compiled that no more than 15 minutes should be spent on doing homework as suggested by the researcher. Also, stated there is that there better ways to spend those time allotted on doing homework to other much beneficial activities like playing musical instruments or joining sports team or school clubs.

According to my understanding, what the article is trying to point out is that too much time is spent on doing homework. And that too much doesn't lead to anything good rather bad outcomes. So instead of spending this time on a thing wherein students tends to just suffer rather than benefiting, spend it to something with much more sense activities. Activities where students can have a time out on all school works a\but still can acquire knowledge to.

We should have the right balance of everything. Remember, even too much of a good thing is also bad for us. Then, maybe same as goes with studying and homework. We can't just be studying all the time. There should also be time for our interest and improving our skills. With that, we can maximize our time without sacrificing or obtaining much bad results on us. Learn but at the same time, have some time for something you'll have fun and enjoy doing. And that, that is a time well spent.

Homework, Homework and Homework Again.

Have you ever told yourself any of these lines: "Oh! A homework. Yey me!", "I have a homework. This is awesome." or "Please teacher give us homework." Well, as for me, never in my life I said or even dared to utter those words for who even wants homework and second, all my classmates will kill me. But the thing is, why is these situations seems to be impossible to happen? A student liking to do homework.

The obvious answers will be like: "It's much fun just to watch television, play computer games, hang out with my friends than to go study AGAIN and do homework" or "I've been in the school all day in every five days of a week then in my own home, I'll still go study and make things much harder for myself." But dear students, homework can really help you in the future big time. Though it may not be academically but in other things like skills.

As what parents and teachers most often tell students, "It's a great investment for the future". And these saying, I do agree and disagree. Why because it is true for it has really good results for students but also false for it creates a sort of negative outcomes with regards the students' attitude.

If  you're much curious about what I'm talking about try to read an article that I've just read it is titled "Are you down with or done with homework?". It is a very interesting article for it is a compilation of different opinions about homework. And it may open or widen up your knowledge about this matter.

The overall message of the article is that it creates competency and preparedness on students. Since, we all know that everything in the future will be much complicated then this very hard task, homework will let you have a glimpse of what's to come. Alteast in the near future not everything will be much harder if you have already tasted a bit of this hardships.

That part is a good but the other point that is pretty much evident is the error of the parents. They sometimes bribe their children to do their homework. The conditions where the learners are only doing these task is because of a "luxury" bribe from their parents.

Parents can always make a way for their little ones to love homework but not in these way. The whole purpose of homework is just been thrown away. Bribery will only create a sense of greediness or maybe a start of being corrupted on students. If this will always be the way they'll do, might as well just let their children be not concern of homework anymore for they aren't learning anything good but being corrupt.

But the main issue is this, "What is the Roots of Why Homework Can't Be Effective?" A question I'll try to find answer. As I've learned different sides regarding this subject matter. I've seen that every party has an error to contribute and thus it should be made action because homework can affect everybody in every ways possible, isn't it?

Roots of Sour Attitudes and Wrong Mindsets

How many hours do you spend working on your homework? Ever went to school without even sleeping just to finish an assignment to be submitted the following day. A lot of students may have experienced this and even myself admits to have been through this situation. Isn't it too stressful and at the same time makes you fatigued both mentally and physically. But the question is, are they worth your efforts?

A typical student has a eight to ten subject for the whole year. Every subject sometimes has a different teacher. With these, teachers don't have the knowledge of what the other subject teachers are assigning to students which leads to a over work load for students.

Believing all the positive effects of homework, teachers assigned these as often and as much as possible. But what they do not know is that it really doesn't meet up the said benefits but rather promotes bad effects specially in the attitudes of the students.

I've read an article titled "The Myth About Homework" and my assumptions about homework had back-up my theories. This article shows how the academically related benefits are not being met up and just results to bad outcomes for the students.

Negative effect on students is that it can trigger a parent-child arguments. For as parents can always supervise their children with regard to homework 'cause it is being done at home. But the thing that parents sometimes do not pay attention is that children are sometimes too tired to do homework because of the day at school alone. The student tends to be stubborn which leads to a conflict between the child and their parents.

