Comments

• PATRICIA HUGHES 11/22/07

  My son wants nothing to do w/any of it. He was just recently dropped down to a lower level in 7th b/c the beginning of the year was the ultimate disaster. He wants to be cool and free. Homework is done as quickly as possible. Grounding!!! No more gaming systems, limited TV, no phone and possibly no more BSBl which he lives for. If that doesn't work, I don't have the answer. PE, NYS

• MaryBeth Walz, Portland, ME 10/16/07

  My new middle schooler struggled in the beginning. The more we tried to help her manage time, verify assignments, etc., the worse she pushed back and did. We finally felt like failing a class or two in 6th grade would teach her natural consequences without ruining her grades for life. When she saw the grades and we left her alone, she went right to it and made the changes she needed to. Now in 7th, she is getting great grades - and no one to blame but herself!! : )

• mary lewes 10/15/07

  One of the big things in our house is that we know kids have to do their assignments in quiet places, but everyone gravitates toward the dining room table. I am going to try making their homework time “clever and fun” by getting each child to design their own workspace.

• Wendy Murray 10/09/07

  Our teen (a junior) has a ridiculous amount of homework, and we have talked to the school administration numerous times, to no avail. I’m no slacker, but I tell her occasionally, hey, there are other things in life. But she says, this is how the system works and how is she going to get into college? She has given up several extra-curriculars (which worries her, because colleges count those too) and looks tired and drawn a lot of the time. Any suggestions?

• Donna Reis, rye, NY 10/08/07

  Furthermore, homework is not something that is taught to teachers and as Sarah Bennett points out in "The Case Against Homework" suprisingly, teachers’ colleges do not even offer courses on homework. Teachers are told that they must assign and grade homework, but they are given little additional guidance.

• Donna Reis, rye, NY 10/08/07

  According to Dr. Gardener, after school assignments "should" help students to master skills and strengthen weaknesses, but there are no studies to support that homework actually accomplishes this. My advice is for anyone concerned is to read: "Closing the Book on Homework" and "The End of Homework" by John Buell or "The Homework Myth" by Alfie Kohn. Our children's time might just be better spent having teachers teach in school rather than allowing tutors and well meaning parents to do homework for kids at home. This way it levels the playing field and allows teachers to teach and observe students abilities in class while at the same time allow children from less affluent families, who do not have access to parent support or tutors to have a fair chance.

• celeste cafiero 10/07/07

  Good suggestions but need help enforcing the "No IM/no cell phone" zone as they easily get off track!