My Thoughts On HomeworkOver the years, my beliefs on homework has changed. In the past, I often found that my students were taking various assignments home on a daily basis and I started asking myself, was the learning they were doing at home meaningful and worthwhile? Was the homework effective as the article to the right discussed?
So what does homework look like for my students today? It is my belief that students should be engaged in meaningful learning both at home and at school. Homework should provide opportunities for students to explore their own interests, to utilize and develop skills and ideas learned in class, to prepare them for future lessons, and complete tasks to the best of their abilities. The amount and type of homework your child brings home will vary from day to day and is dependent upon your child's abilities and how well they use class time to complete tasks. With students spending five hours with me at school doing work, it is not my intent for students to go home to complete hours more of homework. In addition, many students have numerous out-of-school commitments such as music or sports in the evenings. Often times, students are given extended due dates to accommodate busy schedules. With this in mind, I help teach students to use their planners to help organize themselves and set achievable homework goals to avoid completing assignments at the last minute. In addition, I strongly encourage my students to advocate for themselves and come to me when they have are having issues with homework completion. I always say, "You should not be doing more that 45 - 60 minutes of homework a night, if you are, PLEASE come see me!" If students do not have homework related to the curriculum, I often challenge students to find other personally meaningful activities to engage in during homework time such as pleasure reading, personal inquiry, student action projects, physical activity, etc. If at any time you have homework concerns, please check the homework section of this site, talk with your child about their homework load, or contact me directly! |
What Research Says About HomeworkA report this year by the Canadian Council on Learning concluded that homework is effective - but only if it's assigned properly. More isn't necessarily better, and children in elementary school don't benefit from after-school assignments the same way that high-school students do.
Above is an excerpt from an article in The Globe and Mail by Carly Weeks on Sunday, Nov.22, 2009. To read more of the article, go to What the research says about kids and homework If Your Child Needs HelpIf your child needs help on anything, please check the Homework Page or Homework Blog for guidance OR send them to me. I am available before school after 8:15am or your child can make an appointment with me for recess, lunch, or after school.
Top 10 Homework Tips by KidsHealth
According to KidsHealth, here are the top 10 homework tips for parents:
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Planner Guidelines for StudentsCheck out the planner expectations on the student HOMEWORK page.
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