New Teacher Tips

Homework: What's the Purpose?

Are your homework assignments really helping your students?  In an article in Ed Leadership Kathleen Cushman got some interesting insights from research on students perspectives on homework.  Kids told Dr. Cushman that their  homework should target areas of weakness an push them to reach a new level within their capability.  She quoted from a young man who talked about how he practices on his own after a basketball game, working deliberately on areas with recognized weaknesses--more foul shots if he didn't shoot them well, more endurance training if he grew tired during the game.  When this student practiced basketball, he knew what the goals were, they were specific to his weaknesses, and the drove his practice efforts.  A short way to think about this idea is that his practice had relevance to him; he understood and embraced its purpose, and as a result, wanted to do it.  Think about your most recent homework assignments.  Did each student see the relevance of that assignment to his/her own learning? 

Plan homework assignments that are relevant and articulate that relevance to students.  Make sure that students know the point of their homework and that they know what the goal is for their own learning. Are there multiple ways for students to practice on the same topic but with different assignments based on their individual needs? Can you give students some options that achieve appropriate learning goals?

Schedule for New Teacher and Mentor Meetings for Fall 2012
(All New Teacher and Mentor Meetings will be held on the second and fourth Monday of each month (except August) during the fall semester and will last approximately 2 hours unless otherwise noted.)

Below is a list of videos available on VDOE website.  Please try to take advantage of the videos as a foundation for regular meetings with your mentor.

• View the following videos. Click on the title to open the video.  Videos vary in length but most are about 5 minutes.
  
  • The Use of Rules to Set Limits for Appropriate Behavior
  • The Importance of Having and Teaching Classroom Procedures
  • Setting Expectations for Student Behaviors
  • Room Arrangements

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  • Building Relationships 
  • Engaging Instruction
  • Enhancing Time Management 
  • Advanced Lesson Planning and Routines

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  • Academic Achievement and Parent Interaction
  • School to Home Communications Systems
  • Local Policies and Procedures Teachers Should Know

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  •  Developing an Engaging Learning Environment
  •  Asking Meaningful Questions
  • Building Effective Interaction with Students in the Classroom
  • Getting Appropriate Feedback from Students

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