Homework is an integral part of the learning process. After attending class and listening to the explanations related to the subject at hand, when the student works problems related to the subject area the learning that takes place in the classroom is reinforced. The student acquires additional skills and develops healthy study habits.
I assign homework every day, whether a written homework is assigned or not. As a minimum, the student is always expected to review the material that was covered in class that day.
Written homework may or may not be assigned. When assigned, the written homework will be posted on the individual class Web page, so both the student and the parents will always know what the written assignment is. The class Web page will always show the written homework on the day it was assigned. It is always due on the next class period unless stated otherwise. Students will deposit the homework in the homework basket as they enter the class.
All homework count towards the grade. Whereas I do not have time to grade each homework each time, I will grade homework in detail from time to time, and the student does not know in advance when I will grade them in detail, so it is to the student's advantage to do the very best each time. On the days I do not to grade a homework batch in detail the student will get either a 100 or a zero, depending on whether he turned the homework in or not. Late homework will be accepted, but it will only be awarded half of the credit. In other words, if you are late turning in your homework, even just one day, it will be worth only 50 points.
I take homework seriously, so I always start my classes inviting students to ask any questions about the homework they just did. That way the whole class benefits from any questions brought by any student. Students are encouraged to ask questions so that any remaining difficulties can be addressed before moving onto the next topic.
The student is responsible for the homework that was assigned on any given day whether or not he or she was in class that day. Since the material to be covered in the class and the homework assignment are both posted and accessible to all, there is no excuse for not having the homework. If the student had missed the class when the homework was assigned and "does not understand" how to do it, I still expect the student to do the best possible job, turn the homework in anyway, and then ask questions regarding any difficulties he or she may have had.
Format: The first line of the homework must contain the student's name, the class period, the day the homework was assigned, and what the homework is. Example:
John B. Doe Period "C" Assigned 9/12/06 Chapter 4 # 3, 5, 7 and 9
In addition, the homework must be clean and legible, with no more than one question in any line, and leaving at least one line in between questions. Each homework must be submitted separately.