Homework

The progression of homework increases in depth and responsibility at each academic level,
building upon the student’s previous experiences.

Primary Homework- At home, you can help your child explore and understand the concepts
of mathematics. While cooking, shopping, gardening, and traveling, you may provide many
opportunities for estimating, counting, and measuring. As time permits, these activities will
enhance his or her exploration in mathematics:

 Encourage your child to make a collection. It could be a collection of stamps, shells,
leaves, rocks, bolts, nuts, pennies, or anything else. Compare the sizes, shapes,
colors and textures. Count small groups of objects.
 Put a bucket or a large pan of water outside and let your child explore by pouring into
empty jars and compare the volumes by pouring water from one jar to another.
 Play the memory game
 Card games, Yahtzee, Skip Bo, My First Uno, and dominoes are also great games for
supporting a child’s development with math facts.

The following activities also help support your child’s language development, at a variety of
levels:
 Read books and appropriate poetry to your child. If your child is an emergent reader
and they WANT to read to you, take advantage of their desire to share.
 Practical Life activities outside: filling the bird feeder, watering plants, scrubbing the
deck, washing the car, etc.
 Engage in art activities with different mediums: water color, tempera paints, crayons
(short and fat ensure correct pencil grip), or a half piece of chalk.
 Journal writing or making lists with paper and clip board (older children, cursive writing,
please)

Lower Elementary Homework – We encourage parents to continue to engage
with the children at home and in the community based on the child’s own interest, just as at
the Primary level. At this level, the classroom guide will also send a limited amount of
homework on a weekly basis. Reminders from parents may be necessary, however in Lower
Elementary, homework is the beginning of a gradual progression for the child to learn to
establish a routine, developing study habits through repetition with basic skills, particularly
those involving memorization.

Work like spelling and math facts allow for parents to interact with students as they review the
concepts. Reading aloud (parent-to-student and student-to-parent) is encouraged as part of
the required thirty minutes of reading each day. Although we strive for consistency to make
the homework expectations clear for parents and students, we also realize that the
elementary child enjoys variety in activities. Sometimes, assignments may extend the
curriculum in other ways including: practice in verbal reasoning, completion of logic
problems, review of basic math operations, or word problems. Individual students may be
also be given additional work to support specific needs. Students developing the ability to
remember to practice skills and or return homework on their own are a vital part of this
process.

Upper Elementary Homework - Increasing time management and organizational skills are
primary objectives at this level. As homework is an essential practical life skill, students will
regularly have homework assigned that will be appropriate to their learning in the classroom.
An additional goal of homework at this level is the development of increased independence
and accountability. Students should be encouraged to take responsibility for organizing
assignments, completing the work, maintain good quality, and asking questions, if necessary.

Homework typically includes a weekly writing assignment and two math assignments. Students may also have homework related to a literature study.  At 6th level, students work both in class and at home to complete an extensive research project.  Individual students may also be given additional work to support specific needs. Students should also practice basic math facts for accuracy and speed.  As in previous levels, thirty minutes of reading each day is recommended.

Middle School Homework - At this level, homework provides an opportunity for the student
to practice, reinforce, and extend concepts learned in the classroom. Each academic
discipline may have homework, approximately 2 hours per night. Other work outside of
school may be necessary.

Time management is essential for students as they engage in both short and long term work.
Long term projects are typically broken down into smaller tasks and students are expected to
maintain sustained effort in order to give appropriate attention to each task and to develop
their own planning strategies.

Students are responsible for copying all assignments into a planner – recording due dates
and important details. Teachers and Advisors check to make sure the information is indeed records.  Students are also responsible for taking home all necessary resources
– including laptop, textbooks, and other handouts. Students are expected to submit
homework assignments that reflect careful attention to detail and quality of work.
Assignments should be completed on time.

ManageBac may may be used as a back-up resource for assigned projects and tests. PLEASE NOTE: Some daily homework may not be added to the calendar. Since Middle School follows
MYP, and based on the Montessori philosophy of “follow the child”, activities, lessons and
discussions may require revisions to some due dates.

Upper School Homework - At this level, homework continues to allow the student to
practice, reinforce, and extend concepts learned in the classroom. Each academic discipline
may have homework. All homework assignments are posted in ManageBac and are color coded.  Assignments in grey should take 15 to 20 minutes to complete.  Longer assignments are shown in the color for the specific discipline and will take more than 30 minutes to complete.  Students should anticipate approximately 3 hours of homework per night. 

Upper School students are required to record their assignments; however, they may choose an electronic system or paper planner.  Students are also responsible for taking home all necessary resources, including laptop, textbooks, and handouts.  They should also pay attention to the automatic reminders sent to them through ManageBac. 

All Upper School teachers provide tutorials during the teacher's scheduled office hours.  Students may also work on homework at school during study halls, DP Seminar, extended library hours and STEM studio.  Special circumstances regarding homework will be handled by the Head of Upper School.  

Parents’ Role
 Promote a positive attitude toward homework as a part of the learning process.
 Understand and reinforce expectations for the quality of student work.
 Show interest in the student’s work, but allow the student to do the work.
 Provide a space and tools for the child to organize and complete homework (from the
elementary years on). It is recommended that this space be located in an area
(kitchen table, family room) that allows for supervision.
 Encourage students to communicate their questions and feedback to the guide.
(Beginning in the Upper Elementary level, this communication may include student
written emails.)
 Encourage Middle School and Upper School students to use their Student Planner at
home.
 Take advantage of opportunities to help students explore their interests and apply
skills at home or in the community.
o Reading aloud at home
o Trips to the library