HOMEWORK???

Dear Parents,
     This issue comes up from time to time. For various reasons, some teachers do, some teachers don’t give homework. Parents too are divided on if their children should have homework or not. Some parents struggled with their child not completing or feel burdened with helping their child with the homework. Other parents believe some homework should be given so kids would not spend all their time playing video games or looking at their devices. There is no proof that homework load equals academic success. I do believe in giving some homework, not a lot, and also not the kind of homework that would frustrate the students.
     As a teacher, it is my responsibility to help students understand 5th grade content. Therefore, most of the work is being done in class where I can help students directly. I don’t believe parents should be solving math problems for their children.
     I don't assign homework as busy work. Homework's purpose is to aid the student in achieving classroom goals, and it should never be for keeping students busy. Homework sent home is an extension of the learning experience children have during the instruction day. Besides the language spiral review and reading comprehension, not everyone in our class will have the same homework. Some students get extension work, some get reteach practices or reviews, and then there are students who need to complete unfinished work.
     The one consistent homework assigned everyday is the 30-minute AR reading time. I ask parents to strictly enforce this reading time. Including the AR reading, students should spend about 45 minutes to 1 hour of homework time. As for the rest of the afternoon, I encourage the students to go play outside and then go to bed early. :)
     Please read and discuss this homework policy with your child. We can do this – together!

ONLINE GRADEBOOK
     Our Class Gradebook is online this week. I will introduce it with the students and go over the log-in procedures. They are required to check their grades at least once a week.  Having an online gradebook will not only let parents keep track of progress but more importantly, it will help students to be responsible for their own education.

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