“Abah, do you know how to do this homework?”
- Have you tried using any thing you may know?
“Yes, but I still don’t get it.”
- Ok, let me take a look.
(After reading the question.)
- Do you see any thing that is familiar to you?
“Yes, over here.”
- What does it say?
“I know, but I don’t think it’s correct.”
- Why not?
“I don’t know.”
- Let’s just submit this and see what your teacher says.
“Ok.”
(The next few days…)
- What did your teacher say about your homework?
“She went through the answers with us during class.”
- Do you know how to do the sum now?
“Yes.”
- Now, look for something similar to see if you understand it fully.
For all my girls, we have never made any attempt to help them get the correct answers. Instead, we impart to them the relevant study skills to manage their homework.
We expect them to own their homework and engage with teachers through questioning and consultations when they need help.
Homework is meant to be part of the learning process.
Homework is meant to scaffold learning.
Assessment is then the time when understanding and application is evaluated.
Let’s not confuse the two. Let homework be exploratory and a form of feedback as to the extent that a student follows and understands a topic.
Don’t let it be another assessment where correct answers were all that is expected and not focus on the scaffolding of learning.