9th out of 40 books
—
20 voters
The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing
by
Alfie Kohn
Death and taxes come later; what seems inevitable for children is the idea that, after spending the day at school, they must then complete more academic assignments at home. The predictable results: stress and conflict, frustration and exhaustion. Parents respond by reassuring themselves that at least the benefits outweigh the costs. But what if they don't? In The Homework...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
August 21st 2006
by Da Capo Press
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I’m always a little bit nervous when I’m the first one to give a book less than three stars. While much better written than The Case Against Homework, The Homework Myth, for me, reeked to an even higher heaven. It’s not that I’m a huge fan of homework (I’d guess 60% of the homework I received in childhood was unnecessary), it’s just that I’m an even LESS huge fan of run-free-in-the-wild, child-knows-best, Rosseauian educational fantasies, which is what ultimately seems to underlie this book.
As...more
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“A third grade teacher in Washington remembers being asked by a parent in what her goal was assigning homework. That simple question prompted a great deal of reflection and finally resulted in her decision to eliminate all homework with the exception of asking kids to read books of their choosing. ‘I want students to be decision makers and when it comes to them its more meaningful and will have lasting effects’ The result: Many of her students now invent and complete their own academic projects...more
Alfie Kohn should look up rhetorical appeals before he writes another book-- namely, he should have more recent evidence, as well as case studies from fictitious families. That is, families who don't drink milk with mom and dad after school while embroidering pillows praising God and the government of yore. Kids should be kids, yes, but homework is part of ensuring that learning continues after the classroom door closes; furthermore, in some cases, it can actually keep kids as kids, giving them...more
Alfie Kohn makes a compelling argument for rethinking homework in The Homework Myth. Drawing on research (or lack thereof), Kohn demonstrates the inability of homework to advance student thinking and learning, especially in primary, elementary, and middle school aged children. His critical eye is backed up with a healthy skepticism, not cynicism, and he even provides a few examples of what better homework might look like. I appreciate his balanced approach. He does concede that homework sometime...more
After reading Love in the Time of Homeschooling by Laura Brodie, I wanted to read some books about homework. Laura Brodie saw her daughter wilt under the weight of so much homework. Brodie decided to homeschool for one year and while she never seems comfortable as a homeschooler, she's critical of public education and the push for results on standardized tests. Anyhow, Brodie's book led me to want to read about the research on homework. There's a lot of research out there suggesting that homewor...more
I should begin by saying that I recently heard Alfie Kohn speak and was a big fan of what he had to say about education and parenting. His views on homework (nutshell: kids shouldn't have homework) were new to me and got me thinking more deeply about the homework I see Cameron bring home and whether or not it is beneficial. After reading The Homework Myth, I find myself a bit depressed because I am convinced that homework doesn't help the vast majority of kids and in fact hurts many -- it damage...more
Abolish all homework? Kohn's complaints about HW: a burden to parents, stress for children, oh, I’m sorry, I thought school was supposed to be work.
