Homework Without Tears!

Lila Daruty, Assistant Principal, Grant Elementary

JUST LIKE ME!

• You and your children engage in nightly battles over when homework will be

done.

• Your children rush through homework assignments, with sloppy, incomplete

results.

• Your children “forget” to bring their homework assignments home.

• You do more of the homework than your children do.

• Your children take forever to finish their homework assignments.

• Your children insist that they are able to do homework while watching TV,

talking on the phone, and listening to music.

• The first time you hear about a major project is the night before it’s due...and it

isn’t finished.

Homework

▪ District Homework Policy

▪ Parent’s Role

▪ When to contact the teacher

What does the research say?

• Homework affects achievement in school

• Homework teaches your children responsibility

• Homework is the key link between home and school

• Research indicates that excessive homework may have a negative impact on students' health and well-being.

DISTRICT HOMEWORK POLICY

Kinder

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

10 minutes

20 minutes 30 minutes 40 minutes 50 minutes 1 hour

10 minutes a day in kindergarten and increases by ten minutes per grade level.

*Many teachers ask that students read an additional 20-30 minutes nightly, for pleasure.

Do’s and Don’ts

DO

▪ Discuss the assignment to be sure they understand

▪ List out assignments; prioritize; have your child choose the order

▪ Break assignments into sub-tasks

▪ Make sure they have all materials needed

▪ Give breaks

▪ Allow for enough time

▪ Review for accuracy/neatness

DON’T

▪ Take over and do it yourself

▪ Make meaningless threats

▪ Argue or bargain

▪ Have inconsistent times/places to complete homework

▪ Wait too long to communicate with the teacher.

MOTIVATE!

Create a spinner

Marbles in a jar

Homework Contract

Awards

Each day that you complete all your homework assignments, put a sticker in the square.

When you have checked off ___ squares, you will earn a reward.

Your reward will be _________________________________________

Parent signature: Student signature:

HOMEWORK CONTRACT

Some More ideas!

▪ Make it fun!

▪ Give consistent, specific praise.

▪ Get a study buddy

▪ Play school

▪ Innovate

▪ Chart your child’s learning

▪ Take advantage of technology

▪ Hire a tutor

When it takes a turn for the worst…

QUIT! It’s not worth it

Tomorrow is new day!

Resources

Alternate homework ideas for kids who need the stretch!

Khan Academy www.khanacademy.org

Explore the District websites:http://www.smmusd.org/reading/index.html

http://www.smmusd.org/smilenet/