Journal 6: Ten Reasons to get rid of Homework

Journal 6: Ten reasons to get rid of Homework (NETS-T 1, 5)

Spencer, J. (2011, September 19). Ten reasons to get rid of homework. Retrieved from http://www.educationrethink.com/2011/09/ten-reasons-to-get-rid-of-homework-and.html

Summary:
John Spencer offers ten reasons for getting rid of homework. He states that he has not assigned homework for the last four years and that there are alternatives to homework that would most likely satisfy students in a better way. Homework has been an essential part to schooling in the United States but, what’s the need for it? Young and older students are busy and can’t find the time to play, reflect, and interact when hours are being added to an already busy day. Homework isn’t always accessible for every child; some struggle to have adequate lighting or are constantly moving to baby-sit their younger siblings. Homework de-motivates students and doesn’t raise their achievement. The goal for students is the desire to learn. Homework is the wrong focus for students; it kills the natural desire to explore, question, and learn what’s outside of the classroom.

Analysis:
I think that John Spencer makes perfect sense in all of his ten reasons to abolish homework. The most difficult thing for me is to find time learning outside the classroom and spending time with my family when I have so much mandatory homework that is asked from me. Homework ruins the fun of learning and it turns into a chore instead of something engaging. Most of us do it for the grade and forget the connection to the real world or goal of the lesson because our focus is directed by one thing- the passing grade. Homework should be abolished and turned into something positive instead that fuels our desire to learn and makes engaging conversation.

5 Alternatives to Homework:



Go out! Apply what you know! Take every chance that you go out an experience to learn something or apply what you learned earlier in the day. Count the change from the store, visit a museum, reflect on the work your mom/dad does, or count how much 25 %, 70%, or 15% off would be from the price of clothes.
Build Community: Get together with friends and volunteer, share your dreams, or reflect on what is important to you. Make service projects that help the environment and the people around you.
Play games and watch T.V. Play puzzle games, word searches, or checkers and exercise your brain. Watch the history channel, Discovery channel, or a game show like “Are you smarter than a 5^th grader?”
Use technology: Email important people in the White house or in your local city. Make a blog and interact with people from all over the world. Play games online and test your skills in a fun and interact manner.
Exercise! Establish a daily exercise where you calculate how far you walked or how long you swam. Calculate how many calories you burned. Sing the multiplication song as you jump rope or play basketball.