December 2008
Homework and Families
With all the bustle of the holiday season, the one thing families should not have to worry much about this year is holiday homework.
This past April, the board passed a new homework policy based on extensive review of research on homework and involved community consultations. Combining good research with a wealth of parent opinion and experience, the implementation of the new policy, begun this fall, should truly be evidence-based practice.
But what exactly does this new policy mean for the day-to-day life of families? What are the key points to know about and what type of homework philosophy can parents expect from their child’s school?
The new policy takes a commonsense approach to homework, focusing on the necessity of a partnership between school and home that centres on relevant learning and family wellness. Rather than teaching new concepts, effective homework solidifies those that students have learned in the classroom. The policy points to the need for good communication between school and home; teachers are responsible for ensuring that students understand the concepts they will be continuing to work on at home, while students and their families should promptly let teachers know any difficulties that arise. Students will not be expected to use resources that they do not have access to and time spent on homework should be reasonable for the student’s age and development level. The aim is to have homework provide an opportunity for families to interact positively and encourage what is being learned at school.
What does this mean in practical terms? That will to some extent vary between school communities; the policy leaves room for families and schools to decide what works best for them at the local level. However, there are still some broad directions that the policy lays out. For example, there will be no homework given in kindergarten. Research has proven that homework achievement at that level is directly tied to parent involvement. Instead of homework, families will be strongly encouraged to read and play games with their children and teachers will send home resources for this purpose. Another solid direction is that there will be no homework given for completion over holidays. So, families, look forward to holidays being a work-free vacation – at least, for the kids.
Any outline I give here is of course incomplete and lacking in the details
which will be specific to each school. Therefore, parents, guardians and
students: talk to your local school. Ask teachers and principals about what
this policy means for family flexibility and meaningful, relevant learning.
Good conversations and interesting information is what learning—and
homework—are all about. A very happy holiday to you all!