Also, with too much pressure being put on to students in addition with being stressed it pretty much leads to the worse effect on students, disinterest in learning. This is the point where students give up on the institution of learning. They started to think that their is no point in studying for they will just end up failing. This is probably the most tragic effect of homework to a learner.

The point of this stands is just try to consider all positions. Try not to be carried away on assigning things especially to children. We know that their understanding is not yet sufficient to understand all the things adults see in a thing; which means they need much more understanding. If they can't see any good on a thing do not force them to do it. Try to do it in a slow and gentle way because no positive outcome comes from a forceful input. Be reminded that children will always be children. Try to compromise instead of insisting what you only want. The students are the one's in need which means teachers and parents are the ones who should effort more in reaching out the learner. 

Teachers as an Instrument.

Teachers are the second parents of the students. Since, us students spent most time in school they are the ones who are mostly with us. Some may be much closer to their teachers than their own parents. Some students may hate their teachers so much or worse, fear them. This only means teachers can greatly influence or affect their students. If these assumption can be proven then, with the help of the parents, they will be the answer to the students behavior towards school.

One of the most intriguing issue in school is homework. The very long debate on whether to have or remove homework in a student's curriculum. But if the first assumption is true then teachers will be a great instrument to help students for the betterment. Since, the homework thing is still arguable. While they work on that matter, let us work on what we have right now.

This article Four Ways to Encourage Students to Complete Homework can be a guide for teachers in making their students do homework. Following are the four ways stated in the article:

1. Set a Solid Homework Policy as your Foundation

Communicate to both your students and their parents. Clearly lay out to them your policies and let their parents also have a copy. So that they can also be informed on what their children will do with regards this task. Also have a planner shown to your students showing them what they'll be doing for a period of time.

2. Online Blackboard

With our advance technology, let us take advantage in it. Have an online blackboard where you can easily put updates and answer questions of both the students and their parents. Since children of these generation is so inclined with the modern technology, being able to access this online blackboard won't be any problem.

3. Create a Reward System

Creating reward for students who completes their homework and submitting it on time will encourage students both those who follows the policy and those who are not really working on their homework. Do a weekly or monthly-basis reward instead of a daily-basis reward.

4. Create Assignments That Involve the Student's Interests

Try to put attention on what your students are interested in because "Not only will this help you accomplish the goal, it will remind your students of their strengths and help to improve their self-esteem." as the author of the article states.

Teachers, students, and parents working together -- this maybe the perfect way to aid the never ending problem to this homework situation. Regarding all different point of views; then, from their make the action and voila! the answer to our problem. Listen to each sides and have reflections and we'll see things much clearer. Everybody is an instrument, all we need to do is to know what role do we have; then, Homework done!

When is Enough, ENOUGH?

School days are mostly from Monday up to Friday. Almost 72% of students' days in a week is spent on school. Every day, at least 6 to 10 hours per day were spent on school. If we estimate the total hours spent on school, inside the classroom, of an average student it can be about 45% of time a year. Do you think that's a worth of their time? Wouldn't there be other much better things to do with that allotted time? Not to mention, we're only talking about the time spent inside the classroom and the after school activities are not yet included. So, if we added that in the computation of the percentage on time spent in school and other related activities; the figures will be much higher and can even reach the 50% level which is for me is too much. Would you agree?

Look at this study on the percentage of students who spend number of hours in daily homework. We can see that our country, Philippines, has higher percentage on elementary students than on middle school students. What maybe are the reasons? Let's have a reflection about it. If you're a teenager or you have a teenager then try to picture out what maybe the reasons are.

DISTRACTIONS -- This maybe the answer why. Like the following: Side by side mall there; Online, arcade, and other types of computer related games; Social networking sites like Facebook and twitter: Texting and chatting; or other new leisure introduced to our generation today.

What can we do about it? Of course, when there is distraction try to regain their attention to what is important. If teachers cannot help students to aid these issue then, surely parents can with their children. All they have to do is to know what to do after, apply it.

