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Articles for Teachers

These articles are written especially for teachers by our Buddy Project staff.

Field Trips: Experiences for Education

Do you ever sense that your students only think of you as "The Great Homework Monster"? Do you get the feeling that parents have come to resent homework, thinking it imposes on their family time and busy schedules? Has always coming off as the bad guy worn you down and caused doubt about the homework you assign? Do you ever wonder, “What’s the use?”

Well, let’s take off our monster masks and figure out what the ‘use’ of homework really is. Dig your claws into the following tips for assigning meaningful, appropriate homework.

Create Homework with Purpose:

• Help promote self-discipline, a good work ethic, and responsibility
• Develop research and study skills
• Review and practice new skills
• Prepare students for a new topic, activating prior knowledge
• Elaborate on curriculum that has already been introduced
• Give students time to complete work not finished in school
• Show parents the progress the student is making
• Link learning between school and home

Communicate your Expectations To Students and Parents:

• Telephone one family a night at the beginning of the year to ask if they have completed their homework or if there are questions.
• Create assignments sheets and clearly explain these to both parents and students.
• Tell students what the purpose of each assignment is and what you hope they will learn from it.
• Explain which assignments count toward their grades and which are for practice or exploration.
• Send home a homework contract and request both parents and students to sign it. Elements may include:
  • Homework policy, including consequences of unfinished or missing assignments
  • How much homework to expect. Let families know how much time to set aside and when to expect it.
  • How much and what kind of help parents are expected to give.
  • Your philosophy of the purpose of homework

Create Homework Assignments Which:

• Are clearly written
• Challenge students to think “out of the box”
• Vary and are interesting
• Are meaningful to your students’ life
• Attract different learning styles
• Cause students to see the resources available in their community
• Do not overburden your students
  • Adjust the amount of homework to fit the age of the students.
  • Consider family time as important, especially weekends and holidays.

Do Your Own Homework:

• Provide enough instruction that homework can be successfully completed at home.
• Give constructive feedback on all homework promptly.
• Praise your students often.
• Convey to parents and students when you are available for help with assignments.
• Quickly communicate with parents if you notice consistent missing or incomplete assignments.
• Share resources with parents such as homework websites, tutoring services, etc.
• Don’t give up on students and their families!

Related Links

• Homework Tips for Parents and Students