Diane Borgmann | Head of Sycamore School
Among parents and students, there are not too many topics that can ignite a lively discussion more quickly than the topic of homework. In a social media post that went viral at the beginning of the school year, a teacher sent a letter to parents declaring that there would be no homework this year. Cheers from students and parents alike could be heard far and wide. You may have even thought, “I wish Sycamore would do this.”
Although we have our Homework Policy published in our handbook, I’d like to take a few paragraphs here to explain Sycamore’s homework philosophy and practice. We see homework as part of the learning experience. We also know that our students are multi-talented, are involved in many activities outside of school, and work hard while they’re in school. So we have crafted our policy in a careful and balanced way.
We believe homework ties directly to the classroom. It can be assigned for a variety of purposes; however, it should always be valuable. Sometimes homework consists of some active research that must be done outside of the classroom, such as interviewing people who aren’t at school. Sometimes it’s for skill reinforcement and practice. Homework also builds study skills, independence, and responsibility. At times homework is project work; sometimes it’s reading or practicing a musical instrument. It always, however, relates to the classroom.
In our Early Childhood classes through 2nd Grade, we do not assign regular, structured homework. In Preschool, Prekindergarten, and Kindergarten classes, homework could consist of working on a simple project or independent study topic. In 1st and 2nd Grades, homework might be completing some class work, practicing skills, working on research or projects, reading, or creative writing and editing of written work.
In 3rd and 4th Grades, students experience homework assignments that are more regular. They may consist of reading, writing, math, or long-term projects. 3rd Grade homework usually takes about 30 minutes to complete, and 4th Grade homework averages around 45 minutes per night. In 3rd Grade, students have homework Monday through Thursday nights; in 4th Grade, they could have homework on the weekends, especially if they did not finish some in-class assignments.
Middle School homework ranges from around 90 minutes in 5th and 6th Grades to between 90 and 120 minutes in 7th and 8th Grades. Middle School students often have long-range projects and must learn to budget time over several days or weeks. Of course, if a long-term assignment is left until the last night, that night the homework time will be exaggerated.
Parents often wonder what their appropriate involvement is in homework. To be of most value, homework should be completed independently. Parents should be available for questions or guidance, but they should not sit by their child’s side and guide him/her through homework. If the child has no questions, checking of homework is not necessary. Homework will be checked at school, and students will receive feedback. Specific and regular times and places for homework are important; it should become part of a scheduled routine. If no specific homework is due, reading is always a valuable activity to work into the nightly routine. Children should also be able to use that time to pursue personal interests and passions.
Of course, working styles and paces vary from student to student. If your child is consistently spending much less or much more time than what is outlined here on homework, please notify his/her teacher to analyze what may be the root cause(s) of the issue.