Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Homework as Optional Mrs. White tells her 7th grade students that homework is optional. How could she ensure that her students will do their homework? What would she do in order to teach her students that homework is optional but it is important? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) Homework is somewhat optional in my class. I tell my students that I consider a school day a work day for them, just like adults have an 8 hour workday. I tell them if they work the entire time they are at school, they have completed the work day as an adult and do not have to do their homework, just like an adult (besides teachers, ha) does not have to take home work if they work the entire day. However, if they decide to be off task during the school day, they will take their work home as well as complete the additional practice, just as an adult would have to do. Even though my students are only in fourth grade, they appreciate and take pride in being treated as adults. This encourages the ones who do their work in class to still complete the additional homework at home because they like the thought of being responsible and the "most mature" in the class. These are students who have little to no parental support at home...they are CHOOSING to go above and beyond. It's amazing how much this faith and standard of high expectations motivates them more than rewards does. They want someone to be proud of them, which I am.