When he writes that most HW studies show only an association, not a causal relationship, Kohn is trying to stretch the association and put a wedge into the beliefs. He also critisizes his opponents use of citiations, while flaunting his own out of text citations. He claims counter studies are flawed becaue they're pass fail option? But there are stil...more
When he writes that most HW studies show only an association, not a causal relationship, Kohn is trying to stretch the association and put a wedge into the beliefs. He also critisizes his opponents use of citiations, while flaunting his own out of text citations. He claims counter studies are flawed becaue they're pass fail option? But there are stil...more
This book postulates that there is little or no correlation between homework and "learning". There is however, a correlation between homework and grades because doing homework results in better grades on that homework. There may be a negative correlation between homework and "learning" because much homework decreases interest in a subject and interest is the number one predictor of success in a subject. One does wonder how one is to grade without homework however. And I certainly notice a large...more
Homework is swallowing my family. Everyday we bow to its demands and plan our activities around it. Why should school be allowed to dictate so much of our after-school time? When do we fit in other equally-as-important learning activities like music lessons, creative play, chores and family time? So many times throughout this book I would read aloud to my husband and say, "Who does this sound like?" because it echoed things I've said in my frustration with homework. While it's good to know I'm n...more
I read this book because of my own struggles with homework -- not me personally, but with my daughter and with my students. I have watched homework suck the curiosity and joy right out of my daughter. She used to love school, then homework increased and the tears and negativity came. This book has helped me shape my true philosophy of homework, rather than just the "facts" about homework I've been led to believe over the years. This book really challenges the status quo and forced me to think. B...more
Jan 16, 2010
Megan
is currently reading it
Hannah's 5th grade teacher rocked my world this fall when she announced that there wouldn't be much homework coming home, b/c she's found it's the kids who need to do it LEAST (in terms of learning) who always complete it, and the kids who can't/don't see a drop in their grades, largely due to family/lifestyle factors, and get discouraged. ALfie Kohn covers the reasons behind our homework-crazed school culture and why it really isn't a practice we NEED in elementary school. THe research linking...more
Liked this book a lot. It did have some moments in the middle that seemed a little of course to the topic but I guess it was there to add validity to the history of the myth of homework. The ending was the best. As a teacher who never really understood the reason for homework but always felt like I had to do it because the rest of my school assigns it, I was glad to read this book because Kohn's research comforted me in what I had always felt, that homework does more damage than good. Why do we...more
This should be called "The Busywork Myth.". As a teacher I feel that Kohn might be battling straw men because his notion of "homework" (worksheets) doesn't match mine. I'm a language arts teacher, though, so maybe other disciplines do still engage in drill and kill. He doesn't seem to have an issue with meaningful assignments and home extensions, but rather with rote practice. On this we agree. I do feel like he overstated the problem at times, but as a teacher with my children starting to matri...more
Kohn becomes quite redundant throughout, but I imagine this is done in an attempt to truly hammer home is very relevant, and excruciatingly cross referenced argument, that homework barely serves a purpose, if any, and that we need to challenge the conventions of education that we simply take for granted because they have always been done, etc. A compelling read, but perhaps it sets us up for disappointment as his reasoning is accurate, but in our current climate idealistic, and idealism often me...more
What a screed! Amid the vituperative scorn poured upon the ignorant oafs that sire delightful children who are eager to learn about iambic pentameter, we find some nuggets of sensible advice. But it is hard to slog through Alfie Kohn's waterfall of statistics and pronouncements, and his conflation of "studies prove..." next to plaintive quotes from teachers or parents that misleadingly support the author's point.
This seems to be a good 20-page article (the chapter on Rethinking Homework) surroun...more
This seems to be a good 20-page article (the chapter on Rethinking Homework) surroun...more
I've been reading a good deal of Alfie Kohn and Jonathan Kozol in this past year, and I've learned so much from them about pedagogy, education, and assumptions. This book targets the concept and practice of homework. The spoiler that is too obvious to be a spoiler: Kohn first addresses studies that investigate homework. It's always stunning to see or hear stories or evidence of researchers lying about their findings, and Kohn spends a good deal of time debunking and shedding light on possible in...more
While reading Alfie Kohn's The Homework Myth book, I got into debates about its content many times. Here is a compilation of my discussions:
Me: Why do we need homework?
Them: Homework reviews important skills.
Me: Why can't that be done at school? Wouldn't class time be better spent on that practice where the students could get help?
Them: But there isn't enough time to do all that practice and cover the content.
Me: If you understand how to do the work, you don't need to do a lot of practice. If yo...more
Me: Why do we need homework?
Them: Homework reviews important skills.
Me: Why can't that be done at school? Wouldn't class time be better spent on that practice where the students could get help?
Them: But there isn't enough time to do all that practice and cover the content.
Me: If you understand how to do the work, you don't need to do a lot of practice. If yo...more
As a kid I never understood why after 6 to 8 hours trying to sit still and absorb a constant one-way stream of pre-dictated information I had to go home and do it all over again!
Alfie Kohn finally puts the value of homework and importance for children's development in its proper category: urban legend!
