How do I design a productive homework assignment?

How do I design a productive homework assignment?

Rationales:

Reinforce learning through follow-up work;

Scaffold learning with progression and consistency;

High expectations yield good performance.

Homework assignments for younger learners give the value of sustaining classroom learning, especially for 6-12 graders. However, for this age group, the complication is that students take at least 6-7 courses a week, plus many extra-curricular activities. The language class assignment happens to be one among the millions of things they do. In order to give assignment that are more productive, we prefer meaningful work to busy work. Our ideas of designing meaningful work are:

Scaffold new learning with older materials.

Support development of proficiency through activities involving multiple skills.

Deliver instructions one step at a time.

Reinforce learning with pre-activity for warm up, activity to engage, and post-activity to follow-up.

When giving assignments:

Make work meaningful by leaving room for creativity.

Allow and encourage work beyond the required minimum.

The homework assignment framework

Content

1.      The homework assignment should include development of all four skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

2.      Homework should be a task-based activity: Create something meaningful.

Procedure:

1.      Homework should cover content that has already been practiced during class and should be an extension of class work.

2.      Homework assignment should give minimum requirements but expect maximum effort.

3.      Give clear instructions.

4.      Provide samples.

Most importantly: As a routine, and students to repeat what their homework assignment are, and record the specific requirements and due dates in their agenda books. Otherwise, there will always be excuses for incomplete work.