This article that I've read can be the first steps to parents-children right teamwork onto homework making; Tips On Getting Your Teen To Do Their Homework. Explained with my own understanding, these are some ways cited on the article :

• Create an environment geared toward your teen. According to the article, put yourself on your teenager's shoe. After a long day at school, homework is the last thing they wanted to do. First, find where your children is most comfortable in your home to do their work and if possible, provide them all the things the might need with their school works. So, they won't have to worry to go look for things and just focus on what they must do.
• Pick a time and stick to it. Make a routine that your child will follow. It's much better if there is a agreed time on when to do homework, so that they won't have any reason to not do it. Also, give consequences. If they don't do their homework on the agreed time, it is understood that there will be a punishment.
• Don't let your teen overwhelm himself/herself. Too much of a good thing is still dangerous. Be reminded, that this teenagers are still teenagers. Too much pressure and workload is not good for their age. Never cross that line wherein making them to do too much can even cause something much worse.
• Now drop it! This means that parent's should be involve in making their child's homework or activities but limit it as much. Do not do any of their work. Parents' job is motivate, guide, and answer their child's question if there is.

There is a fine line between enough and too much. Teachers, students and even parents should take note on this matter. Having the right balance on things should always be observed even in the most smallest things like homework. Because an imbalance in something may lead to an irregularity on another thing which can be a domino-like effect and it'll be much harder to fix if many variables had already been affected. So, let's start from the bottom of things. Let's start from homework. 

=)

What's a Better Alternative for Homework? Three words--DLP.

Real Projects, Real Learning -- the famous slogan of my current school. I'm a freshman student of Asia Pacific College (APC) and this slogan is what my professors keep on mentioning to us. Whenever we were complaining with their given mind-blowing hands-on, seatworks or projects; this slogan of ours is always being reminded right onto our faces. The reason behind in this is that they believe that real projects or if it is learned through hands-on, the learning will also be as genuine.

In my experience, these hands-on activities does made a greater impact on me with regards to learning. If I were able to find or do something by myself, I pretty much think that I learned better than if it is done through  the typical manner -- discussions + assignments or vice versa. I even enjoy this new way of teaching where we students are the ones who discover the answers ourselves. Its like a mystery case wherein we are the detectives and the only ones who can solve the case.

If students can learn much more if they were given hands-on activities; then, homework should be effective. But why does it seem to be the opposite effect? Because there are also other factors needed to be considered like the students' point of view and guidance.

Students' Point of View -- If a given task is forcefully given to a student then the solution is also a forceful outcome. Where is the learning in that? Just like homework, if this will not be willingly done by students; then, it's purpose is already been damaged. That is why, teachers or instructors should also consider the opinion of their students. What is the best way for them to have the initiative or for them to learn as well as enjoy the given task? With both parties having a compromise, mission accomplish.

Guidance -- What's the point of this after-school tasks if students will just learn the wrong things. This is also a factor where homework has its fall back. Homework means it is done at home. Then, when it is done at home will they be guided? Who will guide them? There will be no teachers to ask if there as some uncleared parts to the given task. Parents can't always be relied on because some may not have the time and some may not have enough knowledge.

Recognizing this two factors, clearly shows that homework cannot succeed in achieving its main purposes -- enriching learning. Then maybe we should revise the whole thing or maybe have a better substitute to it like the so called Dynamic Learning Program (DLP).

I've read this DLP on an article titled School opening surprise: No more homework. I find it very good and thought that it might actually work. According to the article, this new approach in teaching created by a Filipino couple physicist, Christopher and Ma.Victoria Bernido, both regards the students' opinion and maintains guidance to them along the process of learning. More seatworks, less lecture and no homework is the setup of this program. Only 20% of the time inside the class is used in lecturing and the remaining time is used for the students to explore on their own and find answers for themselves. In this program, students wouldn't be "spoon-feed" but they will have to work hard to know the answers. But because it is still done at school, teachers can still observe what their students are doing. Thus, they can know if students are still in the right track.

What's another good thing about this, as said in the article, it doesn't need big budget to carry out the program. Paper and pen is enough to execute operations. They piloted DLP  on one of a secondary school in Cagayan de Oro and it showed a highly significant improvement in the major subjects. Also, the school is consistently having numbers of University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) passers. Which means that real learning is instilled with the students.

Innovative styles in teaching -- maybe this is the answer for a quality education. All we need to do is open our minds for new ideas to be applied on our education. Let us not rely on the things that we are using now; always have an eye for improvement.

