Design Question 3: What Will I Do to Help Students Practice & Deepen Understanding;
Module 9: Using Homework & Academic Notebooks to Deepen Student Understanding (p. 109-115)
From Activity Box (p. 113): 1. Describe how you could use homework to introduce new content.
2. How can you use homework that helps students deepen their knowledge?
3. How can you use homework to enhance students' fluency with procedural knowledge?
4. How can you use homework to get parents involved and participate from home?
From Activity Box (p. 114): Compare your use of academic notebooks with recommendations described in this section.
Pg. 113
ReplyDelete1. I don't use homework to introduce new content. I really struggle with this idea of using homework to introduce content. My homework is a concept that we've been working on any they should be able to do independently. It's always practice of what we've done in class. I could possibly see it used to do a prewrite about the essential questions from the units in ELA just to get them thinking.
2. I have had open ended questions tied to some of their math problems to work on the math practices aspect or had them create their own problems using the format we had been working on. Something new I'd like to try is having them creating similes and metaphors.
3.This is where most of my homework comes from but I don't like to add the time constraint. I do have them mark the problems that took them the longest or they thought were the most difficult to start a classroom discussion over the homework.
4. I struggle with this. To be completely honest, I've stopped to the reading logs or fact logs from home. I have found time and time again that parents just sign their name and don't realize what it is they've signed (it always surprises them at conferences seeing their signatures but admitting their child isn't practicing). In the upper grades, I've found it difficult to get parent involvement with homework because we are doing things in ways they don't understand and haven't been taught. We talked about needing to change our parents mindsets as to what they can do to help their children, and hopefully with our STAT nights and AVID we will see more involvement. I also question the need for translations of homework. There are times that my homework changes the day of because I realize they aren't quite ready for it, so getting things translated for parents to understand is an obstacle. I wonder if we could somehow come up with a "Homework Helper" packet for parents that gives info to help with the foundation aspects.
Pg. 114
I plan to use the notebooks for more structured note taking, reflective thinking, comparing/conferring with study buddies, and allow time to go back and make changes to previous concepts.
Well, I don't give homework as you all know--except reading homework for SIPPS--there are certainly times students ask for homework. :)
ReplyDelete1. I wouldn't want to assign math or reading homework about skills that haven't been taught, either. But what if it was a pre-write like Amy suggested. Maybe a pre-write about science or social studies they'll be learning about. I could see how this could be helpful as another way to generate prior knowledge.
2.Using homework to deepen knowledge (comparison, classification etc.) is a great way to continue student learning at home.
3. Fluency-I think this is a great way to have students practice math fact fluency-like a Mad Minute once a week. When I have a math facts group, I like to use Mad Minutes weekly. Students enjoy seeing their speed and fluency increase.
4. The past 2 years I've included a reading log for 1st and 2nd grade SIPPS students. The request is for them to read their stories 10 minutes a night. It is true what Amy says-parents often sign and don't know why. In the front of their folder, I have a translated letter explaining the expectations. There are 2-3 students who always return their folder, signed. The other half of the group often forget to read and/or lose their folders. I realize many of these students live in homes where their parents can't read what they're reading. And they're lucky to get a page signed. I wish things could be different but I also think it's helpful for those who do read to have this option sent home with them each night. You can certainly tell which parents can help. I understand Amy's frustration of skills becoming too hard for parents to help with, too.
p. 114 I think I could use academic notebooks in math--and I like the idea of using them to review for tests. I also like the idea of partners looking through the books and helping each other by coaching or generating questions for the teacher.
Question 3- Module 9
DeleteI've not had much practice using academic notebooks. That looks like it will change with our school using the AVID program. I feel I use homework effectively. I want to provide rigor. Students need independent performance evaluated. I can see how academic notebooks will provide a resource for students that need an aid.
As with any skill, homework enhances student fluency. I don't ask parents to monitor accuracy. I do provide parents with frequent updates as to progress made. I will be interested in how many parents monitor their child's grades with the use of Synergy and online grades. The text recommends sending home suggestions or directions to parents on ways to support their child without interference or control. Our students have a disadvantage in this area due to language barriers. A little preplanning on my part can help eliminate this excuse. This is why I send home weekly newsletters giving a short synopsis on what we are working on that week. The newsletter is signed so I know the parent has read it. I also have a section for parent questions.
I'm not sure how I will use the academic notebook as far as having parent signatures. I don't want them to sign something that isn't translated.
I can see how students could use partners to deepen understanding of a concept by studying a certain section. Then I would develop higher order questions related to that section.
Homework, that is a topic we need to address as a school.
ReplyDelete1. I am not big on introducing new content with homework unless it is purposefully explained and understood that this is just the beginning of our learning. This will probably be used more with upper grades.
2. Homework that helps deepen knowledge is good if they have the knowledge and are ready to go deeper. If they still are not sure about their learning and don't have a solid foundation practice is more important.
3. Enhancing students' fluency with procedural knowledge! Yes! I see this with math skills, reading fluency, problem solving and any skill that needs practice, practice, practice!!!
4. I am hoping our new STAT nights help get our parents more involved in their students learning at home. If we can help our families understand the importance of helping their students then we can help them make a difference.
I was thinking the same thing about STAT night.
ReplyDelete1. Describe how you could use homework to introduce new content.That would save a lot of time, building the background knowledge-but what if they don't do it? I guess you'd need to build in time for them to share what they got out of the homework, to help build connections for the ones who didn't do it, or struggled with it.
ReplyDelete2. How can you use homework that helps students deepen their knowledge?
they are using their declaritive knowledge to reflect and take things to a deeper level. If they were able to make connections before the lesson even started, then you have a jump start on their understanding for the new material. I think it would peak their interest before you even start, and get them engaged ahead of time.
3. How can you use homework to enhance students' fluency with procedural knowledge?
This is what I was always told homework is for, to build on what was done in class. It gives them time...without being rushed to practice and apply what you did in school. I was always told that the key to follow up with this, is to make sure they get feedback, or time to go over the homework. That they need to be able to see where their mistakes were made. This is also a good time to bring in some technical writing, if they have to write out the steps on something.
4. How can you use homework to get parents involved and participate from home?
I think this is where everyday math works in well, because of the family games it includes. If part of your homework directions involved having the kids ask the parents for an example, like a connection they have with the material or an event. It would build the interection with the content between the students and their parents and increase the relevancy of it too.