“ The Homework Myth” by Alfie Kohn A Review that summarizes and offers commentary

Context and Background Author is Alfie Kohn Popular Author and Lecturer Post on my website last May Highly Recommended

Author is Alfie Kohn

Popular Author and Lecturer

Post on my website last May

Highly Recommended

Chapter 1: Missing out on their Childhoods Points out the relative newness of homework Now commonly accepted Creates problems in the home Lack of time for children to be children. Flickr picture from: http://flickr.com/photos/kellymason/2476877041/sizes/s/

Points out the relative newness of homework

Now commonly accepted

Creates problems in the home

Lack of time for children to be children.

Flickr picture from: http://flickr.com/photos/kellymason/2476877041/sizes/s/

Missing Childhood burden on parents stress for children family conflict less time for other activities less interest in learning

burden on parents

stress for children

family conflict

less time for other activities

less interest in learning

Chapter 2: Does homework improve learning? 1. At best only an association not a causal relationship 2. Do we really know how much homework kids do? - depends who you ask and on the individual student 3. Homework Studies confuse grades and test scores with learning 4. homework matters less the longer you look

1. At best only an association not a causal relationship

2. Do we really know how much homework kids do? - depends who you ask and on the individual student

3. Homework Studies confuse grades and test scores with learning

4. homework matters less the longer you look

Improving learning? 5. positive effects are quite small 6. In elementary school no benefit 7. national and international exams cast further doubt 8. incidental research raises further doubts

5. positive effects are quite small

6. In elementary school no benefit

7. national and international exams cast further doubt

8. incidental research raises further doubts

Chp 3: Other benefits of homework Does it teach work ethic and build character? Responsibility? Do we want what it could teach? Picture from: http://flickr.com/photos/21135206@N05/2099577862/

Does it teach work ethic and build character?

Responsibility?

Do we want what it could teach?

Picture from: http://flickr.com/photos/21135206@N05/2099577862/

Chapter 4: Studies show…or do they? Studies that show support are often misquoted. Don’t always take their word for it. Sloppy writing perpetuates the myth of homework. An example pg. 77 – re: Marzano

Studies that show support are often misquoted.

Don’t always take their word for it.

Sloppy writing perpetuates the myth of homework.

An example pg. 77 – re: Marzano

Chapter 5: The Questions left unasked. We are stuck more on the how to do the homework question than to the question of why. Due to focus on competition and grades etc.

We are stuck more on the how to do the homework question than to the question of why.

Due to focus on competition and grades etc.

Chapter 6:What We Haven’t Learned about learning. Fascination with time on task or ToT Idea that more homework = more time. Interesting debate here with the work of Malcolm Galdwell in “Outliers” Push for Quality of Instruction An example from my experience

Fascination with time on task or ToT

Idea that more homework = more time.

Interesting debate here with the work of Malcolm Galdwell in “Outliers”

Push for Quality of Instruction

An example from my experience

Chapter 7: The Tougher Standards Crowd hits Home 1983 Nation at Risk Presumption that Rigor = Excellence Achievement Gap can be caused by homework perhaps. Class and homework strategies

1983 Nation at Risk

Presumption that Rigor = Excellence

Achievement Gap can be caused by homework perhaps.

Class and homework strategies

Economy and Work Concern from employers Why do we then send jobs over seas? Do Foreign companies in America look for the highest quality of work. Business and education in general – What is the point of an education.

Concern from employers

Why do we then send jobs over seas?

Do Foreign companies in America look for the highest quality of work.

Business and education in general – What is the point of an education.

Chapter 8: Better Get Used to It Better get used to it = BGUTI As an excuse doesn’t really hold up but we allow it to. Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kriegs/419249763/

Better get used to it = BGUTI

As an excuse doesn’t really hold up but we allow it to.

Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kriegs/419249763/

Chapter 9: Idle Hands Idle Hands the Devil’s playground Great quote from Hesiod pg 152 Ageism continues Generation We? Photo from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsian/299025575/sizes/l/

Idle Hands the Devil’s playground

Great quote from Hesiod pg 152

Ageism continues

Generation We?

Photo from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelsian/299025575/sizes/l/

Chapter 10: Rethinking Homework Changing the Default Quantity Quality Choice

Changing the Default

Quantity

Quality

Choice

Chapter 11: Make the Change Have courage and give it a try Or just try for a unit and see if homework makes any difference. If in high school how about do one section without homework?

Have courage and give it a try

Or just try for a unit and see if homework makes any difference.

If in high school how about do one section without homework?