Homework ?

[geodob]

While homework is a common practice with schools.

I wonder about homework, in the homeschooling situation?

Which might seem to be a contradiction, as homeschooling is working at home and homework?

 

I was reading Displaces thread, about 'How much time do spend doing school?'

Where she also wrote: "Including direct instruction."

 

Within the school environment, homework is schooling without direct instruction.

Where a student is left to work independently.

 

But if I asked how many homeschooling parents, set homework daily?

I suspect that the response might be, that homeschooling is also homework?

 

Though what I'd raise, is the idea of homework, as self directed learning.

When a student takes schoolwork to be done at home.

 

But for homeschooling students, it seems that they miss out on homework?

Though what I would like to raise?

Is the distinction, between 'direct instruction', and 'self-directed learning'?

 

What possible value their could be with homeschooling?

To actually set homework daily for students?

Edited November 6, 2016 by geodob

[Code Lyoko]

My kids have a lot of direct instruction but once they are done with that they have work they do independently that is mainly review.  I don't call it homework because all the work is done at home.  There is no need to distinguish between work done at school and work done at home.

 

But yes, the kids do have independent work that they do without direct instruction.

 

FWIW, when my kids were in school because of their learning challenges even when they brought home their "homework" I still had to give them direct instruction in how to do it because the teacher's instruction at school was not enough for them to understand what they needed to do.  Homework was not independent at that stage.

[PeterPan]

Geodob, there are actually more categories than that.  

 

Time with Mom

Things you didn't get done with Mom because you were poking around and now you have to do them on your time

Independent work (projects assigned by Mom, maybe with steps or a calendar, maybe over a day or a week or a month)

Self-directed learning (things the student chose)

 

Probably more, but I'm lazy.  So in our home, homework is punitive.  It would mean you wasted time and got plunked with something you should have finished when we were together. Probably means you're missing out on an activity or something you would have gotten to do otherwise.

 

Homework in the schools is punitive, because they don't make good use of their time and get things done even with having the kids 8 hours a day, my lands.  It's just it penalizes the wrong people, the kids, instead of the bureaucrats. 

 

As far as asking whether there is value to assigning our kids what you are calling homework (independent work, things with due dates, etc.), ABSOLUTELY there is.  Most people figure this out and step it up over time.  I definitely did with my dd, starting around 4th-5th grade.  You start with little things like a book narration/report that needs to be done sometime by the end of the week.  Just really basic things like that.  She has no trouble now meeting all her deadlines and handling her college schedule, so I think I did ok by her.  I think most people do this eventually.  Or the kid gets thrown in the deep end and figures it out, lol.

[Heathermomster]

While homework is a common practice with schools.

I wonder about homework, in the homeschooling situation?

Which might seem to be a contradiction, as homeschooling is working at home and homework?

 

I was reading Displaces thread, about 'How much time do spend doing school?'

Where she also wrote: "Including direct instruction."

 

Within the school environment, homework is schooling without direct instruction.

Where a student is left to work independently.

 

But if I asked how many homeschooling parents, set homework daily?

I suspect that the response might be, that homeschooling is also homework?

 

Though what I'd raise, is the idea of homework, as self directed learning.

When a student takes schoolwork to be done at home.

 

But for homeschooling students, it seems that they miss out on homework?

Though what I would like to raise?

Is the distinction, between 'direct instruction', and 'self-directed learning'?

 

What possible value their could be with homeschooling?

To actually set homework daily for students?

DS sat in an NT classroom from pre-k through grade 6. He has also taken numerous outside classes as a homeschooler. Homework from the reg classroom entailed completing leftover classroom assignments, sheets and questions that followed up and reinforced classroom instruction, and extra classroom projects with a defined due date and grading rubric.

 

As a homeschooler, outside classes follow more closely to a university model. DS attends the 1-2 lectures once or twice a week and then completes the assignments outside the class. DS can either ask me for support, ask his teacher, or contact a classmate.

 

I consider homework anything that is assigned and not completed during the reg school week. On Sat mornings and Sun afternoons, my kids complete missed assignments from the previous week.

 

Direct instruction involves me sitting down in a quiet space and teaching subjects to my children. For example, I sit across a table and teach reading, math, language, writing, spelling. My kids are reviewing materials with me, asking questions, and I'm determining what material they know and what needs to be covered again based upon their answers. With DS, we will sit down together and listen to the audio of a text. I will stop the text and we will discuss the subject and make connections.

 

My DS also takes classes that I do not touch unless he is flummoxed. He currently takes an online AutoCad class and interacts with the MTE instructor. I periodically check the progress of son's work. Son usually contacts me if he is confused and then I sit down with him and explain the problem. We own manuals and I took the class my 1st year of college. I work more like a tutor in this case.

 

If you consider homework to be a form of self directed learning and wonder whether homeschool kids are learning that skill, I know absolutely in my home that DS self teaches constantly. DS self teaches as he persues his interests all the time. He chooses the subjects that he wants to pursue and I don't grade those efforts. He invents and builds things that he has drawn. He loves 3-D type programs and Adobe products. He developed a company logo ages ago.

 

I assign daily coursework because our homeschool cover periodically reviews my subject planner and looks at my children's completed school work. Universities also require transcripts to show the materials used and the classes completed.

Edited November 7, 2016 by Heathermomster

[Guest]

My neurotypical children (all homeschooled) do have "homework" each day. I do direct instruction with them for anywhere from 1/2-1 hour each, I do a few practice problems with them or explain the assignment to them to make sure they understand the assignment, then they go off on their own to do their assignments.

 

The amount of time they spend on homework increases as the amount of direct instruction decreases.

[displace]

I wanted to respond earlier as I found this thread very interesting.

 

I personally consider homework assignments from school to be completed at home, plus leftover in class work.

 

While homeschooling I called it all class work, because we had strange schedules on weekends, holidays, year round, etc.

 

As DS has gotten older I think homeschooling could have homework if it's independent. As in, you spent too much playing so now you have homework to do (math sheet or something), by yourself while I am busy doing my own thing.

 

DS is still too young to do much independently and needs a lot of constant and direct instruction.