Transcript Homework Without Tears!

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
10 minutes
20 minutes
2nd
30 minutes
3rd
40 minutes
4th
50 minutes
5th
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
DON’T
▪ Discuss the assignment to be sure
they understand
▪ Take over and do it yourself
▪ List out assignments; prioritize; have
your child choose the order
▪ Make meaningless threats
▪ Break assignments into sub-tasks
▪ Argue or bargain
▪ Make sure they have all materials
needed
▪ Have inconsistent times/places
to complete homework
▪ Give breaks
▪ Allow for enough time
▪ Review for accuracy/neatness
▪ Wait too long to communicate
with the teacher.
MOTIVATE!
Create a spinner
Marbles in a jar
Homework Contract
Awards
HOMEWORK CONTRACT
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:
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/