Supporting your learner at home

Thank you very much for coming out to meet with me at Open House.  I am so proud to teach in a district where parents are invested in their children's educations.  Among the many topics covered at Open House was the hot button topic:  HOMEWORK.  

This year, your child will have no written homework or at home projects.  

I do this for a few reasons but topping my list are the following:

• Homework can add a tremendous amount of stress to a nine or ten-year-old's life.  Some children are better equipped to work on tasks related to daily lessons with independence than others.  Some parents have the time and ability to help their children and some do not.  Removing homework from the mix removes stress which we know impedes a child's ability to make progress.  It also levels the playing field for all learners.
• There is no research proving that homework makes a positive impact on student learning.  Childhood is fleeting.  I don't believe that after-school time should be spent filling out worksheets.
• Family time is already taxed by the fact that many families have two working parents and work schedules as well as student extra-curricular schedules make it difficult for families to spend quality time together.  Spending after-school time together is more beneficial than arguing and stressing over homework.  

 BUT PLEASE...use this extra time wisely.  The suggestions below are just that, suggestions.

• Consider assigning a few weekly chores to your child.  Nine and ten year olds are very capable and they can certainly help you out around the house.  Reducing your work load and stress will have a positive impact on your family time.  Fourth grade students can:  make their own lunches or at least help, assist with food prep., keep their rooms tidy, dust, vacuum, set the table, clear the table, load and unload the dishwasher, help with laundry.  Pick a few things that your child will agree to do each week.  Hold them accountable as if it were their homework.
• Work with your child so that he or she can acquire fact fluency.  Use the array cards kept in your student's binder to practice math facts for about five to ten minutes, two to three times a week.
• Read!  Read to your child.  Have your child read to you.  Read your own book next to your child who is reading his or her own book.  Ask about your child's reading appetite.  Ask what he or she is reading at school.  Share your reading adventures with your child.
• Institute a family game night.  There are tons of great educational games out there.  However, there is absolutely nothing wrong with playing the old classics.  Kids LOVE card games.  Consider teaching your child how to play family favorites.  My parents taught me to play pitch when I was around ten and it was a game we enjoyed playing together right into adulthood.  Yahtzee,  Uno, Connect Four, Chess, Checkers, Monopoly, Risk, etc. are all great choices.  
• You can certainly encourage a little Lexia or even the use of digital math programs like IXL but use these sparingly if your child fights you on it.  I'd much rather see your kiddo enjoying their after-school learning.
• Try to get math in there whenever you can.  Cook together!  Let your child make cash purchases (milk at the convenience store for example) and count change.  Help your child to solve problems with time.  (ex:  The soccer tournament starts at 10:30.  It will take us 50 minutes to get there.  What time should we leave the house?  
• Allow your child to pursue artistic interests.  Arts and crafts are an excellent way to spend after-school time. 
  
• If the weather is nice, make your kiddo play outside without electronics.  Having this time to develop their creativity is critical.  
  
• When birthdays and holidays roll around, consider purchasing books, art supplies, or learning toys that encourage engineering or science experiments to unfold in your home.