Homework and Practice: Homework and Practice:

the “content” from the “content” from MarzanoMarzano

Early Release Day Session #1Early Release Day Session #1

East ElementaryEast Elementary

September 2009September 2009

Purpose of Homework and Purpose of Homework and PracticePractice

To deepen a student’s understandingTo deepen a student’s understanding To extend learning opportunities To extend learning opportunities

beyond the confines of the school daybeyond the confines of the school day Two purposesTwo purposes

1.1. PracticePractice

2.2. PreparationPreparation

Source: Source: Classroom Instruction that Works: Research-based Strategies for Increasing Student Classroom Instruction that Works: Research-based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement, Achievement, Robert Marzano et.al – pp 60-71Robert Marzano et.al – pp 60-71

Purposeful and Meaningful Purposeful and Meaningful HomeworkHomework

Is an appropriate Is an appropriate amountamountRequires Requires minimal parentalminimal parental

involvementinvolvementClearly communicates to Clearly communicates to

students the students the purposepurpose for the for the Homework or Practice Homework or Practice

Provides Provides feedbackfeedback to the student to the student

1. A1. Amount of Homeworkmount of HomeworkDifferent levels require different amounts of homework Different levels require different amounts of homework

and practice - elementary, middle, high schooland practice - elementary, middle, high school

Cooper’s Study reported the following gains:Cooper’s Study reported the following gains: 24 percentile points: high school24 percentile points: high school 12 percentile points: middle school12 percentile points: middle school 6 percentile points: elementary school6 percentile points: elementary school

NOTE: Although the percentile gain at the elementary is NOTE: Although the percentile gain at the elementary is a single digit, other studies (Cooper and others) a single digit, other studies (Cooper and others) determine that determine that purposefulpurposeful homework at the elementary homework at the elementary level is beneficial. level is beneficial.

It produces good study habitsIt produces good study habitsIt fosters positive attitudes toward schoolIt fosters positive attitudes toward school

Marzano et.al reported a 28 overall percentile gain Marzano et.al reported a 28 overall percentile gain from their meta-analysis study.from their meta-analysis study.

2. P2. Parent Involvement in arent Involvement in HomeworkHomework

Role of parent Role of parent →→ minimal minimalEncourage independent solving of Encourage independent solving of

content problems by studentscontent problems by studentsTo facilitate homework, parents To facilitate homework, parents

can:can:Reinforce the Reinforce the purposepurpose of homework of homeworkProvide a quiet and consistent Provide a quiet and consistent placeplaceReinforce and recognize the Reinforce and recognize the efforteffort

3. P3. Purpose of Homeworkurpose of Homework

For PracticeFor Practice Structured around Structured around

highly familiar highly familiar contentcontent for the for the studentstudent

ReinforcingReinforcing a a familiar skillfamiliar skill

For Preparation or For Preparation or ElaborationElaboration

PreparingPreparing students students for new contentfor new content

Having students Having students elaborateelaborate on new on new knowledgeknowledge

Students need to know if the homework assignment is:• for practice• for preparation/elaboration

Articulate clear guidelines & expectations for the assignmentValue, Benefit, Time-frame, Acceptable parent involvement

4. F4. Feedback on Homeworkeedback on Homework

Vary the approach to feedbackVary the approach to feedback Specific comments from teacherSpecific comments from teacher Peer feedback monitored by teacherPeer feedback monitored by teacher WrittenWritten VerbalVerbal RubricRubric

Let students know type of feedback to expectLet students know type of feedback to expect Ideas for giving feedback on hw: students give each other

feedback, students keep track of their accuracy or speed, students keep a hw portfolio that teacher comments on once a week

Homework with feedback (from teacher) 30% gain

Homework without feedback 11% gain

5. Purposeful Practice: Helping 5. Purposeful Practice: Helping students shape a skill or processstudents shape a skill or process

While practicing, students should adapt While practicing, students should adapt and shape what they have learned. and shape what they have learned.

Allowing students time to “shape” skills Allowing students time to “shape” skills builds their conceptual understanding.builds their conceptual understanding.

Mastery takes focused practice spread out Mastery takes focused practice spread out over time.over time.

Have students practice fewer examples to Have students practice fewer examples to develop a deep understanding vs. many develop a deep understanding vs. many examples that create a shallow examples that create a shallow understanding. understanding.

6. Determining Skills to Practice 6. Determining Skills to Practice and How Much Practiceand How Much Practice

Students need about 20 practice Students need about 20 practice sessions before they grasp the new sessions before they grasp the new skill enough to use it effectively on skill enough to use it effectively on their owntheir own

Massed practice Massed practice Distributed practiceDistributed practice

7. Establish and Communicate a 7. Establish and Communicate a Homework PolicyHomework Policy

Students and parents need to Students and parents need to understand the purposes of hw, understand the purposes of hw, amount of hw that will be assigned, amount of hw that will be assigned, consequences for not completing hw, consequences for not completing hw, and description of the types of parental and description of the types of parental involvement that are acceptable involvement that are acceptable

Sample Classroom HW Policy- clearly Sample Classroom HW Policy- clearly communicating your expectations communicating your expectations (students and parents sign)(students and parents sign)

ISS HW PolicyISS HW Policy

8. Students Charting Accuracy 8. Students Charting Accuracy and Speedand Speed

Speed- speaking a foreign language, Speed- speaking a foreign language, estimating cost of purchases while estimating cost of purchases while standing in line at a storestanding in line at a store

Accuracy- converting standard and Accuracy- converting standard and metric units, learning scientific metric units, learning scientific method, writing a good descriptive method, writing a good descriptive paragraph, indirect measurementparagraph, indirect measurement