Wouldn't it be great to be a mind reader? You could do some pretty amazing things with your new-found superpower, like knowing exactly what your teacher wants from your homework… or what they're having for tea tonight…
But if you've not got a crystal ball, then you'll just have to watch our short video and then read our guide on what teachers want from you when you do your homework.
Our Homework Helpline heroes are comedians Louise Young, Inel Tomlinson, and actor Lenny Rush – happy to help!
Louise: Oh, we’ve got a video message guys.
Yusef: Hi. I'm Yusuf and I'm in Year 8. My question is: what do teachers expect for me when we do our homework?
Inel: Oh, Yusef, that is the million dollar question my bro!
Lenny: Well, our expert says teachers want to know what you know, not what other people know. So don't copy other people's work!
Louise: And you know, I suppose as a comedian, it's like if someone copied my joke that I've written, I'd be so unhappy about it, and it's the same with homework, just use your own words.
Inel: Yeah, exactly. You can always ask for help if you need help, but don't copy someone else's work because that defeats whole purpose of doing homework in the first place. You won't learn anything and, secondly, when it comes to exams and tests, you might struggle.
Lenny: Teachers want you to hand your work in on time so they can see where you're up to and what you need help with.
Louise: And actually, we've done a whole other video devoted totally to time management. So if you do struggle with that, that is something you can check out. I was thinking as well with teachers, they also want you to be neat and include the date and your name on your homework.
Lenny: Here’s a big one. Teachers don't want you to spend your whole evening on a piece of homework. If they say spend half an hour on it, spend half an hour on it.
Inel: I like that one.
Louise: Yeah, I suppose if you do run out of time, maybe just leave your teacher a note at the end of the work just saying "listen thisis why I had to stop" and the amount of time you spent on it.
Lenny: Time for a summary?
Louise. Wayaye. Right so copying is bad. Don't do that. It's not gonna fly! Be authentic, put your own work into the world.
Inel: Make sure you hand in your homework on time. Make sure it's neat and put your name and date on there.
Louise: Also try and keep an eye on how long you are spending on homework and don't stress about it. If you do run out of time, just let your teacher know the details.
Lenny: For more homework help videos, take a look at BBC Bitesize Support.
What teachers want – what they really, really want.
Whaddaya know?!
Teachers want to know what you know, not what someone else knows, so don't hand in work that isn't your own! Be careful when using the internet or books that you don’t directly copy any work that isn’t yours. Seeking help is fine, but use it to make your work better, rather than letting others do it for you or copying a friend. Also, make sure you use your own words to explain things, rather than the words someone else has used before you.
Don't be late!
Teachers want your homework to be handed in on time, so they can look at how the class is doing, and plan how to help you. They also want to be able to read what you've written, so make sure your work is as neat as you can get it, that your presentation is good, and that your homework has your name on it! Speak to your teacher if you're finding it difficult to get work in on time.
Do as much as required
Your teacher won’t want you to spend all night on a task that should take you half an hour, but they do want you to spend that half hour on it, if that’s the time that’s needed to make sure it’s done well. If you have spent a good amount of time on it, and you’re still struggling, then draw a line and stop. You could perhaps leave a note to your teacher at the end of the homework to let them know you didn’t just give up easily.
Tell them:
- What you’ve done
- How long you’ve spent on your homework
- Where you'd got to when you stopped.
If you need support
You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.
If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are more links to helpful organisations on BBC Action Line.
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