My principal doesn't encourage teachers to give students homework, for fear that it will never get done or that textbooks will be lost forever. This makes it difficult for students to practice skills at home, unless teachers photocopy assignments to hand-out and pray that they return. In order for students to practice, and practice the skill often, I like to have my students do a lot of research on math related concepts (and now I will also require it for science concepts as well). Students typically do their research on our designated lab days, which only happen to be once a month...then they have to wait their turn for the student computer in the classroom unless I can gain access to one of the mobile labs. When my students have done research in the past, I've always sent them to Google or Bing. I guess that I'm one of the teachers that the authors referred to in that I didn't know there was a research option within Word. When my students complete research projects this year, that will be the first place that I send them.
To practice skills and new concepts repeatedly, I often use BrainPop. This program has a lot of great mathematical concepts developed into easy to understand (and follow) video clips. The students like the videos because they are all animated. When I use BrainPop as a review, or an introduction even, I have my students take notes in their journals. We usually watch the video clip two times...The first time, students are completely engaged, listening to the information being presented. The second time, students are busy taking notes over what they are hearing and seeing. Once we have watched the video clips twice, we discuss them as a class and then complete the short quiz that follows the video. I have never had the students complete the video online, as I want individual results. I always print the quiz off and run copies for all students. This is a fun and different way to keep the students engaged.
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I can see the homework and practice ideas working in an after school program. I know that many campuses do not assign a lot of homework for various reasons but I also know that some schools offer a homework support program after school. Teachers are always looking for different ways for students to complete assignments or practice skills. Perhaps some of these ideas would work in those situations.
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