Title: Homework
1 Homework Connections
2Homework By Noah, age 12 Homework this and
homework that. Thats all I hear about at home
after school. I mean whats up with it? Who made
it up? If I ever find out, S/he is going to get
a letter From me that they will not forget. That
is if they are still around. I think homework is
like mowing the lawn, Doing the dishes and
cleaning your room. Why, you ask? Because you
have someone telling you What to do
(teachers/parents) Schoolwork is math, science,
geography, reading And English. Im not telling
the teacher to get rid of it. Im just
saying Try to put it in a fun form.
3Purposes and Challenges of Homework
4- Activity 1
- 10 purposes or reasons for homework
- 2 common problems with student homework
completion - 2 possible solutions to these problems
- Describe one of the best homework assignments you
have given to students or heard about - Discuss with your partner Did your best homework
include a student-parent interaction of any kind? - If YES, how did students and parents interact?
- If NO, how might an effective student-parent
interaction be added to the assignment?
5- The 10 Ps (Purposes ) of
- Homework
- Practice Instructional
- Preparation
- Participation
- Personal Development
- Peer Interactions Communicative
- Parent-Child Relations
- Parent-Teacher Communication
- Public Relations Political
- Policy
- Punishment (not a valid purpose)
6Homework Connections is based on Teachers
Involve Parents in Schoolwork TIPS
interactive homework assignments require students
to talk to someone at home about something
interesting that they are learning in class.
Epstein, J.L., Salinas, K.C., Van Voorhis,
F.E. (2002 revised). Teachers Involve Parents in
Schoolwork (TIPS) Interactive Homework for the
Middle Grades. Baltimore Center on School,
Family and Community Partnerships, Johns Hpkins
University
7- Activity 2
- Student-Parent Interactions
- List 10 ways that STUDENTS might interact with
their family partners about things they are
learning in class. - Think of at least 5 ways that ALL PARENTS could
interact with their children on learning
activities at home, regardless of the families
formal education or language spoken in the home.
8- TIPS Interactive Homework
- How are TIPS similar to and different from
regular homework? - SIMILARITIES
- Clear to the Student
- Students responsibility
- Linked to the curriculum and graded
- Challenging
- DIFFERENCES
- Interactive
- Home-to-school communication
- Family-friendly
9- Checklist
- for Designing Activities
-
- Meaningful Curriculum Content
- Realistic Student Responsibilities
- Productive Family Interactions
10- Activity 3
- Discuss the content of the sample activity and
identify the student and parent responsibilities. - Which aspects of this activity do you think are
- Interesting?
- Important?
- Fun or Enjoyable
- for students and families?
11Research Findings Math Conclusions TIPS use was
related to significantly higher standardized math
achievement. I feel that my child and I have
benefited from TIPS because it has given me a
better opportunity to follow what she is learning
in math. Language Arts Students whose parents
were involved in more TIPS activities had higher
writing scores. Students who completed more
homework assignments had higher language arts
report card grades. Parents who participated
liked the TIPS process and asked for it to be
continued.
12Science Students who were assigned TIPS had
higher levels of parental involvement in science
homework than those not assigned to
TIPS. Students who completed well designed
homework (with or without parental involvement)
earned higher science report card
grades. Parent Comments on TIPS Interactive
Homework This opened up an easier way of
communicating. I think it (TIPS science) is a
good idea for the kids to be able to share and to
demonstrate for their parents what they are
learning in school I can tell from Jenneaka
relating the story to me that she really enjoyed
reading it
13Developing Your Own Program of
Interactive Homework
14Goals of interactive Homework In any
subject Goals for Students INCREASE students
ability and willingness to talk about schoolwork
at home INCREASE students knowledge of the uses
of school skills in the real world. IMPROVE
students skills and homework completion
15Goals for Families INCREASE family awareness of
what children are learning in class. INCREASE
family confidence in talking with their children
about homework. INCREASE family involvement in
childrens learning activities at home.
16 Goals for Teachers ENABLE teachers to design
homework that helps students share their work
with family partners. INCREASE teachers
positive attitudes about families interest in
their childrens schoolwork.
17 Goals for All Partners INCREASE positive
attitudes about homework. INCREASE
opportunities to celebrate mastery of skills and
progress in learning.
18- Why Does Interactive Homework Work?
- Can be used with any text or curriculum
- Helps teachers organize homework into
manageable, focused assignments - Connects school and home on useful learning
activities - Involves the child as an active learner
- Helps students share and demonstrate their
skills to show parents what they are learning - Offers opportunities to link homework to real
world experiences of the family - Provides families with the information they want
on how to help at home - Emphasizes mastery of basic and advanced skills
19- Developing a Homework Connections Program
- Select a subject(s)
- Outline learning objectives for the year
- Identify weekly or bi-weekly skills for
student-parent interaction - Select, adapt and design homework assignments
- Edit, improve and produce homework assignments
- Work with other teachers
- Orient student and parents to interactive
homework connections - Conduct, evaluate, revise, improve homework
assignments
20Format, Schedule and Presentation Format Two
sided of one page Clear and Attractive Include
computer graphics Print on colored paper
21- Schedule
- Regular, family-friendly schedule
- Same day of week- to be expected
- Know community/family
22- Presentation
- Introduce Homework Connections in class
- Check for student understanding about the
- assignment
- Follow-up in class
- Collect, mark return homework
- Answer questions that parents ask in the
- home-to-school communications
- Acknowledge parents participation with
occasional notes of appreciation
23Activity 4 Design A Homework Connections
Activity Outline Main Content of the lesson as
it is taught in class Purpose of the homework
assignment in this lesson Main Skills student
will practice or explore in homework How is
topic good for student-family Interaction Interac
tions to be included in this lesson Use Blank
Forms to Design A Homework Activity
24Reflections Evaluations CISL Yellow Cards