Quizzes & Puzzles5 mins ago
Homework
30 Answers
What are your views on this?
Is it necessary?
A good idea?
Why?
Is it necessary?
A good idea?
Why?
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by DaisyNonna. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I taught maths which, just like learning to play a musical instrument, requires firstly some direct instruction, then some assisted practice and finally lots more unaided practice. e.g. the teacher explains how to solve quadratic equations, then gets his/her pupils to work through some in class (so that they can ask questions if they're unsure of the technique) and finally gets them to work through plenty more examples (so that they become really proficient).
It would be a waste of a piano teacher's time if he/she was required to be present all of the time that his/her pupil was practising scales (and an incredibly inefficient way of teaching piano); it makes far more sense for the pupil to practise alone and then for the piano teacher to assess their proficiency afterwards. In exactly the same way the best use of a maths teacher's time is for them to be present for the 'instruction' and 'aided practice' periods but for the pupil to complete the 'unaided practice' (but still assessed) part of the work at home.
However I would never set homework simply because it was timetabled to be given on a particular day. I would only ever set it when some 'unaided practice' was actually necessary.
It would be a waste of a piano teacher's time if he/she was required to be present all of the time that his/her pupil was practising scales (and an incredibly inefficient way of teaching piano); it makes far more sense for the pupil to practise alone and then for the piano teacher to assess their proficiency afterwards. In exactly the same way the best use of a maths teacher's time is for them to be present for the 'instruction' and 'aided practice' periods but for the pupil to complete the 'unaided practice' (but still assessed) part of the work at home.
However I would never set homework simply because it was timetabled to be given on a particular day. I would only ever set it when some 'unaided practice' was actually necessary.
>>>My homework included learning that different from was correct
Well Fowler (who is generally regarded as providing the standard guide to English usage) disagrees, as above.
F T Wood is also recognised as an authority:
"Different: followed by 'from' or to 'to' but not 'than."
The Longman Guide to English Usage leans (only) slightly towards your opinion:
" . . . 'different from' is the safest choice for serious writing. 'Different to' is a British alternative, censured by grammarians since the 18th century, but defensible in casual speech and writing".
Perhaps your homework also taught you that 'Ring-a-ring-a-roses' was associated with the symptom of the Black Death or that Bubonic Plague was spread by the fleas on rats? Perhaps you were taught that the Great Wall of China could be seen from the moon? Or that Columbus discovered America? Or that 'i' always comes before 'e' except after 'c'. They're all wrong! (NEVER TRUST A TEACHER!)
;-)
Well Fowler (who is generally regarded as providing the standard guide to English usage) disagrees, as above.
F T Wood is also recognised as an authority:
"Different: followed by 'from' or to 'to' but not 'than."
The Longman Guide to English Usage leans (only) slightly towards your opinion:
" . . . 'different from' is the safest choice for serious writing. 'Different to' is a British alternative, censured by grammarians since the 18th century, but defensible in casual speech and writing".
Perhaps your homework also taught you that 'Ring-a-ring-a-roses' was associated with the symptom of the Black Death or that Bubonic Plague was spread by the fleas on rats? Perhaps you were taught that the Great Wall of China could be seen from the moon? Or that Columbus discovered America? Or that 'i' always comes before 'e' except after 'c'. They're all wrong! (NEVER TRUST A TEACHER!)
;-)
Yes. i think homework is very important. It shows how well the pupil cvan put into practise what they have been taught on that day, and encourages them to manage on their own and do their own research if needed .
One of my sons homework once was to find out how many islands there are in the world and to list them!
One of my sons homework once was to find out how many islands there are in the world and to list them!
I don't like the idea of children slogging away at school all day and coming home with yet more to do. They should be able to relax. However, I get Buenchico's point about practice of methods, and the need to instill a habit of working and researching alone for those who will go on to further education.
Some kids love homework and should be given some to help stretch them intellectually, while for others it can be a source of misery and they should be free to kick a ball around, make model aeroplanes, write their own stories or whatever they enjoy doing and might be better at.
Some kids love homework and should be given some to help stretch them intellectually, while for others it can be a source of misery and they should be free to kick a ball around, make model aeroplanes, write their own stories or whatever they enjoy doing and might be better at.
meh, I'm not sure. Although I can fully understand the theory of the value of working on your own I think a lot of homework is completed either by parents, the internet or some other body than the pupil itself. Although I always did my homework (often on the school bus) for fear of the dire consequences of not doing it it was only the required minimum and don't think it improverd on my overall ability that much.