NO HOMEWORK PLEASE!

                            
                                   Why some students don’t do their homework?
     I have read a post on my social network wall: If child labor is an offense, why do teachers give homework? Does it make any sense? Well, it is just a joke for everybody to laugh and think for a moment. This does not apply to a school situation where homework is given as a follow up to the previous lesson, as an advanced lesson or simply as reinforcement or an enrichment activity. Whichever is the purpose, teachers do give assignments to their students. Some give almost every day-in two or three subjects. Considering the reactions of a student who has to complete two assigned tasks, a teacher perhaps thinks and shakes his or her head while saying “Why is my student’s homework done roughly and why all my students have the same answers?” An instance like this one exists and is discovered when the teacher does the marking of homework. Oftentimes, some students also fail to submit on time or they never submit at all. This leads into a poor academic performance of students, which would somehow make the teacher think twice and assess the kind of homework that should be given to them. Not only that, a teacher must know the possible reasons why his or her students don’t do their homework.
     Some causes of non-compliance of homework could be any of the following situations: (1) Homework is mind-numbing. Students should be challenged when they spend their extra time in homework. A good homework must be something that develops their critical thinking skills and that will provide more venues for brain storming. Why not give those puzzles, activities using their imagination, interactive activities like interviewing people, working as a group and other dynamic and interesting tasks. (2) Instructions are vague. Any individual cannot do a certain work if instructions are not clearly understood. How could a student read the minds of teachers? Clear and concise directions are very important in homework. Although students find this as an excuse-“that the instructions are confusing”, there shouldn’t be a chance for them to find a hole in this area. (3) Too difficult and too easy. These extreme declarations are said to be common reasons also. I heard, one time, my student saying, “ Teacher, the homework is very difficult! We don’t know what to do!” Oooppss! Whether the assignment is easy or difficult, students always complain! So, if the students find the homework as “easy as a pie”, they tend to take it for granted. Therefore, a teacher has to design a homework which is achievable by the class. A win-win situation is good indeed! (4) They have forgotten the homework. The most common answer of students, “Teacher, I am sorry. I didn’t remember my homework!’ Obviously, it is a human nature to forget something to be done; however, time management must be encouraged among the students. Teaching them how to prioritize their tasks is more effective rather than giving reminders. There is a difference between being said and being done. (5) Student’s rebellion. Students who have grudges against a teacher or a family member will show negative behavior in the classroom like being unable to hand in the homework. Aside from this, if a student doesn’t like the subject, well, what do you expect from him or her? That very homework given by the teacher whom he or she hates is a trash!
     The enumerated reasons are only few of the many. However, teachers need to apply an antidote when a situation occurs. Always tell and show to your students that you take note of their complete outputs and that you have a record of every submitted work. Not only that, there is a need for teachers to give praises and incentives when the homework is done neatly, and correctly and when it is handed in promptly. In addition, marking of homework should be understood, and if possible, the scores or ratings should be numerical.