Design Your
Own Homework

When Arizona teacher Valerie Grimes saw that her fourth- and fifth-grade students were becoming disenchanted with the day-to-day homework assignments they received in her classroom, she found a solution -- have students design their own homework.

She starts by sending home a letter to parents explaining that once a month, in lieu of a homework assignment shes written, students can bring in their own homework project instead.

Then she instructs her students to create assignments that require some thought, explaining that they have to be prepared to share what they learned from their self-designed activities. When they submit their projects, students receive credit for a regular homework assignment of their choice.

"My primary goal is to help students begin to think of school and home life as interwoven, and to view learning as a lifelong activity," says Grimes.

Source: Students Rule With Design Your Own Homework

09/14/2010