My 7 seven years as a public school teacher was an experience I will always cherish. Being a teacher gave me the edge to be the creative professional I desired. One of my areas of creativity esteemed in my school was homework alternatives. I was always on the go when it came to the concept of homework because I was not much of a fan of the traditional approach to it. For the last two decades, there have been controversies over the efficacy of homework. Still, to me, it’s an obvious conclusion. 

Why? Because I immediately noticed that my student didn’t get to learn anything from it by having the same assignment, as some groups of students will have their assignment done while the rest would duplicate their answers. This, obviously, would be done through the internet, text, or phone, either on the bus or right before the commencement of the class. It brought about a collapse of learning and completely damaged the teaching and learning process. 

What did I get from this? The same old way or the traditional method of giving homework does not work anymore. Perhaps it was not working anymore; what should replace it then? Glad you asked too. In my class, I would use a game called “bingo” as a way to assign homework alternatives. I can’t lay hold on an example of the previous one I used but discovered something better. I discovered a modernized version of the “Weekly Homework Bingo” board created by an educationist who blends tech into their classroom.

Weekly Homework BINGO  

• Read-write, practice 10 minutes of mathematics facts 
• Using flashcards, read and study your spelling words for 10 minutes, 15 or more, a narrative minute of non-fiction on a topic of your choice about a time you learned something for at least 15 minutes on the station.
• Write, read, and play a typing game for 10 minutes. Study your spelling words for 10 minutes. Practice a poem about something joyful
• 15 plus minutes of non-fiction on 10 minutes of math fact on a topic of your choice 
• Adjust any work in your Thursday folder. Write, and read 15 or more minutes of any fiction text of your choice.
• Study your spelling words for 10 minutes.
• Write, complete, create, and study your spelling words for 10 minutes, two or more, a Google doc for 15 minutes on a topic of your choice, activities on XL or TTM in one night and share it with your teacher. 
• Read 15 or more minutes of non-fiction on anything in nature. Write Study Practice 15 or more minutes of any fiction text of your choice, and short your spelling words for 10 minutes of a non-fiction poem about something related. 
• After completing an activity, each child will color the matching box. You must mark at least ten spaces on your board to make your homework complete. On Friday, anyone who has a BINGO across, down, or diagonal will be entered to win.