No Homework (Finished Homework) Doesn’t Mean There Isn’t Any Work To Do

If you came to Curriculum Night then you know this is my second career. This is my 14th year of teaching. I started teaching just as a few trends hit education pretty hard; standardized testing and the “no homework” movement. The trends seem to be in contradiction as standardized testing was to be the impetus to make education more effective, while those who believe in no homework believe that homework is counterproductive to education for a variety of reasons.

It’s not important what I think, but it is important what I do. I don’t give out a lot of homework to my science classes. I do give out homework in my math classes. It’s important what I do, but it’s even more important what your students do.

Whether your student has homework for a particular class, or not, they have a job to do. I don’t believe that job is to get ready for the next standardized test, or even my test. I believe their job is to;

  1. Prepare themselves for the future well beyond high school. We have a system in place in the US that rewards those who play the game well, work hard, and pave an easier path forward. Your students will be in high school before you can blink. My math students are going to take a high school credit course next year.
  2. Begin mastering the skills to a successful career well beyond my classroom. You already know your students need to be confident, analytical, problems solvers who can communicate effectively verbally and with the written word. You know your students need persistence, grit (trendy word alert), adaptability, and curiosity. I can spend another paragraph or two on adjectives, but I hope I made my point.
  3. Begin to recognize opportunities for growth and to realize no homework, or finished homework, doesn’t mean they don’t have work to do.

I tell your students that it doesn’t matter if they don’t have homework, or finished their homework, if they don’t understand the material or they can’t prove a level of mastery that matches their ability level. This isn’t about grades. A student who works to their best of their ability and earns a “C”, should be proud. A student who earns an “A-“, but isn’t working to their ability, should ask themselves how they can improve.

So if you’re asking your students if they have or homework, or if they are done with their homework, try a subtle shift. Ask your students if they understand what’s going on in class. And if you really want to have fun, ask them to prove it! Ask your students, if they could confidently prove mastery over their learning. If the answers are “no”, then there IS work to do. They don’t have to do it alone. I’m here to help.

Encourage your student to ask questions in class, ask for help, or see me in study center. Because once the grade is in, it’s too late to change the grade. We can always change behavior.

As always feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.