Straight Talk: They have a life outside your classroom.

 

Let's talk. 

One of the things that has frequently bothered me about teachers and students is the fact that some teachers seem to get some kind of strange joy out of overloading students with homework. I don't get it. 

I ALWAYS tried to remember what it was like to actually BE a student. Students have anywhere from 3 to 7 classes in addition to your own. They also have after-school activities that we encourage them to be in like sports, band, clubs. Many have jobs and/or chores when they get home. And don't forget they need some free time just to be young. 

Please, teachers, try to remember that students do have a life outside of your classroom. We want them to be well-rounded individuals, and yet, all too frequently we don't give them the time to do that. 

Think carefully when assigning after school work. Make deadlines reasonable. Don't just give work for the sake of giving work. Ask students when they have other upcoming tests/deadlines/commitments and do your best, if possible, to schedule around those. It's  not always possible to do it, I know. We've all been there. Sometimes the test HAS to be on that day, or the project MUST come in that week. 

Talk to your students about it. Let them see that you CARE about them and that you are doing your best to help them be successful. They will appreciate it. And, really, it's the fair thing to do.