No Homework at all: A Wrong Move

A "No weekend homework" policy in the Philippines. Most students tends to rejoice about this and even I think it is an absolute pro-students policy. Imagine a whole weekend with no homework to worry, one of the many students' burden is finally lifted. It is like for the first time, the authorities have hear out our side -- a students' point of view. But is this move a good move?

Homework said to be an instrument that can further nourish a student's knowledge on a certain topic. But with this, being limitedly given, can this be a negative approach to our education's problems? We just disregarded all the said benefits we can get in having homework, for the leisure time given to students. Think about it, try to look at it from both sides.

I've talk to some people regarding this issue and it seems that most, pretty much agrees with it. The reason maybe behind these is that they are mostly students. So, to further learn on this issue, I read articles regarding it. One opinion caught my attention, she is not in favor with this policy; which is not usual. You can also read it in the "opinion" part of a famous broadsheet newspaper Manila Bulletin titled "Homework or no homework".

The reader named Ivy A. Asuncion, 29 years old and a mother of 3 elementary students, said that homework can be "counter-productive". If it can't fully give a education improvement then it will surely teach students good values and essential skills like time-management, resourcefulness, and independence.

Time management can be attained if a person can manage to efficiently finished all his/her tasks with still enough time for other things. In homework, like what is mentioned in the article, finishing it on time but still having time for extra curricular activities is an example of time-management. She also said that this is a great practice for the future. Because in the future, time management will really come in handy.

Students will also be resourceful and independent as what Ivy also mentioned. They will have to find answers for there assignment; thus, they will use different sources to aid their requirements. With that they will learn how to be resourceful. Being independent or can manage to do well alone can also be developed with the use of homework. The students aren't just gonna rely on their teachers to learn, but they also have to do efforts to know about the lessons or topic and this will encourage independence. This two skills, like the first mentioned, is needed especially in the so called "real world". These "organizational skills" will be a great help for the students in the future.

"Looking into the bright side of everything" is the best quotation I can relate on the this matter. Homework may look like to be just a pure suffering but as we try to look at in a different perspective, a different side we discover. I learned to appreciate the hidden benefits of this commonly complaint thing, that all we need to do is look at it much deeper. Like this skills and values that can be earned with doing homework, as I can see it, they are a great investment for the future. Then maybe we should learn to appreciate this thing more than to keep on complaining and moaning about it -- that is the right move that we should do.

Misconceptions about Homework?

"Practice makes Perfect"

This may be one of the  most famous quotations known to mankind. Even I admit that I've already used this quote for a number of times. In essays, reports and in speeches. But the thing is, do I even  believe in this saying? In some instances, YES. But in some, No. Let's take singing and studying for example. In singing, the more you practice the more you got better. How about in studying, is this assumption still applicable?

As a student myself, practicing in studying is what we called as homework. Since preschool this practice was already been observed but in this times the children still see homework as an enjoyable activity. They even look forward in dong this but as we reach level in education higher, the lessons gets harder. With that, teachers tends to give homework most of the time. A hard lesson then a number of homework, the said "enjoyable activity" suddenly turns into a "burden" for most students.

Teachers often assign homework before or after opening up a topic. Before because they believe that students' should at least have a background on the subject so that it'll be easier for them to understand the lesson. Or after the discussion for they believe that this can further make the students' understanding in the lecture better. But the question is, Does it really do any good? or just a pure superstition and a waste of time?

As my curiosity got bigger, I started reading articles about this matter. I've read few articles and some studies regarding homework, but one stood out for me. This article of Alfie Kohn entitled, The Truth About Homework. He mentioned different points regarding homework. He even cited conducted researches and surveys on the said subject. But what most marked on me is the part where he said that more time studying like doing homework doesn't automatically leads to betters learning.

The author stated in the article  "homework “reinforces” the skills that students have learned – or, rather, have been taught -- in class" which is said to be one of the wrong misconception of teachers about homework. Having the students to do more in a subject, the deeper they will understand the lesson. Like, doing more Math exercises will make you good in that particular topic. In these article, it does not agree with this presumption of teacher in why they give loads and loads of homework. Kohn said that if ever this "repetition" will make any positive effect on students, what kind of proficiency will this improvement will be?

