Monthly Archives: December 2018

Historical Writing

Homework: Menial or Meaningful?

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In my World and US History classes, 135 students averaged a 56 percent homework completion rate after they were assigned 10 Listenwise assignments and 11 CommonLit assignments that complemented my history instruction over the Fall 2018 semester. These stories and texts were specifically chosen to improve academic vocabulary and understanding of Social Studies content. The titles and results can be seen in this spreadsheet.

Because I teach gifted and high-achieving students that take all Honors or Advanced Placement classes, I understand that time management is their biggest challenge. I set up my homework deadlines to be consistent, each Listenwise assignment took approximately 15-20 minutes was due on Wednesday and each CommonLit assignment took approximately 30-40 minutes was due on Friday. This gave students choice in setting their priorities and planning their work schedule. Each assignment was worth ten points, representing 210 points out of the 2,000 points students could have earned over the course of the semester.  My district recommends that homework should not exceed 15% of a student’s grade. These assignments represented about 11% of a student’s grade.

Five of my students chose to write about homework for their final exam. Do you see any themes in their work? The performance task prompt follows below.

In your analysis, define what effective, high-quality homework is, include your homework completion rates, and thoughtfully assess how homework contributes to your education. Support your suggestions with research and data.

homework debate

While some research advocates eliminating homework, other scholarship makes a case for quality homework. In addition to the negative effects on students’ overall wellness, parents are concerned that homework may cause their children to lose a love of learning. Write your own History of Homework based on your educational experiences at JFK’s Medical Magnet and use evidence from the three research articles to help your teachers design a productive homework policy that helps gifted and high achieving students thrive.

Can you describe assignments that have challenged you to demonstrate what you have learned in class, inspired you to try something another way, or helped you achieve proficiency/mastery with a certain skill or topic?

Historical Writing, Narrative Writing

WWI First Person Research Paper

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On order to engage my students in the study of World War One, they are conducting a first person research paper that showcases their narrative skills. This assignment was adapted from (Heckenlaible, 2008). I am posting the directions for the assignment now and will follow up with additional posts featuring student work and feedback.Pershing

Gen. John J. Pershing, photographed by Harvey Patteson in 1917. Courtesy of the Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/00652556/

  1. Listen to 15 Minute History to refresh your memory on why the US joined WWI and use the resources to help you brainstorm topics.
  2. Decide to work with partners or work solo. Then use this form to declare your narrator and story (topic). Each narrative must be two minutes or 1.5 pages per person.
  3. Produce an Annotated Bibliography in MLA format with at least six sources. If a historical detail is not included, then you cannot use it in your narrative.
  4. Use the details from your annotated bibliography to write your script. Document the historical details in your story by underlining them and including a (parenthetical citation) immediately after.
  5. Submit your story in writing or record your narrative for extra points.
  6. Create an Annotated Timeline that includes maps of where your story takes place.
  7. Write a 5 question Quizizz to share after your story has been heard by the class.

To see the directions for a previous assignment, look at Vietnam War Narrative You may listen to three examples: Vietnam War Nurses, Protest Becomes Tragedy, The Last Moments of Elizabeth Hall

CA USH Standard: 11.4.5: Analyze the political, economic, and social ramifications of World War I on the home front. CCSS: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.