After reviewing just about all the available scientific studies on homework over the last 40 years and examining the underlining presumptions of the need for homework Kohn makes it abundantly clear...more
Alfie Kohn finally puts the value of homework and importance for children's development in its proper category: urban legend!
After reviewing just about all the available scientific studies on homework over the last 40 years and examining the underlining presumptions of the need for homework Kohn makes it abundantly clear...more
The author seems to have a stereotypical view that all homework is meaningless and makes the case that homework shouldn't be assigned before middle school. Many of the arguments that support his thesis come from outdated case studies. However, he does make a good case for assignments to be meaningful and open-ended. A good read, but written from a very western point of view. I would recommend reading "Battle Hymn of a tiger mom" by Amy Chua after this book.
This book really made me think about my teaching. I don't have children of my own yet, but almost any mom or dad I talk to with kids in elementary school will tell me that the homework their child comes home with is more work for the parent than the kid, and not fun for anyone. This book examines the research that has been used to justify the mountains of homework kids are given, and finds that most homework isn't that beneficial.
Alfie Kohn has done endless research on this topic and, while reading research can get kind of dry, he does a pretty good job moving his point along. Basically he says that there is no research that shows that homework has any benefit--especially at the primary level where it often is a detriment rather than a benefit to learning. I thought it made its point way better than The Case Against Homework.
Once again I'm finding it impossible to get into an Alfie Kohn book. I don't think it's that he's not great, but I just feel like it's not news to me. Perhaps a better writer would keep me enthralled anyway, but so far each of his books that I've started I just end up skipping around, picking out things from the contents list that might be interesting.... And they are! It's just that most of the book, I feel, is more suited to some other reader. I almost never skip around books, preferring to re...more
Before you dismiss Kohn's points, I recommend you look at what is effectively the Bible with regards education research, namely Hattie's Visible Learning. Drug use has a more positive impact on attainment than homework does. Of course, those who have made up their minds because it is 'common sense' that homework works will never be convinced by hard evidence such as that provided by Hattie.
This was much better--better researched, more convincing--than The Case Against Homework. Kohn comes from far left of center in his writing about education. While I didn't agree with all of his interpretations and recommendations, I found a lot of what he said convincing. I think this should be required reading for teachers and administrators--and I recommend it for parents, too.
Just reread this book and was reminded why I am such a fan of this one! I wish every teacher, principal, parent, and legislator would read it. We could change the world of education for the better by revising our attitudes toward homework. I'd love to recruit teachers and parents to boycott homework. We could make the world a better place! If only ...
Love the points in this book! (and I was even one of the kids who did my homework--DH didn't and loved to have his view validated by some actual research) And it made me that much more determined to not discourage my children's natural curiousity and desire to learn, on their terms, even if it means we'll be doing some home schooling.
Alfie Kohn has a lot to say. There were parts of this book that were so compelling it made me really depressed about the future of education in this country. It's worth a read if only to challenge some of our deepest assumptions about what homework truly means for education, and on a greater scale, what it means in this country to have a childhood. However I feel the need to disclose I didn't actually completely finish the book. Kohn is so passionate and well researched that he can rant at times...more
"The Homework Myth" is a little too dry and long-winded to make this an enjoyable read. However, the information inside is something every parent with school-age children should know. I am absolutely in awe of how Alfie Kohn went through study after study (which supposedly found merit in homework) and exposed the faulty reasoning and methodology inside them. Homework is mostly no good. I just wish I would have liked reading the book more.
This was recommended by a friend and coworker. I loved chapters 1 and 6. I agree that we should be willing to rethink why we give and expect homework from students. I know that I try not to give it as busywork, but I'd like to explore the possibility of moving to a place where my students can do work in class instead of at home.
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Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The author of eleven books and scores of articles, he lectures at education conferences and universities as well as to parent groups and corporations.
Kohn's criticisms of competition and rewards have been widely discussed and debated, and he has been described in Time magazine as "perhaps the country's most outspoken...more
More about Alfie Kohn...
Kohn's criticisms of competition and rewards have been widely discussed and debated, and he has been described in Time magazine as "perhaps the country's most outspoken...more
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