Approved on March 4, 1999
Definitions:
1. Homework -- assignments with a given due date to be completed outside of class time.
2. Long-term assignments –- assignments that are designed to be done over an extended period of time. Notification will be given ahead of time and due dates will be determined by the specific teacher. (Example – Science Fair Project, Research Projects, etc…)
3. Class work –- work assigned to be completed during class time. Time allotted for class work is determined by the teacher.
4. Incomplete class work –- class work that was not completed during class time.
Purpose:
1. The purpose of homework assignments is to provide students an opportunity to reinforce the principles, knowledge, and skills they have learned in the classroom.
2. Homework also encourages responsibility, promotes good study habits, and allows students time to practice the concepts learned during class.
3. Homework that is thoughtfully assigned, carefully completed, and regularly checked by the assigning teacher increases the retention of what the student has learned, and improves his/her understanding of the principles involved.
4. The use of homework allows a teacher to maximize the classroom time for instruction and guided practice by assigning the independent practice for completion at home.
5. Homework provides parents with an opportunity to participate in their child’s learning.
Homework Guidelines:
1. Good homework assignments require students to practice using the information and skills they have learned, and/or to read, think, discuss questions and ideas, and express their answers in writing.
2. Homework standards for students include:
a) Do the assignment!
b) Produce neat, complete work.
c) Turn it in on time.
3. Teachers will establish a regular homework routine that helps students know what to expect and which allows students to plan for completing the assignments properly.
4. Students will be taught clear classroom procedures for turning in homework assignments. These procedures will be practiced until students demonstrate they have learned them.
1. The amount of homework assigned varies with each grade level. A general rule of thumb, for students who are on task, is to use 10-15 minutes times the grade level, so:
• K-1st: 10-15 minutes per night
• 2nd: 20-30 minutes per night
• 3rd: 30-45 minutes per night
• 4th: 40-60 minutes per night
• 5th: 50-75 minutes per night
• 6th: 60-90 minutes per night
2. For grades K-4, homework will usually be assigned Monday-Thursday. For grades 5 and 6, homework will usually be assigned Monday-Friday. Homework for Art, Music, P.E., or library will be coordinated with the classroom teacher or will be assigned over a long period of time.
3. In addition to the assigned homework, students with incomplete class work should expect to spend time at home completing this work.
4 Parents are the key to successful homework completion, so they will be kept informed of homework routine and standards. Schedules or homework logs will be provided for each student to take home so parents can set time aside and designate a place for homework completion.
5. In order to be consistent, homework will be assigned in such a way that students and parents expect homework regularly and in amounts that can be accomplished by dedicated efforts in a reasonable time frame.
Follow up and Accountability:
1. Students need to be held accountable for homework completion and quality. If students miss turning in assignments, or turn in poorly completed assignments, appropriate consequences will be determined.
2. Parents and the principal will be informed by the teacher in a timely fashion when students fall behind in completing homework assignments. The intent is that there will be no surprises to students or parents at conference time or report card time because of missing work that is adversely affecting the student’s learning and class grade. A record keeping system will be established which lists missing assignments. For parents of students who frequently fall behind in their work, a weekly report will be kept for the student’s records. This allows documentation of which assignments are missing. For students with chronic homework completion problems, parents will be called to be sure they receive their weekly report.
3. When parents notice their child is consistently requiring more time than 10-15 minutes per night times the grade level, they should contact their child’s teacher to discuss the workload and work together to find a satisfactory solution. If a problem still exists, the issue will be taken to the principal.