Another interesting point he raised is that if ever homework does creates positive outcome on students' performance, does it really need to be done at home? If students do better if they have someone to discuss or compare their ideas and works with, then it can be just done in school than to be taken at home. Also, what if the student didn't really have any clue or can't understand the assigned lesson then it'll just be a waste of time and effort. Frustrating as a student can be, they won't be any near in being productive.

May be the solution to this "homework issues" is to take consider of the students also. Teachers should not just assign things without thinking if this will really help students and not just because of the thought that giving these homework will make their job easier. In the first place, their purpose is to teach and guide the students not to teach students on how to study by themselves. I'm not saying that homework should totally be diminished, it's just other factors are needed to be regarded before making any assumption of what these actions (like giving homework) will actually bring to students.

Education still have flaws that is needed to be polished. Perhaps they should review all little aspects and if possible have some revisions. They could start from one of the tiniest branch, homework.

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As I read the article of Alfie Kahn, I've come up with these follow-up questions and where can I find answers to these.

• Article :  
• "The Truth About Homework"

• Follow up questions for research:

1. Why does homework said to have more negative effects on students than have positive effects?
2. How much time does an average student consumes in making homework?
3. Does teachers disregard students' point of view with regards to giving homework?

• Sources of Information
• Thesis or Studies (regarding homework)
• Articles
• Surveys
• Interviews

A Quality Time Thief : Homework

Back when I'm still in elementary, I've remembered crying late at night for I have not yet finished my assignments. I'm just half way through the things our teacher ask us to do and all were to be passed in the next day. I even experienced being left at home while my whole family goes to mall or in church. Imagine at third-grade you're teacher will give you a book report then there will also be a reading assignment plus a two to three pages to answer as well. Do they think a little child can figure out how to make this kind of project? 

Aside from the pressure of having lots to do, being not able to spend time with your family is a brutal punishment for a student specially children. Instead of just playing games with their friends, bonding with their parents or to have a break from a long tiring day at school, you will have to do more of the studying because of this so called school work extensions, homework. 

Nancy Kalish, author of the article The Less-Homework Revolution, once supported the thought of having homework. Until her own second-grader got to react negatively about this. She had narrated some of their experience in this article. "But a few years later, Allison started coming home with four hours of homework each night, and everything changed. Now there was not only whining but also begging, yelling, and crying -- sometimes from both of us. The worst part: hearing my previously enthusiastic learner repeatedly swear how much she hated school." she cited.

Then, she started to research on this matter. She found out that there other parents who have the same problem as hers. In the article, the other parent who is also the principal in the school of her child, decided to make an experiment. They eliminate most of the homework but maintained the part where the students have to study for upcoming exams. This experiment shows that even without the stressful homework, there was no decline in the test scores and in classroom performance of the pupils. With this positive outcome in the children's academic results without the presence of these so called school work extensions they also have shown to put again their interest in reading and lessening the pressure and stress in both the parents and the students.

But since this kind of approach in education can't be implemented yet because it is still an issue to be carefully tackled, the thing we could do for now is to reduce the trouble of the students. But how? Simple! By being involved of the parents in their child’s homework. If the parents will help their children in this task they can do it much efficiently and they'll be able to bond at the same time.

An article in a site called TeacherVision proposed the following suggestions on how involved should parents be:

·   Keep parents regularly informed about the amount of homework assigned to their children.

·   Parents should facilitate the completion of homework assignments. They should not do assignments for students; rather, they should provide the atmosphere and support system that will increase the likelihood of student completion (e.g., a quiet place to study, encouragement, and praise).

·   Parents should have active and regular conversations with their children about homework assignments, concerns, and issues. A solid interest in homework helps support the completion of that homework.

·   Be sure parents understand the purposes of homework, the amount of homework assigned, consequences for non-completion of homework, and a list of the types of suggested or acceptable parent involvement.

I believe that these hardships were a normal part in life. These difficulties will either break us or make us. We can't do anything about it but to overcome all this. But how about the young ones, can they do this on their own? Of course not and this is when the parents' role take part. It is their obligation to help their children and be able to surpass all this challenges. To think about it, wouldn't it be a good thing to be part of your children's life as most of the families are having a hard time to do with means of as little thing as a homework. It could even reverse the said prior effect and make homework as a "Quality Time Maker".

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