Frequently Asked Questions About Homework

1. What is the homework procedure in 4K?
2. How can I help my child in general?
3. What questions can I ask when giving help on homework?
4. What if my child can't seem to fit homework into the day?
5. My child writes brief answers.
6. My child takes too long on homework.
7. My child does not spend enough time on homework.

What is the homework procedure in 4K?

First thing each morning children unpack backpacks and place their homework at
their table space or in the homework tray.  I walk around and check to see that they have completed 
the assignments.  If a student is absent, work goes into his/her mailbox.   If explanation is
needed, I am available.  Some assignments we go over immediately, and others may stay at school as 
a choice for their portfolio.  If an assignment is not done, or not done with quality, I ask the
student to fill out a Homework Slip to tell me how they plan on finishing or redoing
it. This slip must be filled out by the student at home, and signed by the
parent/adult before they come to school.  Students with no note stay in at
recess to complete the work and/or receive assistance.  If late homework
becomes a chronic problem, I call home to be sure that parents are aware.  A
face to face meeting may be appropriate at some point after a phone call.  I
ask the child and parent to meet with me to work together toward a solution.

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How can I help my child in general?

Homework is your child's job.  If your child is having difficulty, teachers need to know.  The first step 
if your child needs help is to have him or her read the directions to you.  Don't immediately accept "I 
don't get it."  Ask first what your child does understand.  Then ask what aspect is confusing.  Clarify 
directions if your child still has trouble.  
Checking written work for neatness and thoroughness is great.  If the work looks messy and 
incomplete, ask your child to re-do it.  If your child won't, don't get into a dispute.  Poorly done work 
will be returned to the child by the teacher to be redone.  
Avoid rewriting your child's work.  If you feel the work needs improvement, ask questions to help 
your child.
If your child required significant help on an assignment, it is helpful to send a note to the teacher 
explaining what happened.  If you check over the work and help your child make corrections, a 
"checked by parent" note is helpful, too.

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What questions can I ask when giving help on homework?

Have you read the directions?
What is the first step of the problem?  The next step?
What is the question asking you?
How could you find out the information?
What did you do in class recently that may be able to help you?

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What if my child can't seem to fit homework into the day?

Design a weekly chart that includes all your child's activities and put it on the fridge.  Figure out 
when is the best time (right after school, after playing a little, after a snack) for you child to do his/
her best work.  Do this planning together with your child so he/she will feel invested.  Write the time 
for homework onto the chart.  You may want to evaluate how many outside activities your child is 
involved in and adjust his/her obligations.  Some children are more easily overwhelmed than others 
but have a hard time verbalizing this.

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My child writes brief answers.

Ask your child some questions about the meanings of the answers.  Encourage him/her to write with 
more depth.  If the teacher decides the answers are not equal to the student's ability, he/she will be 
asked to redo it.

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My child takes too long on homework.

Figure out how much time is really spent working and how much time is spent off-task.  Have your 
child estimate how long each assignment should take and then set a timer for each assignment.  
Have your child stop when the timer goes off.  If your child is working diligently and the assignment 
seems to be taking an unusually long amount of time, have your child stop.  Send a note to the 
teacher.  Decide if your child should start homework earlier in the afternoon of evening, or after a 
snack.

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My child does not spend enough time on homework.

Double check to see if the work is being done thoroughly.  Encourage your child to take more time 
on a project, add more illustrations, and/or write a little more.  Look for ways to add creativity or a 
personal voice to his/her work.  One possibility is that the teacher can assign extra challenges in 
certain subjects, math especially, on a weekly basis.  Bear in mind that children work at different 
paces, and teachers aim for the median regarding the amount of time spent.

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