1. Homework gives students the opportunity to practice important work skills such as: responsibility, time management & finishing a project. Successful people in school and eventually in the adult workforce are people who excel with these work skills. Teaching these skills and practicing them via homework at an early age is important.
2. Homework gives students the opportunity to learn and practice important study skills that best support their learning style. Learning the various ways to study (highlight, summarize, locate the main idea, make study cards, type, outline, record, list, read, use technology, etc.) allows elementary students to practice the various ways to study so that by 4th - 6th grade, they begin to understand which study tools and strategies best support their learning. This allows the students to confidently use the study skills that help them learn most efficiently in the middle schools and beyond.
3. Homework is practice that reinforces learning. There is no specific data to support exactly what kind of homework should be assigned but data supports that "homework" should reinforce the skills or concepts being learned in the classroom.
This means that if a child is not able to "practice" (complete homework) without minimal support or guidance from an adult, it is not reinforcing the skills (ie. more direct instruction needs to take place in the classroom because your child is not ready for the independent practice). On the opposite end of that spectrum, it means that assigning packets of worksheets that are not reinforcing what is being learned in the classroom or work that is too "easy" for your child is just busy work and does not have much academic value.
So how do "homework projects" fit into this homework scheme? Homework projects are great opportunities to practice all of the above. An effective project will allow your child to practice work skills & use study skills on a topic that is being taught in school. The project could prepare for new learning (at the beginning of a unit of study) or extend learning (at the end of a unit of study). In elementary school this means that parents should only provide "minimal support or guidance - see point number 3. Projects that end up being projects completed by the parent have no real value for the child except possibly to teach the skill of delegating work.
So how much homework is the right amount? Most reports suggest that 10 minutes of homework per grade level is the right amount (10 minutes for kindergarten, 20 minutes for grade 1, 30 minutes for Grade 3, etc.)
This area gets very murky though because the amount of homework expected by a parent differs based on the varying expectations of families. For example, in just one grade level, parent expectations can range from "My child should have an hour of homework each night" to "My child should not have any homework." What causes this variation? The list is a long one: A family's own homework and educational philosophy, a parent's experiences as a child with homework, the academic level of a child, the number of after school activities such as Taekwondo, gymnastics, piano & clubs a child is enrolled in and even a parent's work load. The list can go on and on.
As you see, this makes it very difficult for schools to make everyone happy despite the school's homework policy or philosophy. Surprisingly, whatever a school's policy on homework, the majority of parents, in private and public school settings, are content with their child's homework load.
So what does it this mean Huakailani? You can expect the following:
We take into consideration the latest studies that show homework in general has been found to have little affect on a student's achievement, especially for elementary students. Therefore, homework at Huakailani focuses on giving students the opportunity to practice work skills and to learn and practice study skills.
Homework assigned will reinforce learning in the classroom which serves a dual purpose of independent practice for your child and communication to you as a parent regarding what your child is learning at school. The type of homework and projects assigned will be based on your child's developmental and academic learning needs. We use the homework hour guidelines used by most schools which is 10 minutes per grade level.
Homework assigned will reinforce learning in the classroom which serves a dual purpose of independent practice for your child and communication to you as a parent regarding what your child is learning at school. The type of homework and projects assigned will be based on your child's developmental and academic learning needs. We use the homework hour guidelines used by most schools which is 10 minutes per grade level.
Being a small private school that tailors its program to meet the individual needs of its students, we can also offer the customization of taking the time to learn a family's homework expectations. Since homework is completed at home, it is a critical element that must be taken into consideration. This element is usually missing from most school homework policies.
Add this unique last element to the mix and you have Huakailani's Homework Policy which equals meaningful, harmonious homework time for your child and your family. After all the main purpose of homework is for it to have beneficial and positive effect on your child's overall learning experiences.
Add this unique last element to the mix and you have Huakailani's Homework Policy which equals meaningful, harmonious homework time for your child and your family. After all the main purpose of homework is for it to have beneficial and positive effect on your child's overall learning experiences.
At Huakailani we have taken the steps to stay current on homework research & studies and to focus on the most essential objectives of homework.
