Homework Guidelines
Homework refers to tasks that students are assigned to do on their own time, after school hours, as an extension of classroom work. Types of homework include:
| Practice | The most common and simple type of assignment, this is given to help students master specific skills. Practice exercises should be limited to material presented in class. |
| Preview | Preview assignments are given to prepare students to gain maximum benefit from subsequent lessons. |
| Extension | Extension assignments are given to determine if the student can transfer a new skill or concept to a new situation. Extension assignments differ from practice assignments in the degree of application and abstract thinking required. |
| Creative | Creative assignments require students to integrate many skills and concepts in the process of producing a response. Creative assignments normally take more time to complete (from several days to weeks) than the other three types. Book reports and research projects are examples of this type of assignment. |
Purpose
- Homework assignments should stem from class work, providing students an opportunity to apply, supplement and reinforce information they have learned.
- Homework allows students to complete unfinished class assignments and make up work missed during absences.
- Homework gives the pupil the experience of working by himself. This experience will help to develop initiative, selfdiscipline, responsibility, and independence.
- Homework can be a vehicle through which teacher expectations, student progress, and the school’s curriculum are shared with parents.
Recommendations
- The relationship between homework and classroom activities should be evident. It should never be busywork nor construed to be punishment.
- Homework should meet the ability and maturity levels of the individual.
- The homework program should stress regularity and continuity. A maximum time limit of 15 to 20 minutes daily for grades 1-3, gradually increasing to 45-60 minutes daily in grade six.
- Consideration should be given to the total homework load of students, special school activities, weekends, and holidays.
- Within the guidelines of this policy, each school should develop procedures for its implementation and communicate them to staff, students and parents.
- The secondary student may have homework needs ranging from 6 to 12 hours per week. This limit should be gradually increased from the 6 hours per week in grade seven to 12 hours per week for grade twelve. This should be combined total MAXIMUM for all classes.
