Reading several of the blogs was very interesting.  I especially enjoyed Is this SSR 2.0?  I loved what the teacher commented about allowing his students to read blogs during the quiet reading time.  What a wonderful use of time and technology. 

I also loved the information about assigning homework in Why I don’t assign homework.  I was glad to see an educator at the high school level feel strongly about not assigning homework for completely different reasons than I have for not assigning homework.  I think he is correct when he states that your driven, high achievers will do the homework, but your students who struggle will not to it for obvious reasons.

 Because I teach first grade, I feel my students need time to play, socialize and spend time with their family when they get home.  I feel I work them very hard while they are at school and want them to build relationships when they get home.  Homework in my classroom consists of a time of reading a story to their parents (after they have practiced at school with me).  That way, hopefully it is a short time of celebration for the student and the parent.  It also gives my student who may be struggling a time to review the story with their parents.