I had another topic im mind for today, but having read some big news in our daily newspaper (which stressed me out!) I decided to go "off course"... hope this will not push some wrong buttons..
First of all I noticed a lot of teachers from Turkey in this blogathon and I see you are really all very enthusiastic and you have an extremely high level of language knowledge and classroom skills! In my country (Croatia) English language is also very important, 3 years ago it has become obligatory in all primary schools since grade 1 and there is a generally high awareness of its importance. I feel both our countries have similar educational politics and preferences towards foreign languages and I am very happy about it! :)
The only thing I am not happy about is the news that a couple of days ago a school in a town nearby has just abolished homework! I truly believe homework serves its purpose because reflecting, practising and repetition is extremely important (having in mind also the expected human behaviour of doing little of nothing if it is not obligatory!). There has been another recent change in our school system - they have abolished giving final marks on the midterm. This is a big thing because our pupils are used to having to learn harder for the midterms, or start learning (if they are not good pupils) to get positive grades. The reason for doing this (as is their official statement) is cutting the paperwork!! Pupils have already started “celebrating” having heard the news!
What about you? Do you have midterms? If you don´t how does it function? Do pupils learn if they know there isn´t a final grade?
What is the situation in your countries and schools? Are you satisfied or would you change something in the system if you could? I know I would like to be the Minister for a day and change some things :)
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Best of luck in dealing with this new change.
I'm with you on the topic of homework - the way it should be given needs to improved but the concept shouldn't be dropped! Just posted about that!
Naomi
I don't give homework. We've had a no homework policy in grade 8 (for English) for three years now. The reason is that grade 8 students in Turkey have to prepare for a very important high school entrance exam at the end of the year and the English portion of that test is both very easy and of minor importance so priority is obviously given to the study of the 4 "main" subjects i.e. Turkish, Math, Science and Social Studies. Our students get plenty of homework from those subjects. The funny thing is that I haven't noticed any differences in the students' learning compared to when we used to give homework. Giving homework doesn't seem to matter! Indeed we now have more time to teach and practice skills than what we used to have when we had to check and grade/go over homework in class. Also, now we don't have to "punish" kids for not doing their homework, keep track of late and/or missing homework, deal with parents/tutors who "help" too much etc etc. The no homework policy is nothing but a blessing! Perhaps it will be for you too?
I am teaching English for a state high school in Turkey. I believe homework is necessary for students to revise to continue learning after school. However, students are not happy to have homework, sowe have to find ways to make them be interested in doing homework. If they don't do homework, how can we enrich our discussions in class. For example before reading the story called ''The curse of the Mummy' I wanted them to do some research about the pyramids and mummies. If I was not allowed to give homework, I am sure I would do all the research instead of them. How could I make them do research, if I could not give homework? Also because of the common exam explained by Coffeeaddict, our students think that everything can be learnt by multiple choice questions. To avoid this understanding in high schools there will be research that should be done by students and checked by both students and teachers.
I am teaching English for a state high school in Turkey. I believe homework is necessary for students to revise to continue learning after school. However, students are not happy to have homework, sowe have to find ways to make them be interested in doing homework. If they don't do homework, how can we enrich our discussions in class. For example before reading the story called ''The curse of the Mummy' I wanted them to do some research about the pyramids and mummies. If I was not allowed to give homework, I am sure I would do all the research instead of them. How could I make them do research, if I could not give homework? Also because of the common exam explained by Coffeeaddict, our students think that everything can be learnt by multiple choice questions. To avoid this understanding in high schools there will be research that should be done by students and checked by both students and teachers.
singerina,
I don't give homework either. I love the idea of not having final grades and homework anymore. As for the assessment, I prefer the alternative ones, such as: portfolios, surveys, projects, leaflets, booklets, reflective journals, self-assessments, etc. When you give some homework to the Ss, they feel very frustrated and sometimes at loss.
Does the homework really teach good study habits? I've watched my Ss how the homework dreads them. I usually ask my Ss how they would do their homework assignments and what would be beneficial for them. Of course, they choose their own homework. I even don't say that this will be "your homework", I carefully suggest them. As any English teacher, I am afraid of demotivation. I believe that Ss should make choices about their learning. If I were you, I would try inquiry-based learning and model the idea of problem-solving and decision-making. These skills will definitely be better than the hackneyed homework.
Hi singerina,
First of all, thank you for the nice comments about the Turkish English teachers:)
Sorry not to agree on this. I think that's a very big step in education. Hope this decision will spread to the other countries soon. Students are very much under the pressure of exams and homework. Besides most use other people to do their homework and that becomes useless.
Thank you
Incredible how many contrary opinions! I must say although I am puzzled with how to organize everything I am very very glad to hear you are managing so well without homework, and even in favour of such a decision. That means it really does work! ;)
Could you answer me please. I have 3 lessons (45 minutes) per week with grades 5-8 and 2 lessons with grades 1-4. Is it the same in your schools? Do you manage to do all the program (textbook, workbook and additional materials you bring) without homework? My materials are so elaborate (and obligatory) I know I simply don´t have the time to do it all in class.
One more question.. if there are no tests or final grades how do you evaluate them? Now I understand why Merve and CoffeAddict were talking about all the positive motivation in class. It is a "stress free zone" but do you feel that at the end the results are the same?
gulnur I agree, my students also do preparations at home.. but for the sake of this argument I will try this whole week not to give them "obligatory" homework but not give it at all, and ask for volunteers who are willing to prepare what will be necessary. Maybe a reward for does who do?
Maybe it really turns out to be as CoffeAddict says nothing but a blessing ;)
thanks Victoria Kamchatka for the advice and methods given! Will try it!