homework

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2002 : July : 31

homework
By Julianne

We also send home four days per week. Monday, Wednesday is reading related and Tuesday, Thursday is math related. We try to keep the work to about 10 minutes a night along with a home reading book which might take another
5 to 10 minutes. When a week is shortened by a couple of days we dispense with any homework which gives the kids a break now and then. In our area the kids aren't likely to get added stimulation at home so we believe giving them some homework every day is a good option. Most of them return it and some even do extra stuff. We always tell them they can do something on their own like

read an extra book or make up some story problems for math if they want to. Then we make a big deal out of it if they do. If you teach in an area where the kids are taking piano lessons and going to the museum with their families then homework every night probably isn't necessary. But do remember that one reason for homework in the primary grades is to prepare them for the added pressure of homework in the upper grades. It also gives parents a good idea of what you are doing in class. One thing I appreciated as a mom was a teacher who was flexible enough to understand that some nights you just can't have your child do homework. If your family is going to a special dinner or has an emergency situation homework should be excused. I always excuse homework if a parent writes a note explaining why it wasn't done. I don't care if they tell me they were sitting on the porch watching the sunset - if that was important to their family, then the homework comes second. Of course, I hope they don't watch the sunset EVERY night! So far no one has abused the system to that extent.