Homework Policy (Guidelines)

Every School and Teacher Should Have a Homework Policy (Guideline) and It Should Be Consistently Observed A recent survey of schools found that only 35% of school districts have a written homework policy.

What’s a Good Homework Policy? District, building and classroom should have a homework policy. Provide the purpose of homework. Amount and frequency of homework. School and teachers’ responsibility. – Coordination of assignments, clear directions, make up assignments, value in reported grade. Students’ responsibilities. Role of parents or others who assist students with homework. Accommodations for special circumstances.

Homework First Steps The purpose of homework should be identified and articulated. – Homework is focused practice. – Homework is extends learning opportunities beyond the confines of the school day. – Provides student with opportunities to deepen their understanding and skills relative to content. Homework should not be used as punishment. Assignment Books are important tool to communicate with parents and students.

Purpose of Homework Let students know the purpose of the homework assigned. Have students tell you what is the purpose of the homework that is assigned. Work on getting these to match.

Homework Assignment Sheet Subject Date Due What I have to do tonight Purpose of the assignment Information I need to know or skills I need to able to do so that I can complete the assignment

Homework Policy Establish and communicate a homework policy. – Marzano’s Classroom Instruction That Works p 65 – Cooper’s Battle Over Homework p 84 National Education Association—Helping your Child Get the Most Our of Homework The 10 minute rule—10 minutes of homework per grade level.

Amounts from 2003 survey How much study at home? – 1 st to 3 rd grade 30 minutes – 4 th to 6 th grade 40 minutes – 7 th to 9 th grade 50 minutes – 10 th to 12 th grade 50 minutes Matches the PTA recommended 10 minutes per grade

Time Spend on Homework PTA and many others recommended 10 minutes per night per grade level. – This would include all subject areas and requires coordination between teachers. – Girls do slightly more homework More important than time spend on homework is the amount of homework completed.

Other Ideas Do as many problems as you can in 20 minutes. Read as many pages as you can in 20 minutes. Do what you can in 20 minutes; draw a line and work longer if you like. – This provides the teacher feedback about working speed and level of understanding.

Interdisciplinary Assignment Provides students an opportunity to create an assignment to meet requirement in 2 or more classes. Form includes – Proposed new assignment – Assignments that are being combined – Signatures of cooperating teachers – New dew date

A New Twist on Homework Teaching Children Mathematics, September 2003 p Develop mathematics homework activity sheets to send home rather than worksheets. – How many steps did you take going from your front door to your kitchen? – How many steps did your Mother or Father take going from your front door to your kitchen?

Homework Environment Students’ home environment varies greatly. Teachers need to be sensitive to the issues that students going home into very different homes.