Homework

Homework Expectations & Building Independence

Our goal is to help students develop strong, independent homework habits over time, with support from both school and home.

Each Monday, students will record their weekly homework in their planner. Families are also encouraged to check the homework chart which is included in every edition of our Weekly Talking Points or by visiting the homework section of our team website (scroll down to see the chart). This helps students stay organized and take ownership of their responsibilities.

We also encourage students to use Arrival and Study Hall times wisely to complete work and reduce the amount of homework that comes home. Learning to use time effectively during the school day is an important step toward independence.

Over the weekend, students should:

• Complete any unfinished work or reading

• Plan ahead by recording any upcoming commitments (sports, clubs, babysitting, travel, etc.) in their planner

• Check that they have the necessary supplies (independent reading book, pencils, headphones, etc.)

Parents play an important supporting role by helping students think ahead, plan their time, and build strong habits. This includes checking over completed work for quality and completeness, making sure directions were followed, and that students have shown their thinking when appropriate.

At the same time, we want to avoid homework becoming a source of stress or conflict at home. If questions or challenges come up, we encourage students to make note of them and seek support from their teachers at school. Learning to ask for help is an important part of becoming an independent learner.

As students build these skills, we encourage families to gradually release responsibility so students can manage their workload more independently. Working together, we can help students build confidence, responsibility, and lifelong organizational skills.