Instruction & Homework


Homework

All students should read every night that it is possible, either for enjoyment or as part of an assignment. Younger students need an adult to read to them, and as soon as they are able, need to read to an adult every night that it is possible.

Homework may be assigned by individual teachers for various reasons. These might include:

Make-up work as a result of absence (see Make Up Work under Attendance)

Additional assignments designed to help children meet their potential

Work planned to help children overcome specific difficulties

Assignments made for the purpose of practicing or developing skills

Work not completed during the normal school day

Individual research projects and projects intended to pursue individual interests



ALL HOMEWORK SHOULD BE RETURNED BY THE DATE INDICATED BY THE TEACHER. Late homework is strongly discouraged, unless it is the result of an excused/unexcused absence or other documented emergency. Extensions may be addressed by individual teachers. (see Make Up work under Attendance)

Teachers will usually not be able to give assignments in advance for absences. Please see Make Up Work under Attendance. Please contact your child’s teacher to make arrangements on an individual basis.

The assignment and successful completion of homework has a positive effect on increased student achievement. Two common purposes of homework are (1) practice and (2) preparation and elaboration. Homework for practice is for students to work on skills for which they have already received instruction and guided practice. Students should be familiar with the skill and have had some practice with it. The second general purpose of homework is to prepare students for new content or to elaborate on content that has been introduced. A teacher may ask students to identify objects found in their kitchen before introducing the concept of classifying. For elaboration a teacher may ask the class to write or explain about the thinking a student used in solving a problem or learning a skill. Another purpose of homework is to help increase understanding of a complex or multi-step skill. An example of this would be when a student practices writing. They may rewrite a passage to make it better.



Parent Involvement in Homework

We realize that, at times, homework can increase tension between student, parent, and teacher. These tips should help minimize this tension and help students be more successful with their homework.

Help set up a consistent organized place for homework to be done.

Help your child establish either a consistent schedule for completing homework or help him create a schedule each Sunday night that reflects that particular weeks activities.

Encourage, motivate, and prompt your child, but do not sit with her and do the homework with her. You can be available for help and guidance but resist giving too much help or “being the teacher”. The purpose of the homework is for your child to practice and use what she has learned. If your child is consistently not able to do the homework with minimal support, please contact the teacher.

If your child is practicing a skill ask him to tell you which steps are easy for him, which are difficult, or how he is going to improve. If your child is doing a project, ask him what knowledge he is applying in the project. If your child is consistently unable to talk about the knowledge he is practicing or using, please contact the teacher.

Although there might be exceptions, the minutes your child should spend on homework should equal approximately 10 times their grade level (a 2nd grader would spend 20 minutes, a 3rd grader, 30 and so on). Work not completed during the time allotted during the day would be in addition to this amount of time. Please contact the teacher if a your child is consistently not finishing school work during school time rather than taking it home for homework.

When bedtime comes, please stop your child even if he is not done.

Avoid homework “battles”. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher first, and then the Principal if needed, to discuss the situation if homework becomes a consistent issue between you and your child. By working together we hope to make homework a valuable experience for us all.
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