PHILOSOPHY AND HINTS
Homework is a topic that comes up a
lot here, around our district, and around America. The following are some comments that
have been shared before and still are relevant. Below are two articles from
The
Daily Herald that are particularly germane. The first deals with avoiding the
parental instinct to do too much for children; the second article addresses some common
homework problems.
It is appropriate for elementary
students to have homework. It begins informally with our youngest children practicing the
recognition of shapes, colors, upper and lower case alphabet, and numbers. Young children
also practice spelling their names and knowing their addresses and phone numbers.
There are two general categories of homework, short term and long term. Both are most
effective when they are extensions of classroom experiences. In fact, two major
purposes of homework are to extend student learning, and to involve parents in their
child's formal education. Short term homework is generally due in a day or two and
is typically practice, remediation, and/or extension of recent classroom learning
objectives. A student should be incorrect if he states “The teacher didn’t
tell us how to do this...” when referring to homework. Prior to something becoming
homework, direct instruction, guided practice, and checking for understanding take place.
Long term homework tends to be either tests or projects. Long term homework also
teaches children the importance and value of advance planning. We hope that students
quickly learn that if they put off completing a project until the night before it is due,
they may have a large quantity of work, and the quality of their learning or finished
product will not be their best. The question we want children to take seriously and ask
themselves is, “Is this good enough to put my name on it?” The goal is to
instill pride in workmanship and set high expectations for quality.
How much homework a student should
have, and how long should it take, is impossible to definitively answer. How wisely
a student uses practice time in class, the pace of working, and the level of
difficulty are variables unique to each individual. What is generally true is
homework is a life skill, and it enhances learning and responsibility.
A perennial parent issue regarding homework is, “How much help should I
provide?” The answer is, “It depends.” It is appropriate to help children
sufficiently for them to become independent. When children are given too much help, then
they become dependent upon assistance. They also do not learn as much, and don’t
develop a strong work ethic . The key word here is “work.” Work and learning are
not always fun, and not always easy. That’s life. Excellence is not achieved easily,
or given away. It is earned via work and practice. Parents should provide a designated
location for homework free from as many distractions as possible, and having the materials
and supplies needed for the work. When the above occurs, children receive
appropriate support and assistance, and they are learning that education is important to
their parents as well as their teachers.
John R. Ask, Former Principal
Source for the articles below: THE DAILY
HERALD, February 23, 1998, permission to reprint.
Other
Tips include:
