Entry#10 Based on your readings and experience in this class and beyond, create a rationale/purpose for giving homework and independent work. What will constitute meaningful homework? What are your intended homework objectives for your students? How will you provide specific feedback? Be sure to include your ideas about the role of technology in this communication process.

Homework is an important part of the learning process. It allows students to practice new learning beyond the classroom. As all teachers know class time is limited especially with things like regular days off, assemblies, field trips, etc. Homework helps maximize learning experiences. It gives students additional time to practice and apply new skills and concepts and requires them to work at their independent level.  However in order for homework to be effective, it needs to be purposeful, differentiated, easy to understand, require little support from parents, and must be explicitly explained, discussed, and/or even modeled for students prior to being sent home. Students should also receive feedback on their homework in order to extend their thinking and learning. In order for a particular assignment to be meaningful, it must be used in the context of bigger ideas and concepts being discussed in the classroom.  It should not be an isolated skill that requires rote memorization or drill and practice. In order to be meaningful, students should be encouraged to think critically about something, use creativity, and/or use problem solving skills to complete the task. The task’s purpose should be articulated to and understood by students. The objective of any homework assignment should be similar to the objective for a particular in class lesson or assignment and the homework is simply another format in which students can meet that objective. Homework should never be used as a way for students to learn completely new material. It should always be used to extend what is done in class. Homework can ask students to build background knowledge around a particular topic, ask them to make connections to other topics, or synthesize new understandings. As long as it is differentiated in a way that sets all students up for success. Homework may look the same for students, but how they complete it or respond to it make look drastically different depending on their abilities in language or learning. Moreover, students must receive feedback on their homework. This can be feedback from parents, teachers, or even peers. When homework is discussed both before and after students complete it, it reinforces the learning even more. Feedback can come in a variety of forms, it may be through a communication log with parents and students, it may be in written form on the homework assignment, or it may be discussed in class amongst peers, in small groups, or one-on-one. Finally, technology is an important tool to consider when giving homework, and when communicating with families. Technology tools can be used to complete homework but expectations must be clear. In addition, a teacher should never assign homework that requires the use of a particular technological tool unless the teacher is providing the tool for every student. For example the teacher may provide ipods with learning content or recorded text and this is ok.  If a homework assignment allows for technology it should also allow for other tools and resources in order to be completed successfully by all students. Regular communication with families through technology or other means is critical so that parents and families are aware of the learning, the expectations, and the progress their child is making.