Homework+and+Practice

Homework and Practice
 * Educational Strategy: **

 According to research presented at [|Focus on Effectiveness] mastery of a new skill requires focused practice that takes place over time. Websites such as [|Quia] or [|Quizlet] allow teachers to provide that practice through a variety of activities that are easily customizable. Parent involvement is also important for homework to be useful. Teachers can help parents understand their role by providing access when parents and students have questions.

Technology Resources:

[|Quia] offers teachers blank templates so activities can be tailored to reinforce specific skills. Simple flaschcards, cloze activities and games are all available. Flash cards can be made with visuals to reinforce key vocabulary. Many activities allow teachers to provide instant feedback on right and wrong answers, another key to improving achievement. [|Quia] also offers tracking tools for teachers to gather data on student performance. Teachers can easily assess which skills need further practice and which don’t. [|Quia] can be used by students at school or at home. To create your own activities and use the tracking tools requires a subscription which ranges from $29-$49 per account depending how many teachers sign up. To use activities created by others to reinforce skills costs nothing.

[|Quizlet] is similar to Quia in that it allows teachers to create flashcards. Students can also create their own cards and post them to a class site. [|Quizlet] is free, but is more limited in the kinds of activities that can be created than Quia is.

 One challenge educators face is getting the appropriate kind of parent involvement in homework and practice. Parent involvement is important for ensuring student success but should be limited to supporting a productive environment at home, not answering content questions. Teachers can help parents understand their role in the process by creating a class website/blog. The site can spell out the homework policy, provide updated information on assignments and offer tips on appropriate parental involvement. [|Google Sites] provides free, customizable pages that teachers can use. 

For homework that requires more in depth application of skills, providing focused help is important. A class chat room can provide students the opportunity to ask specific questions and receive feedback. The chat room should have specific, published open times that parents and students are aware of. It should also be invitation only to provide security. Providing access to the teacher outside of class can decrease frustration that parents and students feel when content questions arise.

[|www.quia.com] – free if available activities are used. $49 or less for teachers to set up individual accounts to customize activities. [|www.quizlet.com--] free for teachers and students. [|Google Sites] – available free from[| google.com] [|http://www.mirc.com] is a website that offers free downloads to set up a secure, invitation only chat room.

For more information on the research used here please visit [|Focus on Effectiveness]