Teachers and the dilemma about homework

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Homework. Hmmm…yeah. The topic is as controversial today as it was when I began my teaching career 36 years ago. Although I am now retired, this exasperating subject surfaced the other day when I was veritably blasted by my periodontist for failure to floss. Let’s just say I really got schooled. In a nutshell, he said he was a highly trained professional, and furthermore a very busy man, and if I couldn’t be bothered to do my share of the work at home, then I should not come back. Wow. I mean double wow.

So let’s be honest. Hasn’t every teacher run those same thoughts through their head when confronted by a recalcitrant student who refuses to do their homework? Educators everywhere have wrestled with this problem for decades. Every teacher knows that there are some students who will do all their homework, some students who will do some of it, and some students who will do none of it. And in my experience, unless you’re teaching an honors class, the amount of homework that doesn’t get done is greater than the amount that does.

So what strategies can the teacher use to increase the amount of homework that gets turned in? We’ve all experimented. Here are a few I tried. First, I increased the weight of the homework category so a student could not pass my class unless they completed at least a large percentage of it. The result? The students still didn’t do their homework, and tons of kids were failing. Then I tried reducing the number of assignments from four nights a week to two nights a week. That helped with their grades, but it did not increase the number of assignments that got turned in. Next, I tried giving assignments that couldn’t be quantified, such as, “Your homework tonight is to study for your test tomorrow.” And then I just hoped they would do this, although I was pretty sure they wouldn’t. Finally, I gave them classwork assignments and told them if they didn’t finish in class, they should finish for homework. And then I gave them enough time to finish in class.

I can’t say I felt very professionally satisfied with any of these strategies. One thing I can say with certainty, though, is that if I had given voice to my frustration in the same way that my periodontist did, if I had pounded them into the ground for their errors, I could add another failed strategy to my list. Even if my students showed up empty-handed, I was always glad to see them come back the next day. Because every day a student shows up to class is a new opportunity to guide them, to help them be more successful, and to lovingly plant that suggestion one more time that, yes, homework is an important part of continued progress. And seizing these opportunities is never a waste of time or energy, even for a busy, well-trained professional.

I understand full well my periodontist’s exasperation. I empathize. I am truly sorry that my failure to floss provoked such an angry outburst from him, and I forgive him for losing his temper. After all, I’m not a kid. I know the man is right. Since that day I have attempted, in New Year’s resolution fashion, to mend the error of my ways. But I also found a new periodontist.

KY teacher Janet Helvey succumbs to Covid-19

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Elementary school teacher Janet Helvey of Meta, Kentucky, succumbed to Covid-19 on December 26, 2026. She was 58 years old. Photo credit: Lexington Herald Leader

We are sad to report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Janet Helvey, an elementary school teacher in Meta, Pike County, Kentucky, succumbed to the disease on December 26, 2021. She was 58 years old.

Janet taught fifth grade, specializing in science and math, at Johns Creek Elementary in Meta. Her career there spanned 22 years. The popular and respected educator will be sorely missed. “She will be one of the teachers who has etched a mark in my son’s heart, asserted Parent Jennifer Lindon. “She offered additional time for my son when needed and pushed him to succeed when needed. She was compassionate and kind but stern because she knew his ability to succeed,” Lindon said.

Janet was born on July 20, 1963, in Pikesville, Kentucky. After her graduation from Mullins High School, she attended Pikeville College and Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky.

RI teacher Laura Barlow named TeachKind 2021 Teacher of the Year

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Laura Barlow, a middle school teacher from Providence, Rhode Island, has been named the TeachKind 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: PETA

Many talented classroom teachers incorporate their personal interests into their curriculum. One of these is Laura Barlow, a middle school teacher from Providence, Rhode Island. She finds many ways to incorporate her advocacy for animals into her arts courses. For her work leading students to appreciate the needs of animals, Laura has been named the TeachKind 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Laura teaches a variety of arts classes at Roger Williams Middle School in her school. Among them are visual arts, graphic design, performing arts, and photography. She is certified to teach Special Education and she is experienced at working with multilingual learners, so she is able to inspire students of all abilities and backgrounds to express their creativity to help animals through dynamic instructional activities. For example, in her unit about the interconnectedness of animals, humans, and the environment, she asks her students to create a posters that contain compelling images and a clear message to advocate for change that benefits other people, animals, and the environment. With her performing arts students, Laura reads plays that contain compassion as a themes, and then she leads discussions that connect the plays to current issues, including animal rights and social justice struggles. For example, when studying The Lion King, students research issues that affect the animals in the play, and after reading Random Acts of Kindness, the students discuss and write about ways they can show more kindness toward others, animals, and the environment.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Laura donates her time as the leader of Rhode Island Vegan Awareness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating a vegan lifestyle. She writes articles, gives talks about vegan living, hosts vegan cooking demos, distributes vegan meals to those in need, organizes community cleanups, and helps organize outreach events.

As the TeachKind 2021 Teacher of the Year, Laura will receive an animal-friendly gift basket designed especially for teachers, a faux-leather backpack from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), and a subscription to vegan meal delivery service.

To learn more about Laura Barlow, see this article about her published by PETA.

Jacobie Bluhm engages students with nerdy quotes and hip-hop

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Digital media teacher Jacobie Bluhm from San Jacinto High School in Southern California engages his students with nerdy quotes and hip-hop dance moves. Photo credit: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Many talented educators use unique and unusual teaching methods to reach their students. One of these is Jacobie Bluhm, a digital media teacher from San Jacinto High School in Southern California. He engages his students with nerdy quotes from Star Wars and hip-hop dance moves.

One of Jacobie’s favorite Star Wars quotes is Yoda’s “Do or do not. There is no try.” After he printed the quote on his syllabus at the beginning of the school year, his students called him a nerd. Before long, though, the students admitted that their teacher was teaching them that the key to success in their learning was increased effort.

Jacobite guides his students in real-world assignments, including web design and creating content for the school’s website. “They are not just turning in something for the teacher to look at. They are putting out something for the website.” says Jacobie’s colleague Jeremy Murphy. He says this level of engagement is a big deal to students. “Engagement is a big deal,” says Murphy, “to keep kids interested and also keep expectations at a level where they are continually growing.” And, Murphy continues, Jacobie brings a lot of energy to his approach to teaching.

“My teaching style is a bit different,” admitted Jacobie. “I’m very open and honest. And I feel that that is the best trait that teachers can have,” he continued.

In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Jacobie teaches hip-hop dance after school as part of the Murrieta Dance Project. There he puts his kids at ease while simultaneously challenging them to be their best. His goal to help his dancers find and develop confidence. “There’s a spark in them that they won’t let be contained,” he asserts.