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Adopted from NCTM Mathematics Teacher, March 2014 Don’t Just Do Your Homework, LEARN It! Step 1: Carefully read and do a homework problem in pencil. Step 2: Check your answer in the back of the book. (If it is not there, mark “NIB”) Step 3: Using a colored pen (other than blue/black), score your work. В GOT IT ON THE FIRST TRY You got the problem correct on your first try. You completely understand the problem. ВВ GOT IT ON THE SECOND TRY You got the problem wrong, did the problem over in colored pen, and understand your mistake. You now understand the problem. (I should see your original work in pencil and the corrected work in pen) ✗✗ STILL DON’T GET IT You tried your best, but the book says your answer is incorrect. You cannot find your mistake. (These are the most important problems; you should seek help from a teacher, tutor, friend, or family member.) Step 4: Repeat this process for each homework problem. It will save you time if you do a problem, then correct it, and then do another (else you may keep making the same mistakes, causing yourself more work). Step 5: At the top of your homework, near your name, write a ratio showing how many problems you understand (meaning you got it on the first or second try) to how many problems were assigned. Reflecting on your homework . . . • Did I check my answers in the back of the book? • Did I check each answer immediately after each problem? • Did I catch any mistakes? • Was I able to figure out what I did wrong? • Did I fix my work (not just the answer) in colored pen? • Are there any problems I still don’t understand? • What is my plan for learning those problems? • Did I write my final score as a ratio at the top of the page? • Did the homework assignment help me learn and solidify my knowledge?
