welcome to homework 101

CAMT Houston 7/15/09 Homework Session 87S Jost_Ruddell 1

Welcome to Homework 101

• Choose a table to set your things

• Select a homework problem you feel comfortable doing

• Work the problem on the chart paper, showing all your work, and sign your name

• You may do the problem with a partner but both must completely understand the solution

• Be prepared to explain your solution


Homework 1011. Math problem2. Favorite Movie3. Math Problem 4. Favorite 6th Grade Math Activity

5. Math problem 6. Favorite Book7. Math Problem8. Favorite 7th Grade Math Activity

9. Math Problem 10. Favorite Recipe11. Math Problem 12. Favorite 8th Grade Math Activity

13. Math Problem 14. Favorite Summer Activity15. Math Problem 16. Favorite Alg 1 Math Activity

17. Math Problem 18. Favorite Artist19. Math Problem 20. Favorite Geom Math Activity

21. Math Problem22. Favorite Sport23. Math Problem24. Favorite Alg 2 Math Activity


Motivating High School Students to

Own the Mathematics Homework!

Norma Jost;

Austin ISD, Secondary Mathematics Supervisor [email protected]

Michelle Ruddell;

Robinson ISD, Robinson HS Mathematics Teacher

[email protected]


Homework 1011. Math problem2. Favorite Movie3. Math Problem 4. Favorite 6th Grade Math Activity

5. Math problem 6. Favorite Book7. Math Problem8. Favorite 7th Grade Math Activity

9. Math Problem 10. Favorite Recipe11. Math Problem 12. Favorite 8th Grade Math Activity

13. Math Problem 14. Favorite Summer Activity15. Math Problem 16. Favorite Alg 1 Math Activity

17. Math Problem 18. Favorite Artist19. Math Problem 20. Favorite Geom Math Activity

21. Math Problem22. Favorite Sport23. Math Problem24. Favorite Alg 2 Math Activity


Goals• Identify homework beliefs/issues/etc.

• Explore the features of a homework process used in high school mathematics classes to have all students own the learning

• Discuss other homework ideas and develop next steps for a homework process that has all students owning the learning


Pros & Cons of Homework

• Take 2 minutes to write the Pros & Cons of Homework on your task sheet.

• Discuss your Homework Pros & Cons with a partner.


Homework Pros:• Students build knowledge

through practice

• It reinforces concepts taught that day and supports spiraling concepts

• Parents expect it

• It prepares students for assessments/college/etc.


Homework Cons:• Overwhelming paper piles

• Timing and process of Feedback/Grading

• Students copy/wait for us to do it/don’t do it/ etc.

• Teacher doing all the work

• Wasting valuable instructional time


From: To:


The steps to a New Homework Process implemented with 135 students 2008-2009:

1. From Frustration to Hope

2. Jumping Right In

3. Coaching My Students

4. Keeping Records?

5. Problem Students

6. Assessment

7. Teachers, administrators, parents

8. Quotes

From Frustration to Hope• The homework process was frustrating

because of all the “cons”

• I heard about “homework on the board” at CAMT

• I hoped that this process would resolve my homework issues!


Michelle email quote on Friday of the first week of school:“I teach Geometry and Algebra II at Robinson High School. I met you at CAMT this summer, where you told me how you had students work homework problems on the board at the beginning of class.

Jumping Right InThe 2nd Day Of School…

• I almost “chickened out”

• My rosters showed more students than ever before

• I was convinced to try something new!


Michelle email quote: I have implemented this idea in my classes and have been completely and totally amazed this week. On Thursday, by the time I had finished taking attendance; all the problems were on the board and they had been done by the tardy bell. I heard more math conversation among students in my classroom this week than ever before!!

Coaching My Students

• This was new to students too

• They had to know what was expected

• Students needed to be taught the process

• The set-up every day of homework was…


Keeping Records?• I needed a way to keep track of

students’ work on the board

• Blank roster reports work great for me


Problem Students• This process works well for most students

• Easily adaptable (number of problems, work with partner, help with explanation, etc.)

• For students who love an audience, now they have one!

• What I did with ones who didn’t go to the board…



Assessments• Since I was not picking up homework I

gave more quizzes with less problems.

• What worked best for me was…

• I found that students were….

• If you have a good accountability system with groups, it can be set up to have ten small quizzes – 5 individual and 5 group

Teachers, Parents, Administrators

• Lots of positive comments

• Other teachers were….

• Parents I’ve talked to have been supportive

• Administrators love it



Student Quotes• “I like doing homework this way, it helps

me understand it better.”

• “This way, if I didn’t get it at home, I have another chance.”

• “Where did you get…..”

• “Mrs. Ruddell, where are the problems to put on the board?”

Quote From a PDAS Walk-Through

• “I loved this new homework approach! This is a great way to assess students’ understanding of the material. The students were actively engaged. What a positive environment.”

Dr. Jeanie Johnson

Principal



Next Steps• My next steps are…

- incorporate more group work and quizzes

- refine process of choosing problems for the board

• Questions…


Next Steps• What homework process will you try next

year to have all students own the learning?

• At your table, discuss this process or other homework ideas

• Share as a group


Next StepsConnect on a Homework PbWorks site to try next year and share new ideas: http://aisdmathhwprocess.pbworks.com/

Please give us feedback: Fill out the Exit Slip

welcome to homework 101

Documents

homework problem

s jost

math activityhomework

math activity17

math problem8

math problem22

math problem24

mathematics homework