Field Trips / Homework

Field Trips

ICS believes in the importance of supplementing in-class learning with field experiences and taking advantage of the many educational opportunities available in Ethiopia. Elementary students may visit a local farm, a weaving studio or a coffee plantation. Parent permission is required for participation in a field trip. Parents will be provided with a permission form explaining the field experience, date and time. The permission form must be signed before any child will be permitted to participate in a field experience off-campus. Transportation is provided by school vehicles. Supervision of the school-sponsored field experiences is organized by the teachers, administration, and security. Sometimes parents are invited to volunteer with supervision.

Homework

Most learning happens during our robust and full student day. Homework at ICS is not a default requirement or expecation, except for daily reading. Other homework will focus on improving an identified area of need, or making a school-home connection. Our intent with this guideline is to model balance between ongoing learning and the important time spent with family and in play outside of school work.

What we believe:

• Homework is not a main focus for improving student learning. Research does not support extensive homework other than for reading development, and so we do not assign default homework.

• Reading homework is essential; other homework will target individual student needs. 

• Homework is often designed to include parents in the learning process.

• Homework must be assigned with clear purpose for Individual student learning.

• Homework should not be designed to introduce new learning.

Teacher Responsibility:

• Emphasize daily reading as key homework.

• Provide purposeful, aligned, and individualized other homework to students on an as-needed basis.

• Provide clear instructions and communications to students and parents about specific homework procedures and assignments.

• Provide meaningful and timely feedback to students on any homework assignments.

Student Responsibility:

• Read daily!

• Be prepared and responsible for assignments with materials and instructions.

• Communicate, reflect, and advocate for self with teacher about assignments, items of difficulty, or areas of interest and challenge.

• Communicate with and involve parents in what students are doing.

Parent Responsibility:

• Understand their child’s learning style and help develop routines and learning areas at home that support their successful and timely completion of reading homework.

• Be in communication with teachers about perceived needs for other enriching homework.

• Assist and encourage the child when needed.

• Show an interest in what the child is engaged in and learning about.

• Communicate and reflect with the child about the challenge and amount of homework and communicate these findings as necessary with the teacher.

• If you find your child is spending too much time, is frustrated, or does not understand the material being sent home then please contact the teacher immediately.

Daily Reading Homework:

Each student at the ICS Elementary is assigned independent or guided reading with a parent or caregiver each night. Reading, like any skill in academics or sport, is best improved with practice. Our instructional day certainly includes independent reading time for students, but we need parents’/caregivers’ assistance to provide additional time for students to practice just right books at home to further improve their reading. If your child is not a reader then this time is intended for a parent or caregiver to read to a child. This reading can be in English or in the child’s mother tongue.

Guidelines for daily reading homework:

(including the daily reading homework)

EY5                                20 minutes

Grade 1                        20 to 30 minutes

Grade 2                        30 to 50 minutes

Grade 3                        30 to 50 minutes

Grade 4                        40 to 60 minutes

Grade 5                        40 to 60 minutes

Homework in Grades 4&5:

In grades 4 & 5, students may engage in more homework as preparation for middle school.

** Guidelines for reading homework, finishing work from student’s day, and projects as assigned. If at any time, a student’s homework goes beyond the above allotted time, parents have permission to stop the completion and notify the teacher.