5 Hallmarks of Good Homework

EL
September 2010
Vol. 68 No.1
Meaningful Homework

There are five key factors to consider when assigning meaningful homework to students. The factors to consider are the purpose, efficiency, ownership, competence, and aesthetic appeal.

Beginning with purpose, it is our goal to give students methods to do homework that is purposeful to them, methods that work for their learning style. For example, instead of assigning spelling homework to write the words three times each, a better assignment might be to create your own method to practice spelling words such as use Scrabble tiles to spell the words or create a puzzle using the words. Instead of assigning science homework to write definitions to the 15 vocabulary words, an alternative might be to write sentences or a story using the vocabulary words. Finally, instead of assigning 20 math problems for homework, all focused on the new skill taught, consider assigning 3 problems to practice the new concept, and 10 problems to practice previous skills taught.

Homework assignments should be efficient. They should demonstrate evidence of learning without requiring excessive amounts of time to complete. Instead of assigning projects like dioramas, models, and posters, an alternative way to demonstrate learning may be to have students write a diary entry illustrating the concepts studied in a unit.

Teachers should give students ownership of their homework, to promote their motivation to do the homework. If the class is doing a report on a country, students may feel ownership of their assignment when allowed to chose their own method of presentation, such as creating a Power Point presentation, a travel brochure, or a traditional research paper.

To help students feel competent in completing their homework, differentiate assignments so they are at the appropriate level of difficulty for individual students. Struggling students may require fewer questions, less complex problems, or less reading.

Finally, homework assignments should have aesthetic appeal. Five-page worksheets look boring and tedious. Students are more motivated to complete assignments that are visually uncluttered. The use of graphics or clip art make tasks look inviting.

Students may be more motivated and successful in completing homework when the elements of purpose, efficiency, ownership, competence, and aesthetic appeal have been incorporated into the assignment.