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Homework for Learning
“This is a really useful book. Written in a clear style it has heaps of tips and strategies
underpinned by big educational ideas that will really excite all sorts of teachers, not just Homework for Learning
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those new to the profession, and get pupils engaged. Inspirational!”
Dr Sara Bubb, Institute of Education, University of London, UK o
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“This book is stuffed full of fun ideas for homework that represent innovative approaches 300 Practical Strategies
likely to engage the interest of students.” e
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Dr Linda Hammersley-Fletcher, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
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Are you looking for new and creative ways of engaging and motivating your learners? If
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so, then this is the essential resource for you! o
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Homework for Learning takes a unique approach to homework arguing that it is more L
than a finishing-off activity and should be inextricably linked to the teaching and
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learning that takes place in the classroom. Homework - when imaginatively and a
M considerately deployed - can be carried out anywhere, not just within the home, and can r
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promote independent learning; assist in the development of generic skills; and free up
c time for further work on the curriculum. i
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The authors present over 300 practical strategies for homework to motivate and energize
r learners. These ideas draw on expert practice and are underpinned by a range of
a educational theories on learning. The accessible ideas include:
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• Strategies to ensure high homework completion rates
• Homework for creative starter activities
• Ideas for fun and effective exam preparation
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• Technologically innovative and e-learning strategies
H • Coursework and project preparation
• Marking and assessment strategies
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i • Off-site homework activities to support school trips and visits
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l Whether you are training to teach in mainstream or post-compulsory education, or are r
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a more experienced teacher, this book encourages you to experiment with a variety of i
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E novel strategies for homework. w
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Gerry Czerniawski and Warren Kidd are both Senior Lecturers at the Cass School of k
u Education and Communities, University of East London, UK. i
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t d Gerry Czerniawski and Warren Kidd
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Homework for Learning
300 Practical Strategies
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Homework for Learning
300 Practical Strategies
Gerry Czerniawski and Warren Kidd
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Open University Press
McGraw-Hill Education
McGraw-Hill House
Shoppenhangers Road
Maidenhead
Berkshire
England
SL6 2QL
email: [email protected]
world wide web: www.openup.co.uk
and Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121-2289, USA
First published 2013
Copyright © Gerry Czerniawski and Warren Kidd 2013
All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purposes of criticism and
review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted,
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence from the Copyright Licensing
Agency Limited. Details of such licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the
Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd of Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London, EC1N 8TS.
A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
ISBN-13: 978-0-33-524589-5 (pb)
ISBN-10: 0-335-24589-7 (pb)
eISBN: 978-0-33-524590-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
CIP data applied for
Typeset by Aptara, Inc.
Fictitious names of companies, products, people, characters and/or data that may be used herein
(in case studies or in examples) are not intended to represent any real individual, company,
product or event.
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Praise for this book
“Homework for Learning is an important read for both new and experienced teachers look-
ing for inspiration. Written in an engaging and highly accessible manner the authors offer
a persuasive and powerful argument as to why teachers need to consider the transforma-
tive potential of learning outside of the classroom. The practical strategies offered are
underpinned by grounded evidence and a research base which encourages us to rethink
our homework practices. The emphasis upon ‘looking back and looking forwards’, sup-
ported by critical reflective practice, action research and ongoing professional develop-
ment is timely. This will be a ‘must read’ text in my institution.”
Julie Hughes, Head of Department (Post Compulsory Education),
University of Wolverhampton, UK
“Within the first few pages Gerry and Warren’s book captured my interest. Firstly they
openly talk about the problems around homework, something I could fully empathise
with. Then they discuss how homework can be used more creatively to support independ-
ent learning and learning that involves others in the process. This is not only a very practi-
cal book with extensive guidance on good practice for teachers, it also draws on literature
that challenges some of our pre-conceptions about what homework should ‘look like’.
Through a series of activity sheets, suggestions, thinking points and professional develop-
ment ideas, the authors challenge teachers to think more carefully about the reasons for
setting homework, what they are trying to achieve from it and how they might best sup-
port students. What is more, this book is stuffed full of fun ideas for homework that repre-
sent innovative approaches likely to engage the interest of students and move beyond the
traditional essay (although this is also included). Not only will these suggestions improve
the experiences of students, it will also be much more fun for teachers in giving and utilis-
ing the homework set.”
Dr Linda Hammersley-Fletcher, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
“This is a really useful book. Written in a clear style, Gerry Czerniawski and Warren Kidd
draw on a wealth of classroom experience and research to share some powerful ideas about
learning and teaching. For this book is not just about homework but about how to teach
so that children learn. It has heaps of tips and strategies underpinned by big educational
ideas that will really excite all sorts of teachers, not just those new to the profession, and
get pupils engaged. Inspirational!”
Dr Sara Bubb, Institute of Education, UK
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Gerry dedicates this book to Jenny Barksfield for her
endless love and patience during the writing process.
Warren would like to dedicate this book to his partner
Jane and his son Freddie. Thank you for your
continued support.
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Contents
List of tables and figures ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction: how to use this book 1
Part 1
What do you need to know? Laying the foundations for best practice 5
1 Homework for learning 7
2 Why they will always do your homework 19
3 Differentiation and homework 33
4 Projects, coursework and independent assignments 44
5 Assessing homework 58
6 Supporting learners 67
Part 2
What do you need to do? 79
7 300 practical strategies for learning outside of the classroom 81
See it! Strategies 1–30 83
Read it! Strategies 31–60 90
Hear it! Strategies 61–90 98
Move it! Strategies 91–120 105
Think it! Strategies 121–50 113
Chat it! Strategies 151–80 120
Revise it! Strategies 181–210 126
Research it! Strategies 211–40 134
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viii CONTENTS
E-it! Strategies 241–70 141
M-it! Strategies 271–300 149
Part 3
What next? And your homework is… 159
8 Looking back and looking forwards 161
Bibliography 170
Index 173
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List of tables and figures
Tables
2.1 Section of typical lesson plan identifying homework to be collected and set
2.2 Section of typical SOW identifying homework to be collected and set
2.3 Common reasons for non-completion of homework
4.1 Independent learning and support
6.1 Homework clubs – types and differences
6.2 Short-term and long-term homework strategies
8.1 Thinking skills homework activity matrix
8.2 Homework activity matrix comparing learning skills and learning styles
Figures
3.1 Choices in differentiation
4.1 The interactive context in any off-site visit
7.1 Example of a QR code
7.2 Screen shot of bit.ly
7.3 Example of a Wordle
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