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Homework: A Concern for Teachers
"Homework," says Eleanor Dasenbrook, a sixth-grade social studies and reading teacher in Virginia, "is one of the biggest challenges and concerns I continue to face after more than two decades of teaching."
For many teachers, homework is a major source of angst. At a Colorado teachers\' workshop, participants discuss how to develop homework that helps children learn and competes with Nintendo. At a Texas teachers\' meeting, participants address concerns about a lack of parent support for homework. In the hallway of a California high school, two teachers debate how to motivate students to complete their homework. In a New York teacher\'s lounge, one occupant talks about the math assignment that her fourth-grade student\'s dog allegedly chewed to shreds.
The challenges of homework facing teachers today are all the more troublesome given the importance of meaningful and appropriate assignments. Student achievement rises significantly when teachers regularly assign homework and students conscientiously do it, and the academic benefits increase as children move into the upper grades. Homework can help children develop good habits and attitudes. It can teach children self-discipline and responsibility. More importantly, it can encourage a love of learning.
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