Our district policy on homework states,
"Homework is designed to positively reinforce, develop, and/or expand content knowledge. Student performance is enhanced by six types of homework:
1. Practice/Review: Homework assignments are designed to reinforce material presented in class and/or develop mastery of skills.
2. Preparation: Homework assignments are designed to introduce material that will be helpful in understanding future instruction.
3. Elaboration: Homework assignments are designed to transfer previously learned skills and concepts to other situations such as making real world and cross-curricular connections.
4. Study skills and habits: Homework assignments are designed to improve skills such as concentration, discipline, note taking, reading for understanding, and reading for pleasure.
5. Skill integration: Homework assignments are designed to utilize separately learned skills and concepts and apply them in the completion of a single product such as a book report, science project, or writing assignment.
6. Corrective Instruction: Homework assignments are designed to help correct an assessed area of need. There should be differentiated learning opportunities for first time successful learners.
Responsibilities
1. Teacher: There is substantial evidence that the quality of the homework assigned and teacher response to homework enhance its value in improving student success. While it is not practical or necessary to give in-depth feedback on every homework assignment, teachers should use strategies that will maximize the effectiveness of homework assignments. Therefore, teachers must:
a. Clearly communicate to the student the purpose, directions, and expectations for all homework assignments
b. Design the homework so that it can be accomplished by the child independent of direct support from others
c. Clearly establish and communicate to parents/guardians the general purpose and expectations for homework, and encourage feedback regarding quantity and difficulty of homework; differentiation not addressed
d. Provide timely and appropriate feedback to students and parents/guardians using strategies that will:
(1) Limit the number of minutes required to complete homework assignments: multiply the student's grade level by 10
(2) Keep parental involvement in homework assignments to a minimum
(3) Make sure students fully understand what to do and are familiar with the skill being practiced
(4) Vary the feedback
2. Student: There is strong evidence that students who complete appropriate homework assignments will demonstrate significant improvement in academic achievement. Therefore, students have a responsibility to develop the discipline and study skills necessary to complete homework on a regular basis. Students must:
a. Have a system for recording homework assignments on a daily basis
b. Have a clear understanding of the homework assignment before leaving school
c. Have the books and materials necessary to complete the assigned homework
d. Allocate an appropriate amount of time daily for the completion of homework
e. Turn in homework assignments when requested
3. Parent/Guardian: Research strongly suggests that parents/guardians have an important role to play in providing an opportunity for students to complete homework. However, the research is also clear that parents/guardians should not assume responsibility for the actual completion of the student's homework. Therefore, to the extent possible, parents/guardians are responsible for providing the following:
a. Help set up a consistent, organized place for homework to be done
b. Help establish a consistent schedule for homework which may need to be reset weekly in order to accommodate the upcoming week's activities
c. Encouraging, motivating and supporting, but not doing the work for your child. If the homework is too difficult for your child to complete fairly successfully alone, consult with the teacher
d. Guidelines: The time allotted to complete homework assignments should equal approximately 10 times the student's grade level: A second grader would spend 20 minutes; a third grader would spend 30, and so on.
e. If the allotted amount of time is unreasonable to complete assignments, it is incumbent upon the parent/guardian to communicate these issues with the teacher.
Suggested methods of communication:
(1) Attend back to school night
(2) Attend conferences
(3) Written notes
(4) Telephone call
(5) E-mail
f. Parents/guardians need to take an active role in communicating with their student and understanding classroom expectations"
"Homework is designed to positively reinforce, develop, and/or expand content knowledge. Student performance is enhanced by six types of homework:
1. Practice/Review: Homework assignments are designed to reinforce material presented in class and/or develop mastery of skills.
2. Preparation: Homework assignments are designed to introduce material that will be helpful in understanding future instruction.
3. Elaboration: Homework assignments are designed to transfer previously learned skills and concepts to other situations such as making real world and cross-curricular connections.
4. Study skills and habits: Homework assignments are designed to improve skills such as concentration, discipline, note taking, reading for understanding, and reading for pleasure.
5. Skill integration: Homework assignments are designed to utilize separately learned skills and concepts and apply them in the completion of a single product such as a book report, science project, or writing assignment.
6. Corrective Instruction: Homework assignments are designed to help correct an assessed area of need. There should be differentiated learning opportunities for first time successful learners.
Responsibilities
1. Teacher: There is substantial evidence that the quality of the homework assigned and teacher response to homework enhance its value in improving student success. While it is not practical or necessary to give in-depth feedback on every homework assignment, teachers should use strategies that will maximize the effectiveness of homework assignments. Therefore, teachers must:
a. Clearly communicate to the student the purpose, directions, and expectations for all homework assignments
b. Design the homework so that it can be accomplished by the child independent of direct support from others
c. Clearly establish and communicate to parents/guardians the general purpose and expectations for homework, and encourage feedback regarding quantity and difficulty of homework; differentiation not addressed
d. Provide timely and appropriate feedback to students and parents/guardians using strategies that will:
(1) Limit the number of minutes required to complete homework assignments: multiply the student's grade level by 10
(2) Keep parental involvement in homework assignments to a minimum
(3) Make sure students fully understand what to do and are familiar with the skill being practiced
(4) Vary the feedback
2. Student: There is strong evidence that students who complete appropriate homework assignments will demonstrate significant improvement in academic achievement. Therefore, students have a responsibility to develop the discipline and study skills necessary to complete homework on a regular basis. Students must:
a. Have a system for recording homework assignments on a daily basis
b. Have a clear understanding of the homework assignment before leaving school
c. Have the books and materials necessary to complete the assigned homework
d. Allocate an appropriate amount of time daily for the completion of homework
e. Turn in homework assignments when requested
3. Parent/Guardian: Research strongly suggests that parents/guardians have an important role to play in providing an opportunity for students to complete homework. However, the research is also clear that parents/guardians should not assume responsibility for the actual completion of the student's homework. Therefore, to the extent possible, parents/guardians are responsible for providing the following:
a. Help set up a consistent, organized place for homework to be done
b. Help establish a consistent schedule for homework which may need to be reset weekly in order to accommodate the upcoming week's activities
c. Encouraging, motivating and supporting, but not doing the work for your child. If the homework is too difficult for your child to complete fairly successfully alone, consult with the teacher
d. Guidelines: The time allotted to complete homework assignments should equal approximately 10 times the student's grade level: A second grader would spend 20 minutes; a third grader would spend 30, and so on.
e. If the allotted amount of time is unreasonable to complete assignments, it is incumbent upon the parent/guardian to communicate these issues with the teacher.
Suggested methods of communication:
(1) Attend back to school night
(2) Attend conferences
(3) Written notes
(4) Telephone call
(5) E-mail
f. Parents/guardians need to take an active role in communicating with their student and understanding classroom expectations"