Lynn

Reading - I require students to read nightly. Students work in their guided reading or literature circle groups in class. They decide what they will read for the nightly homework and report back to me. Students also study vocabulary nightly. My gifted class does not have required pages or activities to do. They need to choose a study strategy modeled and use it to rehearse the words. My remedial class does have required written responses. They have a menu of options to choose from to practice the words. Some include writing a poem with the words, creating flashcards, a concept map, etc.
 * My current homework practices**

English - For my gifted class, I require students to work on the writing process at home. Sometimes this includes finishing a draft after prewriting and starting in class. Sometimes it requires self-evaluating a paper using the PSSA rubric. Many times, students typed final copies at home because they ran out of computer time in school. Most of my students invested in flash drives which allowed them to bring work back and forth from home to school. For my remedial class, I require very little at home. They need more of my guidance step by step. Most of them don't have support at home.

Science - I rarely assign science homework except to complete a take home essay/application test for each chapter. Students do not complete worksheets for homework or answer text questions. If we complete an experiment, we talk about it at the end of the class. There are times when students complete science projects. This is approximately once per unit. (four units) For example, after learning the laws of motion, students create a documentation of the laws which included their personal applications. At times this becomes homework because students want to type projects and their isn't enough computer time in school. When learning biomes, students participated in a group project which required a multimedia presentation. After researching in school, students would finish drafts for homework, and then create the final product in the computer lab.

I try to monitor the work level so students are not overloaded. This is a challenge because students work at very different paces. I realize I am not always successful.

Stressful times appear especially around the end of the marking periods. It seems like Cathy and I try to get as many grades in at the end of the marking period.

How do I make it meaningful? Should students study vocabulary words for homework? Should students be expected to read nightly? Should I assign Study Island for homework? How do I differentiate homework? Some students thrive on it, and others don't do it. How do I compensate for this? What do I tell parents of overachievers who really want a lot of homework? Can I require homework which needs a computer? How do creative projects fit into the scheme of homework? Should I continue book projects? How will 5th grade transition to 6th grade in terms of homework? How do I provide options for the overachievers without penalizing the students who do not have the support at home? How much homework do students get in 5th grade? Is homework necessary?
 * Questions I have about homework-**

I've read so many negatives about giving book projects. At the same time, I know many of the students in my top group enjoy these projects. They love to share their projects at our book parties. How do I continue the genre investigations and the book parties without the projects? Somehow I need to hold students accountable for reading. I don't want to do a daily log because I have read so many criticisms of that strategy as well. Thoughts?
 * Ideas for Implementation**

I changed many facets of my homework practices this year. For my literature circles, I now group students first by those who want to read at home and those who don't. From that information, subgroups are developed based on interest. For my SSR, I implemented the SSR Log with Reflective letter as identified in the RA text. I still conduct the monthly book parties to discuss the boks students read. I just don't require a creative project. I did offer both of my classes the option to submit a more creative project. For my high achieving group, more than half chose to do this. In my remedial class, only a few chose to submit a more creative project. It was nice to have the option. By using the log, I find I have a better idea about where my students are in their novels. I collect a few each day during SSR so I have a handle on how much they are reading. In addition, I can see their application of strategies.
 * What I changed from September through January**

For vocabulary, I used to require textbook pages. I also tried a points choice system for homework. (a picture dictionary = 10 points, etc) Students needed to submit a certain number of points each week. I found it wasn't helping them learn the words. Now we review daily with whiteboards, sadlier-oxford.com, or even photostories. My vocab scores are not as good as they could be, but I feel I am exposing my students to many new words. I think if I did more rote memorization, they would score better on their tests. I just don't take the time to do that.

I rarely give science homework. Most of my units are now project-based. Students work in groups to complete the assignment. They then present their learning. This has mad my science classes more innovative and engaging.

In English, I rarely give homework. We spend most of our time with DLR or the writing process. Because the writing process is so guided, students complete most of it in class. Some students type at home because they choose to do so.

I am concerned that homework is so different across our grade level and probably many other grades. Is it valuable to standardize homework by subject by grade level? I continue to ponder this. As I implement more technology, I realize students are eager to take their learning outside the classroom. Students are eager to add to projects when technology is involved. I have had at least 15 parents this year call or email and ask about homework.
 * Reflections I have concerning this change....**