Dear Elementary Families,

Homework at ICS Elementary

I recently received over 60 letters from our Grade 5 students as an assignment to persuade me to adjust the school's position on Homework.  They did such a good job organizing and supporting their ideas with research and evidence.   Believe it or not, a number of them wrote in defense of homework.  These made a case that homework is beneficial for the development of important skills like time management, organization, problem-solving, and self-management.  Some also made a case for homework as building confidence and resilience, and as giving more time to practice concepts learned in class.  Not surprisingly, many also asked the school to ban homework.   They found evidence from credible sources supporting the link between excessive homework and stress, poor sleep, and poor health.  They also pointed to time taken on homework that may interfere with the development of other interests and important life skills, as well as negatively impact feelings toward school. 

The other conversation I had was with members of our Parent Association, who shared some of the concerns parents raised about digital or online homework.   It was noted that when students are online for homework, they can become distracted by unrelated online activities.  In addition, they shared that parents may not feel empowered to tell their children to put down their devices because children say they are doing homework.  

ICS has homework practices that reflect the literature on the subject and has taken a position that limits homework for elementary-age students in line with research on the subject and the letters written to me by our Grade 5 students.  This means that students in the Lower Elementary up to Grade 2 will have less than 30 minutes of homework per night, not including personal reading.  Upper Elementary students, Grades 3-5, may have roughly 30-45 minutes of homework each evening, with up to 15 minutes of that homework in Chinese and 15 minutes of instrumental practice for Grade 5 students.

You may have noticed this year that there is less digitally-based homework being assigned.  This is by design.   The school is moving toward a no-digital homework policy, except for Chinese Language.   Chinese language homework often requires audio/visual resources and response opportunities, which are best facilitated online using SeeSaw.   If there is Chinese homework assigned on SeeSaw or on online reading platforms, it should fit within the currently allotted 15-minute timeframe for Chinese homework and a bit less for P1 & Grade 1.  Currently, digital options, such as IXL provided by the homeroom teacher, are optional for those seeking additional practice for their children and will be phased out by the end of this school year as well.   So the next time your child is on their device for 30 minutes or more, it is a safe bet that they are not only doing their homework.  It is good practice to have children locate themselves in a visible location when online so they can be monitored by an adult. 

As stated in the Elementary School Parent/Student Handbook, elementary students are given homework, not as part of the instruction, assessment, or grading, but to: 

● Develop good study habits (time management, organization, responsibility, etc.) 

● Provide time to practice, extend, or enrich learning done in school. 

● Foster a strong home and school connection by making learning visible to parents. 

The school wants to work with families to control screen time and to balance school and home priorities.  This includes limiting screen time and other homework so that our students can pursue other interests, establish healthy sleep patterns, and enjoy meaningful family connections in the evening.  If it feels like there is genuinely too much homework that is negatively affecting your child or intruding too deeply into your family time, please feel empowered to make the parental decisions that are best for your family, and please email any concerns to your child’s teacher or to me (welchk@ics.edu.hk).