DreamBox Learning®» Homework http://www.dreambox.com DreamBox Learning, a web-based math learning company Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:01:10 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Supporting Math Learning: The Six DO's for Families and Teachers http://www.dreambox.com/blog/the-six-dos http://www.dreambox.com/blog/the-six-dos#comments Thu, 09 Dec 2010 22:10:19 +0000 Tracy H http://www.dreambox.com/blog/?p=7108 NCTM’s President’s Message, focuses on how to help your child or student with math. This instantly reminded me of doing homework after school, struggling with a math problem, and asking my mother for help. When she heard the problem she apologized–she couldn’t remember how to do the math I was working on. NCTM’s President, J. Michael Shaughnessy, offers some great advice to parents and teachers on how to support their children and students when they’re in need of math help. He encourages parents and teachers to “(1) Remember, mathematics is important, and we can all do it. (2) Work together as a team with your child—don’t show how to do it. (3) Investigate the NCTM resources that can provide assistance when helping your children with their math work.” Shaughnessy has provided a list of six DO’s for families and their math students to encourage math learning at school and at home:
  1. Be positive
  2. Link mathematics with daily life
  3. Make mathematics fun
  4. Learn about mathematics-related careers
  5. Have high expectations for your students
  6. Support homework—don’t do it!
We have a number of resources already on our site to get you started on your ‘do’ list. Starting with this very blog! Thanksgiving dinner math activities gives children real life opportunities to use math and these 7 cool jobs that require math learning may inspire your children to a future career. Share with us how you support your children or students! How do you make math engaging? Are your children interested in a career using math? Leave us a comment and let us know!]]> http://www.dreambox.com/blog/the-six-dos/feed 0 In Pursuit of the Right Kind of Homework http://www.dreambox.com/blog/in-pursuit-of-the-right-kind-of-homework http://www.dreambox.com/blog/in-pursuit-of-the-right-kind-of-homework#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:41:36 +0000 Lou http://www.dreambox.com/blog/?p=417 failings of homework. For those who want the CliffsNotes, the net is that rote, unimaginative, repetitive, grinding and brutally boring homework doesn’t help. To the contrary, it actually hurts students across several fronts.]]> failings of homework. For those who want the CliffsNotes, the net is that rote, unimaginative, repetitive, grinding and brutally boring homework doesn’t help. To the contrary, it actually hurts students across several fronts. This is not to say that all homework is bad. In fact, of the following varieties of homework, only the first presents the real problem:
  1. Traditional homework (aka busy work).
  2. Supplemental learning.
  3. Longer-term / self-directed projects.
  4. Direct test preparation (not to be confused with yearly WASL-like testing).

Is Homework Simply a Tradition for Elementary School Kids?

My oldest son goes to a school with some pretty incredible teachers. They make learning fun and it shows because he LOVES and works hard at school. As is the norm, however, a fair mixture of his homework is lengthy and of the traditional variety. Despite his natural desire to do well, he is already complaining about these homework assignments -- he views them as both a chore and infringement on his family / personal time. My wife and I completely appreciate his position (as does his ever-watchful younger brother). As a 2nd grader, is he already burning out? Will he lose his affinity for school, or worse, learning? Is it worth the household tension it creates? Does it come at the expense of other meaningful activities? Or is it all just an acclimating phase? We really can’t blame the teachers or the administration for providing traditional homework -- they are responding to well-meaning, but otherwise misguided, parents clamoring for more for the sake of more (and, of course, for the varietal of homework these parents received as children).  That said, my wife and I wish his school were able to educate (read: convince) other parents about the homework big picture and how it relates to their child’s education. Until then, school assignments of any variety must get done in our household . . . even though I can always feel the BTUs generating from my wife as she prepares to do battle with my son to get it done on time and with bona fide effort.]]> http://www.dreambox.com/blog/in-pursuit-of-the-right-kind-of-homework/feed 0