Meadowlark School

The purpose of homework is to provide time for each student to review essential skills and information taught during class time.  Homework also teaches students important study habits, including organization, time management, and practice. The district has stated guidelines for the amount of time students at each grade level should spend on homework, four days a week.  The times given below are for the average student.  Some students may need more than the allotted time to complete assignments and others a bit less. 

Homework Policy

Homework is the time students spend outside the classroom on assigned activities to practice, reinforce, or apply acquired skills and knowledge.

Homework Philosophy

Homework presents an opportunity for students to: A) prepare for new topics, B) practice skills, C) elaborate on introduced material, and D) show progress toward mastering District and California State Standards. Homework affords the teacher an opportunity to determine if students have a grasp for the subject being taught; it affords the students an opportunity to test their understanding of the material taught.

AADUSD encourages the assignment of homework and expects the work to be done by the students and used by the teachers as a part of the evaluation of students’ academic progress and wishes parents to be aware of this philosophy along with the following guidelines and procedures.

If you find that your child regularly spends significantly more than the allotted time in concentrated effort, please contact the teacher to work out an appropriate homework modification plan.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Students will:

• accurately complete homework assignments including instructions

• ask questions when necessary to clarify assignments

• plan time for completing assignments at intended depth

• complete required hours of homework each night (additional time with AP classes)

• turn in neat, accurate, and meaningful products on time

• request and complete homework assigned when absent

Parents/Guardians will:

• provide a suitable place for study: well lit, free from distractions, adequately supplied

• actively help cultivate effective academic routines and study habits

• teach time management skills, especially for long term assignments

• demonstrate a genuine interest in homework content

• empower students to seek own solutions to challenging assignments, and avoid providing direct      

    answers when possible

• support students in obtaining make-up work due to absences

• ensure that students have adequate school supplies (pen, pencil, paper, notebook) on a daily basis

• contact teachers by letter, phone, or email when they have a concern regarding student  

    assignments

Teachers will:

• openly and publicly state homework assignments with clear, concise directions

• allow time for student to ask clarifying questions on the nature of assignments

• remain sensitive to the availability of materials and provide alternate options when needed

• ensure that students know the make-up homework policy when absent

• communicate regularly with parents through email, phone, notes, student work

• maintain a clear and careful record of all graded homework done by students

• give timely and specific feedback on homework

• monitor and scaffold long-term assignments 

HOME READING TIME

In lieu of homework, students should read at home and/or be read to daily. Students who are read to daily from infancy have better language skills and eventually become better readers. Parents are highly encouraged to read to their child early and often. A child is never too old to enjoy a “read aloud”. Family reading time is often a very special and memorable time for children and their parents. Children learn to read well by reading daily. Once the child is able to read simple books independently, a quiet reading time daily or just before bed is highly recommended. Children who are struggling with reading will benefit from “paired reading” when the adult reads a few sentences and then the child reads a few sentences until the story is finished. The more students read independently, the stronger their overall academic progress.