No homework???

[Anonymous]

Just moved into the county and was told by my elementary and middle schools that they don’t give ANY homework. Is that right?? Is it just by schools or is this FCPS wide?

How in the heck can students be prepared without any homework??

[Anonymous]

I think it varies by school and FCPS is trending towards no homework. Our high school is no longer giving homework even in honors classes except for math and that’s optional.

I asked about it and was told something about stress and more time for activities.

Maybe this has to do with our principal and there are still some FCPS schools with rigor out there.

When my kids were in elementary, they received homework and then halfway through (this was around 2018), it stopped. I was told that parents teach kids how to do things wrong and then the teacher has to reteach so homework causes problems.

[Anonymous]

Private schools still give homework.

[Anonymous]

We're elsewhere in Virginia (not DMV). Our high schooler has block scheduling and does all of their homework at school during the day. Our kid's goal is do get it done at school to free up fun time at home. Yes, it's strange to me to see our HS kid not doing homework at night, but kid is turning in work and doing well in their classes, so I can't complain. I have stopped comparing myself to kid at that age. Mine was a totally different experience, worlds away from this.

[Anonymous]

No homework, at least in elementary school, is in line with contemporary education research and best practices.

[Anonymous]

PP - just want to add, check with your kids’ middle school math teacher or check your kids schoology account to make sure nothing is posted. They may be giving optional homework and providing a key as well. My kid told me he had no homework (that is the way he thinks about optional), grade started falling in algebra, and we had to work hard to catch up. Usually math teachers provide practice because they know it’s needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just moved into the county and was told by my elementary and middle schools that they don’t give ANY homework. Is that right?? Is it just by schools or is this FCPS wide?

How in the heck can students be prepared without any homework??

Its an equity issue. If you can't afford private school, then be prepared to acquire tutoring support down the road for subjects where you cant help them.

[Anonymous]

No real reading either. You may want to create a supplemental reading curriculum if you value that kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No homework, at least in elementary school, is in line with contemporary education research and best practices.

I substitute in FCPS and the general classes are full of kids that can’t do basic math. If these kids were given 5-10 minutes of math homework a night, the problem would be solved.

Even if we just had kids drilling each other with flash cards for 10 minutes it would help. Get rid of morning meeting and do that.

[Anonymous]

Ask the principal. Share your concerns. They listen to feedback from parents, and if enough parents say that "no homework" doesn't provide enough practice for students to master skills, then the policy will change.

No homework currently considered best practice in education pedagogy - so was Lucy Calkins a couple years ago. Best practices evolve.

[Anonymous]

OP - we did Kumon in elementary and have tutors for high school. Our tutor believes in practice. Kumon will give your kid 5-20 minutes of practice a day - the amount of time depends on how close the kid is to mastering the material. When they get faster you move to next level. It’s very gradual and catches any gaps in learning that happen at school.

[Anonymous]

It’s important to understand that you must lean on your ‘privilege’ now to provide for your kids best possible education, that is if you have any.

Many school systems already assume you do and provide attention and services for anyone else but your privileged child. The idea is that a privileged kid will be ‘fine.’ If you are not privileged, there are lots of great services and programs available for you.

Enjoy your time in FCPS and be sure to check out USNWR rankings to confirm you made the right choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No homework, at least in elementary school, is in line with contemporary education research and best practices.

I substitute in FCPS and the general classes are full of kids that can’t do basic math. If these kids were given 5-10 minutes of math homework a night, the problem would be solved.

Even if we just had kids drilling each other with flash cards for 10 minutes it would help. Get rid of morning meeting and do that.

That’s a full-time teacher in the general Ed classroom who has been teaching for about 25 years, I can tell you that the kids who don’t know their math facts still would not do their homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No homework, at least in elementary school, is in line with contemporary education research and best practices.

And for most kids that don't need remedial/extra help, HW really is not needed in ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No homework, at least in elementary school, is in line with contemporary education research and best practices.

And for most kids that don't need remedial/extra help, HW really is not needed in ES.

That just means they could be learning more, but aren’t being challenged.