HOW CAN I HELP?

What is the purpose of homework?

First of all… why does your son/daughter even have homework?  Isn’t the school day long enough?  Shouldn’t your child have time to enjoy his/her extracurricular activities, family time, and downtime? There are many reasons – both for and against - the practice of homework.  We believe a moderate amount of homework helps your child gain independence, ownership,  and responsibility for learning.  On the Dalton team, we believe homework has many benefits IF...
 

1.     The assignment supports or extends class learning

2.     The length of the assignment is appropriate

3.     The student can work fairly independently

4.   Long term projects are broken down into smaller tasks
 

In many cases, “homework” often means just taking the time to complete work that was started, but
not completed, in class.  Sometimes, it’s practice – reinforcement – of what was learned that day.  
It is never punishment, never busywork.

What support systems are in place for helping your child at school? 
 

1.     A planner for recording all assignments regularly

2.     Advisory time for goal setting

3.     Progress reports and report cards sent to parents every 4 weeks

4.  Student-parent-teacher conferences in the fall and spring

4.     Study Group every Wednesday from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.

5.     Specially designed support classes and guidance. 

6.     Teacher homework web pages

However, here are some helpful tips that have been compiled from MSK parents over the past few years.  There are many suggestions – some are common sense, some are based on research – to help parents help their middle school children succeed with homework.  Some may work for you and your son/daughter, some may not.  Perhaps you have some excellent suggestions that work for your family… if so, please send them to me at mhebert@msad71.net

What are specific activities I can do at home to support homework completion?

    1. Have a regular HW time and place; all electronics off, no phone calls received.  It is generally suggested that your son/daughter have about 10 minutes per grade level; so about 70 minutes per school night is a good guideline.
    2. Check your child’s planner on a regular basis (for some, this means everyday, for others, once a week is sufficient).  Use the planner as a conversation starter. Instead of “What did you learn in school today?” try “Tell me about your fruit flies?” or "What's a polynomial?" Instead of "Do you have any homework tonight?" try "Do you need help brainstorming your writing?"
    3. Some children study better in a “family” space such as the kitchen table; there may be too may distractions in their bedrooms.
    4. Ask your child to share subject-area weekly agendas, task assessments and rubrics; this may help with long-range planning, especially if there is a big game or family event coming up.  Post agendas/ calendars on the fridge.
    5. Require your son/daughter to read at least 30 minutes a day at home; talk with them about what they reading.
    6. Some children need a "Work first, play later" guideline.
    7. Some children are intrinsically motivated to take charge of their homework, but others need a system of natural consequences.
    8. Email your child's teachers if there seems to be a controversy or major confusion about an assignment
    9. Visit teacher homework pages to verify assignments when there’s confusion, or your son/daughter says “I don’t have any.”  There is usually a long-time project that could use some attention.

        Team Calendar - http://staff.msad71.net/daltonpages/calendar.htm
        GS - http://teacherweb.com/me/msk/daltonteam/hf0.stm
        Math -http://teacherweb.com/me/msk/daltonteam/hf7.stm
        Science - http://staff.msad71.net/daltonpages/Science/science.htm
        LA - Hebert - http://staff.msad71.net/daltonpages/Mrs.Hebert.htm
        LA - Sylvanus - http://teacherweb.com/ME/MiddleSchooloftheKennebunks/MrsCSylvanus/
        LA - Panagakos -  http://teacherweb.com/ME/MiddleSchooloftheKennebunks/MsPanagakos/H1.stm
        Spanish - http://teacherweb.com/me/msk/daltonteam/hf5.stm

Any other general suggestions to help set the "tone" for learning?

   10. Visit the library and bookstores.  Have a variety of reading materials available at home: books, instructional       manuals, newspapers, magazines.  The library has free magazines for the taking and used books for 50 cents.  Make your home “literacy rich.”
    11. Discuss issues and controversies in the news.

12. Model reading at home.  Pick up the newspaper, magazine, how to manual.  Let your children see you enjoying and learning from reading.
13. Talk about new and interesting words and phrases.
14. Make sure backpacks are cleaned out regularly and binders are in usable shape.  Some kids are pretty rough on their belongings, and a few need replacement binders part way through the year. 
    15. Make sure your child has some chores to do around the house; children who do chores are more likely to take ownership/self-satisfaction for homework completion.
    16. Monitor and or limit IM and internet use.                     

17. Restock when needed; most kids need new pens and pencils on a regular basis, and sometimes a new binder.
obligations, and priorities.
19. Have your child get sufficient exercise and rest.
20. Emphasize the learning more than the grade.