Friday Tip

These "window readers" are great to help improve reading fluency, and they also assist in improving accuracy.  Many students get overwhelmed when they see lots of words on a page, but these little windows help to narrow the focus into processable chunks.  They also minimize reading errors because they help the eye to focus and mentally segment words.  They come in many different colors, but there is some research that suggest yellow is the best at helping the the eye process information to the brain. I picked these up at the local teacher supply store- the best $0.99 ever spent!

Ice Cream Graphing!

We have had a great time graphing the past few weeks, and who doesn't love graphing fun things like ice cream? By a landslide chocolate is the preferred flavor, and I am still amazed that no one voted for strawberry!  The favorite topping was by far sprinkles- not sure why, do sprinkles even have a taste?  Ah, the good ol' days! My personal favorite is butter pecan, but the kids did not want to have anything to do with that!  Maybe next we will graph the least favorite flavors.  Has anyone had bubble gum ice cream?  A huge thank you to Mrs. Blodgett for organizing this!

The Homework Debate

The research is all over the place when looking at the pros and cons of homework.  Some experts cite the importance of reinforcing concepts learned earlier in the day while other experts cite evidence that claim there is no co-relation with homework and increased retention or advancement.  I'm not sure how I feel about homework, but I do know that it can be the cause of a great pain and torture for some families, while other parents like homework because it is a way for them to feel connected to what their child is doing at school.
As a teacher I am very hesitant to send home work that needs a great deal of explanation or assistance because I don't want to confuse my students.  Most of the work I send home is work that is self-explanititory or work that is basic memory or commutation work.  However, I know that this does not give a great deal of insight into the concepts we are learning in class.  I do like the act of having my class be responsible for taking something home, working on it, and bringing it back.  I believe just the act of turing in assignments teaches accountability and independence.  But, is a worksheet or spelling practice the best way to do this?

I'm curious what others think about homework.  Should it be something that is done as a family? Is it something that should be done completely independently? Is homework relevant in the 21st century? Can we think of other ways to help kids at home without the "drudgery" of an assignment, or would they be willing to work with parents if nothing was officially assigned?

Any thoughts?