Homework

Sandburg's Homework Policy

The staff at Sandburg Elementary School believe that homework is a valuable part of the instructional process. Homework provides a structure to ensure learning of the skills and knowledge gained in the classroom and lays the foundation for students taking responsibility for their own learning. Teachers, Parents, and Students each have responsibilities that empower student growth.

Teachers' Homework Responsibilities:

  • Require that homework meaningfully reflects and reinforces the curriculum / standards
  • Ensure that homework assignments are well prepared
  • Explain homework assignments to students and review study skills, homework guidelines and expectations
  • Facilitate student access to the resources necessary to complete assignments
  • Check the homework as it is returned
  • If homework is not completed, students will be reminded to complete work and give additional time, as needed

Parents' Homework Responsibilities:

  • Arrange a quiet time and study area including proper lighting
  • Provide appropriate materials for homework such as pencils, paper, crayons, glue, and scissors.
    • If you do not have the necessary materials, please contact your teacher and we can provide them.
  • Initially review assignment with your child and review finished projects checking for accuracy and neatness
  • Call or email your child's teacher if you have any questions regarding the homework

Students' Homework Responsibilities:

  • Ask questions in class so the homework is clearly understood
  • Take homework assignments and materials home
  • Complete and return the homework assignments on time
  • Produce a high quality work including accuracy and neatness
  • Complete homework assigned during absences within designated time periods

Purpose of Homework:

The purpose of homework is to strengthen academic skills, reinforce concepts taught by teachers, develop student responsibility and accountability, and promote parent awareness. Positive results of homework include better retention of factual knowledge, increased understanding of material, improved critical thinking, concept formation and information processing skills, as well as enrichment of the core curriculum. Our goal is to create assignments that promote one or more of these outcomes. We recognize that homework is not the only circumstance under which after-school learning takes place. Many leisure-time activities teach important academic and life skills. We believe in the importance of balancing leisure, learning, and family time.

Definition:

Homework is an independent activity to be accomplished outside of the school day. At times, it may require some parental help. Homework may be used as part of the student's overall evaluation and to locate problems in student progress. Not all homework assignments will be formally evaluated. Homework will fall into one or more of the following categories:

  • Practice - Activities to reinforce skills such as studying spelling words and practicing math facts.
  • Preparation - Assignments designed to provide background information and focus on future class activities. Studying for tests and reading supplementary materials are examples of such homework assignments.
  • Extension/Creativity - Activities such as book reports, science projects, and research for social studies reports are examples of such homework.
  • Leisure reading - Expands vocabulary, improves writing quality, and promotes life-long learning.
  • Unfinished class work or work missed due to absences, although accomplished outside of the school day, is not included in the school's definition of homework. Missed class work, as well as homework is assigned after a student's absence. Regular school attendance is critical for student academic success.

Guideline for Homework Time:

DAILY HOMEWORK IS A DISTRICT AS WELL AS A SCHOOL POLICY. 
Schedules may vary slightly from teacher to teacher, student to student, and assignment to assignment:

Grade UTK/K - an average of 10 minutes per day, 4 days per week

Grade 1 - an average of 15 minutes per day, 4 days per week

Grade 2 - an average of 20 minutes per day, 4 days per week

Grade 3 - an average of 30 minutes per day, 4 days per week

Grade 4 - an average of 40 minutes per day, 4 days per week

Grade 5 - an average of 50 minutes per day, 4 days per week

In addition to regular homework, students are expected to read outside of school on a daily basis. The reading should be a balance between self-selected readings and teacher assigned readings, this can include various online reading programs such as GetEpic, Reading Eggs, Renaissance, RAZ Kids, etc. Teachers may provide guidance as to selection of reading material to ensure that students are reading a good representation of appropriate fiction and non-fiction materials. The following are suggested guidelines for accomplishing this goal.

Grades UTK to 3, 80 to 100 minutes per week.

Grades 4 and 5, 120 to 150 minutes per week.

If your child spends substantially more or less time each day on homework than indicated, please communicate with your child's teacher immediately. In collaboration with your classroom teacher, we can modify homework assignments to meet the needs of the student and family.

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