Homework.

I wanted to take a little of your time to discuss homework.    Homework is a long standing tradition at schools.  In addition to being a principal and teacher, I am also a parent and have experienced homework from both sides of the coin.  I have also been reading research on the subject and thinking it over.   

First, I think we can all agree that homework is a time consuming activity for everyone who is involved with it – teacher, student and parent.   We know that students spend a lot of time completing homework assignments, and that teachers and parents spend a lot of time planning and following up with homework assignments. I have begun to conclude his may not be the best use of everyone’s time as well as a stress creator which does not contribute to a positive learning

experience.  So we are making some efforts to simplify the situation.   Our district school board has a policy which delineates approximate homework times and expectations.   It states that students in grades 1-2 can expect 30 minutes of nightly homework (M-TH).  Students in grades 3-6 can expect up to one hour per night (M-TH) but actual times may vary.

Next, for the research — it is clearly not conclusive but does tend to support the notion that for older students, starting around fifth or sixth grade, academic achievement is positively correlated to the assigning, completing and evaluating of homework and the effect tends to increase the older the student gets.   However, for younger students there has not been a clearly established link between homework and academic achievement.  For students in grades K-4, the largest positive effects of homework are attributed mostly to learning responsibility and organization skills (doing and completing the assignments).   In addition, the somewhat traditional weekly spelling homework assignments have not been shown to have any significant impact an actual spelling achievement and performance.

So, the staff and I have had some discussions about homework.   We recognize that assigning homework is a given and in accordance with the District policy.  But what is assigned is up to us.  For one thing, all students at Monarch Grove should have independent reading as the main assignment.  Research clearly shows that ‘volume reading’ (reading a lot) leads directly to improved reading achievement and comprehension.  And for parent this is an easy, understandable and fun assignment to monitor.  Reading to and or with your child, listening to them read and then discussing what you have read are excellent examples of effective and meaningful homework.   The other homework assignment that should be common for all grades is a follow up to math instruction—typically in a worksheet format and directly related to the instruction of the day. 

I have given the teachers permission to limit the homework to these assignments in grades K-4.  Fifth and Sixth graders may see some other variations in assignments as homework material at upper grade levels is more complex and often requires outside/extra study.    Additionally, there is a link to increases in student achievement.  Also, I have asked that all teachers provide ‘optional/extra credit homework assignments’ for students and parents who do wish to have additional academic work in any grade upon request.

I am interested in any comments that you parents may have on this subject and the material that I have written about.