I don’t know about you but homework is SUCH a battle for me. It doesn’t matter if I teach 3rd grade or 8th grade, homework is a struggle. Students don’t turn it in, or it’s late or it’s half done. I was in serious need of some math homework ideas.
Before I get any further, I feel like I need to state that homework was required at my schools. There wasn’t a way around giving homework on at least a weekly basis. However, I did find some ideas for homework that weren’t simply worksheets for math. If you are in the same boat, I feel you. There are more exciting things to give for homework.
On the flip side, if you don’t have to give homework but you want to you, I’m here for you too! Maybe parents are requesting extra practice, or maybe you see the value in nightly practice but are looking to shake things up. Either way, this blog post is all about different math homework ideas. So let’s dive in!
Homework Tips
To help me, and my students out, I only give homework once or twice a week. This is helpful for a few reasons. First, students know that it isn’t nightly which creates some buy-in from 6th graders.
Second, I give students multiple days to complete the homework. This works because students have a few nights to work on it. So if they have soccer practice tonight, they can do the homework tomorrow. Students can see the assignments at the beginning of the week so they can plan out what nights they will work on math.
Third, I give my students anywhere from 5-10 problems, which isn’t too much. Five is the mode, as I think that gives students practice without it being overwhelming. This is also the number that I find students are able to complete during homeroom time so if they forget to do it at home, they have time to work on it at school.
In addition to all of this, the homework I give is online. So students can check their work. This gives immediate feedback that I can’t provide. And this also helps students look for their mistakes. Which is honestly a life skill I’m in full support of!
Ideas for homework
Homework doesn’t have to be simply worksheets! I’ve found that students have more buy-in if it changes. So like a worksheet one week, a choice board the next, a self-checking maze, and a flipped classroom video the third week. The possibilities are endless but switching it up is key.
Worksheets
I feel like I should start with the math homework ideas basics here. Giving a worksheet is an easy way to give homework. There are spiral review assignments that are great for extra practice. I like the self-checking kind so that students can check their work even from home.
Another idea with this is to take morning work and flip it into homework. I like to use the number of the day to help build number sense and it is pretty easy to fill in the numbers and run a set of copies. That way students could work on a little bit each night, or do the whole thing in one evening.
To save on copies, I try to print double-sided. Maybe a multiplication facts worksheet and then something that is within the unit to practice for homework. This idea works great for math homework for 4th graders or even middle school math.
Choice Board Templates
I love a good choice board template. While I typically use these as in-class or math station rotation ideas, choice boards can work just as well at home. I give students a board at the beginning of the unit to put into their math interactive notebook for easy reference. Then I can say for a sub day, or for homework, complete 1 activity from the board.
This works for a few reasons. First students have a choice in what they want to complete. Second, this could take a few nights so if you are at a school that requires multiple days of homework, this works nicely. I used this tip when giving homework for 3rd graders.
I use this set of choice boards that are already created with prompts for 5th-grade math. If you are looking for a digital set of choice board templates, be sure to check out my Teachers Pay Teachers shop for a set that can be used with any content or grade level.
Flipped Classroom
A flipped classroom is all about taking the main pieces of a lesson: learning and then practicing and flipping them. So instead of learning the lesson in school with you, they learn it at home. Then they come into class and practice with you.
I love this approach because it seems a bit fairer. Some kids have engineers for parents so middle school math is easy. But some kids have parents who cry at the sight of fractions (true story from my own family!).
With a flipped classroom, students watch a video and usually fill in some sort of notes sheet. I personally make my own videos and notes sheets but if you are looking for math lessons for 5th grade, I have a set already created! Simply print the notes sheets and post the video! Math homework ideas made easy!
This way of teaching does require students to have internet and a device which isn’t always feasible. I have also switched this method to be completed all in class. I use math learning centers in my classroom and this video/notes combo becomes the technology station. That way students are still seeing the video and filling in notes and steps. But they are completing it in class. If you want to learn more about creating a flipped classroom be sure to check out this blog post.
If you want to learn more about math stations then be sure to join the FREE 5-day video series all about math stations. I share with you the who, what, when, where, why, and how of running math stations in the 4th-6th grade math classroom. Simply drop your email below to get access to all of the videos and workbooks. Math stations changed my teaching life so let’s make them change yours!
Math Homework Ideas: Internet practice
Need something quick and easy? I am totally right there with you! My textbook (Big Ideas) actually has an online homework component that is such a lifesaver. You can choose which problems students complete and it will check and grade for you.
If you don’t have a similar option from your textbook, that’s ok! There are tons of different online practice sites for students to get homework practice on. With most of these platforms, you can assign particular lessons and practice for students to complete. With other options, students are able to work at their level with differentiated practice based on a pretest.
My favorite math homework ideas include:
I have used all of these platforms at some point or another. But if you have additional favorites, drop them in the comments. I’d love to add to this list!
Homework Help In Math
Homework help in math is such a battle. So many people are scared of math and I get where they are coming from. Upper-level math isn’t my favorite and while I know it, I don’t want to teach it!
With parents, it’s the same struggle. And I don’t want to cause my students (or families!) any additional stress and tears trying to get a homework assignment done.
To combat all of this, I turn to google. In our online learning platform, I provide links to videos for students to watch if they get confused at home. I just search youtube and provide a few different links for students. Sure students could search for these for themselves, but now there isn’t an excuse for them.
I’ve linked a few of my favorite channels below:
More Math Homework Ideas
Looking for more math homework ideas? I’ve found some of my favorite bloggers and Instagrammers who share their math homework tips. Be sure to check them out if you want more ideas on how to tackle this sometimes decisive topic.
- 6 Tips for Math the Most of Math Homework
- Making Math Homework Work!
- Make Homework Meaningful & Manageable with Menus
- 7 Ways to Make Homework Fun for Back to School
- Turn Worksheets into Easy Math Activities
- Teaching Math without Homework: How and Why
- How to Use Google Forms to Steamline Homework Data Collection
- Homework Ideas for Elementary Teachers: Save Time and Make Learning More Purposeful
I’d love to hear from you! What are your math homework ideas? Drop your ideas in the comments below!
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