Homework plays an important role in the development of responsibility and good study habits as the cognitive capacities of young learners mature. Homework also provides opportunities for young children to begin to develop the understanding that learning continues to take place outside of the school day. Homework is only one part of the teaching/learning process. Research has shown that providing children with varied experiences enables them to use all of their intelligences and senses to establish a rich conceptual foundation for learning. Homework is a flexible and individual responsibility of the instructional staff. Because of the individual differences and needs of students, the district does not require or expect all students to experience the same kind of homework in connection with classroom instruction.

PURPOSE

• To reinforce, extend, and enrich the instruction experience.To provide opportunities for students to utilize separately learned skills and concepts and integrate them in the completion of a project or interdisciplinary assignment. In the upper grades, homework assignments may be designed to introduce or help students become familiar with material to be utilized in the instructional setting.
• Teachers use homework as one way to assess student understanding and to inform their practice in the classroom.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROTOCOL Teacher

• To clearly communicate to the student the purpose, directions, and expectations for all homework assignments. To demonstrate the value of homework by providing timely and appropriate feedback in accordance with designated assignments.
• To establish a routine process for communicating with parents and students regarding issues and concerns related to homework.
  a. Acknowledging receipt of the homework.
  b. Monitoring homework for completion and accuracy.
  c. Encouraging feedback regarding quantity and difficulty of homework.

 

Student

• To be aware of and record all homework assignments To ask for clarification when unsure of the expectations.To ask for assistance as needed from a teacher and/or parent.To complete homework assignments with care and to submit work in a timely manner.
• To make up any assignments missed.

 

Parent

• To provide an environment conducive to the individual child's learning style for the completion of homework.To guide, encourage and help focus children-but not to do the homework for them. To monitor the effort and amount of time a child spends completing his or her homework. To contact the teacher when a child experiences difficulty and/or frustration when completing an assignment or when issues/concerns about homework arise.
• To contact an administrator, (department head, assistant principal, principal), if homework issues or concerns remain unresolved.

 

BENEFITS OF HOMEWORK

• To foster a sense of responsibility for independent learning.
• To help develop appropriate work habits, study and time management skills.

 

TYPES OF HOMEWORK

Homework assignments are created based upon the intended instructional purpose and the needs of the child. Examples of elementary assignments include but are not limited to:

• Drill and practice exercises (spelling, vocabulary words, math facts, computation). Review for test and assessments. Research activities and reports - both short and long term. Data collections. Reading and writing assignments. Media assignments - TV, radio, newspaper. Interview
• Authentic applications and projects (models, simulations, constructions).

Examples of assignments at the secondary level include but are not limited to:

• Study skills and habits: Homework assignments designed to improve skills such as concentration, self-discipline, note taking, reading for understanding, and reading for pleasure. Practice/Review: Homework assignments designed to reinforce materials presented in class and/or to develop mastery of skill. Preparation: Homework assignments designed to either introduce or help students become familiar with material that will be utilized as part of the instructional program. Skill integration: Homework assignments designed to utilize
  separately learned skills and concepts and apply them to the completion of a single product such as a science project or writing assignment.
• Extension: Homework assignments designed to help students generalize previously learned skills and concepts to authentic situations involving problem solving and cross-curricular connections.

RANGE

Attitudes towards homework begin at an early age. Homework should be a positive experience for children and parents. Research suggests that the amount of time spent completing homework should vary by grade level. According to the NATIONAL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION and the NATION EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, "Most educators agree that for children in grades K through 2, homework is most effective when it does not exceed 10 to 20 minutes; while for children grades three to five, the average daily amount of time spent on homework should range between 30 and 60 minutes. This is know as the "10 minute rule," approximately 10 times the grade level per evening. In developing homework guidelines, the recognition of reading as both an integral component of literacy development and lifelong learning is crucial. Therefore, it is essential that during the early years children read or be read to, on a daily basis. In grades K - 5 the time spent on homework should not exceed the following: Kindergarten and Grade 1: 10 minutes Grade 2: 20 minutes Grade 3: 30 minutes Grade 4: 40 minutes Grade 5: 50 minutes

In addition, students are expected to spend time each evening, engaged in reading activities. In grade 6 it is expected that time spent engaged in homework activities will range between 45 and 75 minutes on a daily basis. In grades 7 and 8, students should be engaged in daily homework activities for between 60 and 90 minutes. The amount of time a student in the High School will spend on homework will of course vary depending upon both the number and the level of courses in which he or she is enrolled. However, at any level, elementary, middle or high school, parents should feel comfortable contacting the classroom teacher should homework assignments take substantially more time than outlined in these guidelines. Parent feedback will assist teachers in monitoring and evaluating the amount of homework assigned.