Day 89 – Colleen Hartman, Core French (Eagle Plains PS)

What I learned this week

An Entry from September 2015

Colleren Hartman is a Core French teacher at Eagle Plains Public School grade four and five.  On Twitter @MmeHibou40 and @core_ep

Sunday afternoon I was busy planning my week ahead when my son came over and asked if I could help him with his math homework and yes I pulled the “Can you go ask your Dad”.  As I sat at the dining room table I could hear the conversation between father and son”

“Dad, can you help me with my math.   I don’t understand the question.”

“Sure, show me the question.”

Dad read the question over carefully and after a few moments replied

“I don’t understand what is being asked either”

My son grew frustrated and mom/teacher stepped in.

Now lucky for my son he has a mom who is teacher and was able to help him by rephrasing the question and finding some manipulatives to assist and that got me to thinking, what about all the students who may not be as fortunate to have the help my son had, how would those students be feeling about themselves, how would the parents like my husband be feeling about themselves.  

Homework has been the subject of many twitter discussions (e.g., What is the purpose?  Who benefits) and reflecting on my families recent experiences with homework, tears, frustration and exhaustion I think we need to consider the impact homework has on family life. Is homework a necessary part of learning.