LA CAÑADA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

K-12 HOMEWORK GUIDELINES

Philosophy

· The purpose of the homework should be clear, relevant, and connected to district curriculum standards. It should build responsibility, provide enrichment, offer extension of a lesson, provide extra practice, and/or build for mastery.

· A logical lead-in time should be given for major assignments. For example, a major assignment due on Monday should not be given on the previous Friday. Also a major assignment should not be given on the day before a vacation to be due the day of return.

· Skills/strategies needed for completing homework problems should be taught, except in the case of inquiry-based lessons.

· If the teacher chooses to have students correct other students’ homework, care should be taken to ensure sensitivity to students’ feelings and self-esteem issues. Student grades should not be called out by individual names.

Communication

· Homework expectations and parental involvement guidelines for homework should be included in course outlines distributed at the beginning of the school year.

· Instructions and due dates (stated, for example, in written instructions, calendars, assignment schedules, letters home, web site postings, project benchmark dates) should be communicated to students to facilitate time management and clarification of task requirements.

· Parents, students, and teachers should communicate as soon as a concern is identified.

· Students and parents should review homework assignments and use them as study and learning devices.

· Types and quantity of homework assigned should be reviewed periodically by the teachers at each grade level or each subject to ensure consistency.

Time Management

· Group projects should be initiated during class with sufficient classroom time for students to organize their ideas, divide tasks and assemble work. Projects should not require students to meet outside of class, but this does not preclude students from voluntarily working together beyond the classroom. Periodic benchmark “checks” should be given by the teacher.

· Whenever possible, assignments should be coordinated with other teachers in order to reflect the district homework guidelines. There should be an effort to coordinate major tests and due dates for long term projects in grades K-8. Students are encouraged to be their own advocates regarding completion of more than one assignment and/or test due at the same time. A suggestion is to establish a 9-12 academic master calendar for major assignments.