Provincial Homework Policy The new policy was created to set clear expectations create consistency among schools across the province Expectations Age and developmentally appropriate homework will be assigned in all classes and all grade levels Every student will not necessarily receive the same homework because not every child can do the same Teachers will use their professional judgement to determine when to assign homework, what to assign, and how much

Expectations Homework will … be connected to what students are learning in class be within a student’s ability to complete on their own be mindful of students’ access to help and other resources at home be coordinated by teachers through a school-wide approach Homework will not … require parents or guardians to teach students new skills or ideas be used to punish or discipline a student be assigned on days of cultural or religious significance for students and their families

The Purpose of Homework PreparePracticeEnrich Gather materials for class Rehearse for a presentation Read an article for a class discussion Read for pleasure Practice basic literacy and math skills Practice an instrument Apply new knowledge to complete a project Research local news about a topic being discussed in class Investigate a science experiment Write personal reflections in a journal Apply a variety of skills to a larger project

What could this look like for younger students? Practicing basic skills: telling time, counting change, word games Reading for pleasure Gathering resources for projects Talking to family members to gather information for classroom activities Practicing physical skills

What could this look like for older students? Reading to prepare for upcoming activities or classroom discussions Practicing a presentation Practicing learned skills (i.e., balancing chemical equations, music or band pieces) Applying a variety of skills to a longer-term project Writing reflections on learning in a journal or blog Researching a topic being studied in class Preparing for a test or exam

Feedback and Evaluation Homework is another way for teachers to see if students have understood a new idea or skill Teachers will check homework and provide feedback to students. For example, acknowledge that a student successfully completed the homework let students know what they did well and how they could improve Day-to-day homework will not count toward students’ grades. Longer-term projects and assignments will be reviewed to provide feedback to students and may count toward their grades.

What can you do as a family? Provide encouragement Help your child develop study skills at home (e.g. getting organized, breaking tasks into smaller parts) Set up a space for homework Help your child balance time spent on homework, extracurricular, and out-of-school activities (e.g. help them to set up a homework schedule) Speak to your child’s teacher if they are struggling with their homework