How to Quit Drowning In Uncorrected Math Homework

This is actually a very easy way to take care of math homework, without having the students correcting each other's homework. It's really easy if you follow the steps every single day.

1. When the students come in the room have the answers only to the homework on the overhead.
2. Students take out their homework and check their own answers, while you take attendance, sign absent passes or whatever housekeeping activities you need to do.
3. Students ask for clarification on any of the answers they may have gotten wrong. Do the problem on the board or overhead for the students to figure out why they got a wrong answer.
4. Students keep their homework in their notebook.
5. On Friday, when the students come into the classroom have the "Homework Quiz" on the overhead. The "Homework Quiz" consists of one problem from each night's homework for the week.
6. Students may use the week's homework to help with the quiz.
7. Students turn in the "Homework Quiz" with the 4 or 5 problems on it.
8. Correct the "Quizzes" over the weekend to be returned on Monday.

I will not correct any problem on the quiz that doesn't show complete step by step work. Remember the students had the chance to ask about any problems they missed during the week. I like to use this method because if a student understands the lessons well enough that they don't need to do the homework then they don't have to do it as long as they think they can get the problem correct on Friday's quiz.

As long as you remember the purpose of homework is to reinforce learning and not to teach, this method works great. The students are responsible for knowing if they need the practice or not, and their grade depends on whether they take that responsibility seriously. You only have to correct papers once a week and then only 4 or 5 problems. It's a win/win situation for everybody and the students actually do their homework more consistently.