345.3

HOMEWORK POLICY

Student achievement is increased when teachers regularly assign homework and students conscientiously complete the work. Homework can also help children develop good habits, attitudes, and self-discipline. Specifically, homework has the following purposes:

• Promotes growth in self-responsibility and self-direction in learning.
• Directs students toward good work habits.
• Enriches, enhances, and extends school experiences.
• Brings students into contact with out-of school learning resources.
• Helps children learn to budget time.
• Provides essential practice in developing skills.
• Promotes a positive home/school relationship.

It is understood that as a student progresses in maturity, homework will develop from an incidental and informal program to a much more formal, definite concept. It is recommended that homework be given at all grade levels, in a form that is developmentally appropriate. Homework may be assigned to:

• Supplement and support the school experience through home-related activities.
• Reinforce school learning by providing necessary practice, integration, and application.
• Help students to become resourceful and to work independently.
• Acquaint parents/guardians with what their children are learning in school and invite their help when desirable.

 

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Adoption Date: February 22, 1999

 

 

345.3–Rule

HOMEWORK POLICY

Procedures

Teacher Responsibilities

1. Keep homework to a minimum on Wednesday’s to honor the community’s request for church night activities.
2. As a teacher considers individual differences among students, assignments and expectations will necessarily differ. The following points should be considered when assigning homework:
   • What purpose does the homework serve?
   • Does this homework accommodate students of different interests and abilities?
   • Can the homework be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time?
   • Is the homework assignment an extension of current class experience?
   • Does the homework build into a cumulative knowledge or skill base over a period of time rather than a series of unrelated assignments?
3. Lay out expectations for homework early in the year and communicate these expectations to students and parents.
4. Encourage and teach good study habits.
5. Check the quality of homework and provide some method for giving feedback.
6. Teachers may communicate to parents about homework assignments through a daily assignment notebook, or other process decided upon by the site.

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

1. While students need to assume the major responsibility for completing homework assignments, parents/guardians are encouraged to take an active interest in their children’s homework by:

• Promoting a positive attitude and outlook toward homework.
• Providing the child with a quiet place at a table or desk to write.
• Scheduling a regular time for doing homework each day is desirable. Good times are just before or just after dinner. Children may need some free time right after school before homework time.
• Providing the child with necessary resource materials such as paper and pencils. A dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, calculator, and/or computer access are recommended to the degree possible.
• Assisting the child with drills such as math facts, flash cards, periodic table of elements, spelling words, vocabulary words.
• Communicating to the teacher any special circumstances which may affect the child’s ability to complete assignments, via the assignment notebook or other means.
• Checking the assignment notebook on a daily basis, verifying that the assignment is complete, and sending the notebook back for the next school day.
• Assisting by offering helpful explanations and by seeing that the homework is neat and complete. Never do assignments for the child.
• Offering encouragement and avoiding pressuring the child. Never allow the child to work past his/her or your frustration level.
• Understanding that homework comes before TV or video games.

Parents/guardians need to be interested in and supportive of their child’s homework. This interest and support is the most important factor in ensuring success in school for the child. When the parent and teacher work together, the results of this teamwork are similar to a well coached team in sports.

 

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Adoption Date: February 22, 1999