What should a teacher do first when many students do not understand a homework assignment?

When many students do not understand a homework assignment, the most effective initial action a teacher should take is to reteach the challenging concepts. This approach focuses directly on the gaps in students' understanding and addresses the specific difficulties they are experiencing. By revisiting the material, the teacher can clarify misunderstandings, reinforce key concepts, and provide additional support that may have been lacking during the initial instruction.

Reteaching allows the teacher to use different instructional strategies or provide alternative explanations that might resonate better with the students. This can include hands-on activities, visual aids, group discussions, or one-on-one assistance, all tailored to meet the diverse learning needs of the students.

Other choices, such as administrating a quiz, assigning additional homework, or changing the homework assignment may not directly address the root cause of the misunderstanding. A quiz could add stress without ensuring that students comprehend the material. Additional homework might overwhelm students who are already struggling, and altering the assignment may not solve the understanding issue either if the same concepts are still unclear. Therefore, focusing on reteaching provides the best opportunity for students to solidify their understanding and improve their performance.