| Homework and fun are traditionally not used in | | | | games and/or activities can be sent home |
| the same sentence. It is possible for a teacher to | | | | electronically or easily printed out at the last |
| make math homework fun or at least enjoyable | | | | minute for those days things did not go as |
| by being sure the work is at an appropriate | | | | planned. And yes, it is even acceptable to skip |
| difficulty level, not over doing it with workload, | | | | homework occasionally, the children with thank |
| and providing a variety of types of assignments | | | | you, their parent will thank-you! |
| that can include challenging, yet interesting and fun | | | | TIP THREE |
| games. These tips will remind teachers to step | | | | - Regular reinforcement of math facts is |
| back and keep homework in the proper | | | | educationally sound for all subjects but is |
| perspective. | | | | particularly important for math. |
| TIP ONE | | | | - So many pieces being taught and absorbed |
| - The point of homework is to reinforce what | | | | depends on memorizing facts, or steps in solving |
| was taught in the class. | | | | the problem. Too much time between using it |
| - Homework is not busy work. It needs to be | | | | slows everything down. |
| productive | | | | Avoid the Monday memory freeze or the first |
| - Homework should be work that can be done | | | | day back from winter break memory chasm by |
| independently, meaning they have enough | | | | providing valuable quality but fun activities and |
| experience with the skill, they can do it at home | | | | games to use over the weekend or on longer |
| with little or no help. | | | | breaks. This will eliminate the groan factor, but |
| Where is it written math homework has to be | | | | keep skills sharp. |
| page after page of boring problems? Incorporating | | | | TIP FOUR |
| a variety of activities, that address the targeted | | | | - More is better frame of mind is outdated. |
| skill, in a challenging, innovative game will serve the | | | | - 20-30 minutes of targeted, appropriate work for |
| same purpose. No one says send a game home | | | | elementary and 30-45 minutes for middle school is |
| everyday, but do incorporate innovative and | | | | plenty of time. Anything over that, promotes |
| challenging activities into the overall scheme of | | | | distaste and negative feelings toward the class. |
| things. | | | | Simple as can be, if you hate the homework load, |
| TIP TWO | | | | you will hate the class and take longer to learn |
| - If you run out of time in class, and did not have | | | | what you need. Math teachers will benefit from |
| a chance to fully finish explanations, then assigning | | | | remembering the whole picture and find a balance |
| the accompanying problems will cause | | | | that works between assigning important |
| consternation. You will just have to go over it all | | | | reinforcing drills, and problems and making math |
| again the next day. | | | | homework fun by incorporating different |
| - Fire drills, visitors, unexpected announcements | | | | challenging but enjoyable activities into the mix. |
| happen; it is never wise to punish the students for | | | | Teachers as a whole are facing the challenge or |
| this by giving work they are not prepared to | | | | teaching traditional subjects to student growing up |
| finish. | | | | in the digital world. Keeping them engaged at their |
| - No one fails a class because an occasional day | | | | skill level and getting them to learn the facts and |
| goes by with no math homework. To be sure, a | | | | not depend on technology will continue to be a |
| simple no homework tonight is the best definition | | | | challenge. Finding activities that are innovative, fun |
| of a fun math homework! | | | | and challenging is one weapon to use in this battle. |
| Always have a back up plan! Digital printable math | | | | |