Homework and help

Yesterday afternoon, I got an email from a student asking for help. I get emails from students all the time. Unfortunately, I didn’t check my email until this morning when I read it.
Here is the email:

Mr. Watkins, I don’t have a ruler at home to work on the worksheet about measurement. What should I do?

The email was sent at 4:48 PM and it is clear that the student had gotten home and was starting their science homework and discovered they didn’t have a ruler. And they realized they couldn’t finish the homework and were worried about it, so they sent me an email.

In science homework isn’t graded. The expectation is that it is practice, and I want them to finish it at home so we can have a conversation about the topic or concept in class the following day. I do try to provide time to get started on work in class, but sometimes students don’t finish and need to complete the assignment at home.

When I assign homework, I try to balance how long it will take along with the assignment’s value to learning in class. Homework should take no more than 15 to 20 minutes. I also assume that students will have the tools needed to complete the assignment. That’s where the breakdown occurred, the student didn’t have a ruler – I didn’t anticipate that. Continue reading “Homework and help”