Teachers need feedback on what their students know and don't know. One effective way is forming a circle and then taking turns making statements about a subject. Imagine the subject is the American Revolution. The procedure is simple. Students take turns making comments about the Revolution.
Ground rules are simple.
No one directly corrects another person. The process gives students confidence because they can share what they know. There is a wide range of views on the value of homework. Some people see it as busy work which simply reminds students that they better think about school instead of play. Other people think that without homework you cannot have a good educational program.