Homework
HOMEWORK POLICY
The assignment of homework can serve many purposes in the educational program of our school. It can offer enrichment opportunities through student exploration of curricular topics, allow students the ability to independently practice skills or processes, offer elaboration opportunities in order to deepen students' knowledge, or provide students the ability to explore topics of their own interests. Perhaps, however, its most important advantage is the ability for homework to enhance achievement by extending learning beyond the school day.
That said, our policy aims to be sensitive to developmental readiness as students progress through their junior high years while at the same time provides a framework to prepare students for the responsibilities and workloads of high school and beyond. During this time, the expectation for students to self-advocate with teachers becomes greater, as well, while the need for parental involvement becomes less. Thus, throughout these developmental years, it is appropriate for students to experience a variety of challenges that lead to determination, confidence, and independence. These are traits that will assist them in becoming life-long learners who are able to successfully manage the explosion of new information that is available at increasingly rapid speeds.
In conjunction with our efforts to individually tailor activities and assignments to student readiness levels through various forms of differentiation, modifications may be made for children who are spending too much time or too little time on homework. Whenever questions or concerns about homework arise, please contact your child's teacher(s) so that the situation can be fully addressed and a mutual understanding reached.
Time Allocation Guidelines
The range of time for homework assignments may be as little as one half-hour to two or more hours per night. However, nightly workload should not exceed two hours on a consistent basis. It is imperative that parents, maintaining open lines of communication with teachers, monitor and establish reasonable cut-off points at home with their children. Please note that long-term projects and assignments may increase a student's workload. Advanced planning for these assignments can mitigate excessive time commitments at the last minute.
We recognize the need for students and their families to experience periods of uninterrupted family time. As a result, homework will not be assigned over Winter Break or Spring Break.
The assignment of homework can serve many purposes in the educational program of our school. It can offer enrichment opportunities through student exploration of curricular topics, allow students the ability to independently practice skills or processes, offer elaboration opportunities in order to deepen students' knowledge, or provide students the ability to explore topics of their own interests. Perhaps, however, its most important advantage is the ability for homework to enhance achievement by extending learning beyond the school day.
That said, our policy aims to be sensitive to developmental readiness as students progress through their junior high years while at the same time provides a framework to prepare students for the responsibilities and workloads of high school and beyond. During this time, the expectation for students to self-advocate with teachers becomes greater, as well, while the need for parental involvement becomes less. Thus, throughout these developmental years, it is appropriate for students to experience a variety of challenges that lead to determination, confidence, and independence. These are traits that will assist them in becoming life-long learners who are able to successfully manage the explosion of new information that is available at increasingly rapid speeds.
In conjunction with our efforts to individually tailor activities and assignments to student readiness levels through various forms of differentiation, modifications may be made for children who are spending too much time or too little time on homework. Whenever questions or concerns about homework arise, please contact your child's teacher(s) so that the situation can be fully addressed and a mutual understanding reached.
Time Allocation Guidelines
The range of time for homework assignments may be as little as one half-hour to two or more hours per night. However, nightly workload should not exceed two hours on a consistent basis. It is imperative that parents, maintaining open lines of communication with teachers, monitor and establish reasonable cut-off points at home with their children. Please note that long-term projects and assignments may increase a student's workload. Advanced planning for these assignments can mitigate excessive time commitments at the last minute.
We recognize the need for students and their families to experience periods of uninterrupted family time. As a result, homework will not be assigned over Winter Break or Spring Break.