8-2 The Homework Gap

Part One: Warm Up

1. Why do teachers give homework?
2. Do you think homework helps improve students’ grades? Why or why not?
3. Does homework have any drawbacks? If so, what are they?
4. How much do you think students rely on electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops when they are doing homework? How much do they rely on the Internet?
5. What percentage of students in your country have access to these devices? How would homework be difficult for any students who don’t have access to technology or the internet?
6. Should public schools provide laptops to students who can’t afford to buy their own? Why or why not?
7. Do an internet search on the term “Homework Gap.” What does it mean?

Part Two: Vocabulary

Part Three: Reading

Part Four: Further Discussion

1. Looking at the data from the article, what can you conclude about the Homework Gap?
   • How does family income affect it?
   • How does ethnic background affect it?
2. What kinds of problems will students who don’t have computers or the internet at home face in school? When you answer, try to use some of the speculation expressions you have learned in this unit.
3. In Use of English 8-2, you will be discussing ways to improve the Homework Gap. Before you start, brainstorm a few ideas and discuss them with your partner(s). Would they solve the problem? Would they work for all students? Could the government afford them?