I don't interpret "no homework" to mean don't study for tests. I also have read articles in which studies are cited that support the conclusion that in grades k-4, a child gets more benefits from reading than doing "homework."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so appalled by your responses. What lazy parenting!

My daughter is in third grade at a private school. Each week, we get a daily breakdown of homework. Guess who will have the advantage as an adult?

It sickens me. Here is an elementary school with 78% FARMs and 42% ESOL run by a leader who lowers expectations for those already at a disadvantage.

And THIS is a good idea? My daughter's not suffering over homework. She's practicing concepts learned in school. How can you learn math if you don't practice? Do you think writing well just magically happens?

so disturbing on so many levels

well your stupidity is sickening but whatever.

One of the main issues is those children are less likely to have an adult in the home to help them complete the homework or even be able to read and understand it. The extra homework doesn't benefit these kids in the long run in the elementary level.

I'm a teacher, and couldn't agree more. The research shows that in elem school, homework has essentially no value. With this population, parents are much less likely to be able to help their children with homework, and the students are more likely to have no opportunity to do their homework anyway (a homeless shelter feeds into this school). What parents CAN do is read with their kids for 30 minutes, and if they can't, the students have access to age-appropriate literature in the school media center and can read their library books at home.

My kids aren't in school yet, but I'm seriously considering being that crazy parent that sends in a note at the beginning of the year, saying that we will be "opting out" of homework. In middle and high school, sure, it's expected and important for study habits. But five-year-olds should be playing after school, not doing worksheets. I applaud this principal's brave decision.

You're one shitty teacher then, and I say that AS a teacher. You do realize that the principal has no faith in WHAT'S being sent home, right? (Hopefully, you do.) Furthermore, she's too lazy to train her staff (or to have someone train her staff) on alternative assessments. You don't have to complete a worksheet to demonstrate knowledge of characterization. A picture at the elementary level - even at the secondary level - works just as well.

As a high school teacher who taught Spoon River for quite a few years, anyone familiar with it would appreciate my assignment where I asked students to draw a dinner party where five characters were invited. Who's the host? What's the theme? WHY were these characters invited?

Kids can demonstrate mastery of simple math facts through drawing, too. Show 7-3 by using fruit. So a kid can draw 7 apples. And then suddenly a fawn comes along and eats three. huh - How many are left?

There are AMAZING ways to show mastery of concepts.

I'm guessing you think these assignments are foolish, too?

But sadly, as a teacher, you can't seem to think outside the box and are no smarter than the teachers at Gaithersburg ES who have been stripped of their ability to give homework. yes, STRIPPED!

Thanks for making the rest of us look like idiots, btw. You seem like a real winner in the classroom and at home as a parent.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Ms. Brant opted out of homework for her kids, too, who attend a different MC elementary school?

great question!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so appalled by your responses. What lazy parenting!

My daughter is in third grade at a private school. Each week, we get a daily breakdown of homework. Guess who will have the advantage as an adult?

It sickens me. Here is an elementary school with 78% FARMs and 42% ESOL run by a leader who lowers expectations for those already at a disadvantage.

And THIS is a good idea? My daughter's not suffering over homework. She's practicing concepts learned in school. How can you learn math if you don't practice? Do you think writing well just magically happens?

so disturbing on so many levels

well your stupidity is sickening but whatever.

One of the main issues is those children are less likely to have an adult in the home to help them complete the homework or even be able to read and understand it. The extra homework doesn't benefit these kids in the long run in the elementary level.

I'm a teacher, and couldn't agree more. The research shows that in elem school, homework has essentially no value. With this population, parents are much less likely to be able to help their children with homework, and the students are more likely to have no opportunity to do their homework anyway (a homeless shelter feeds into this school). What parents CAN do is read with their kids for 30 minutes, and if they can't, the students have access to age-appropriate literature in the school media center and can read their library books at home.

My kids aren't in school yet, but I'm seriously considering being that crazy parent that sends in a note at the beginning of the year, saying that we will be "opting out" of homework. In middle and high school, sure, it's expected and important for study habits. But five-year-olds should be playing after school, not doing worksheets. I applaud this principal's brave decision.

There are no parents to help with homework but they can help read? I don't think your reasoning here makes much sense. If they can't help do homework, what would make you believe they can help a child read?

What I get out of this is that the school has no confidence in the teachers to send home appropriate homework or in the kids to complete it at home.

Nice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so appalled by your responses. What lazy parenting!

My daughter is in third grade at a private school. Each week, we get a daily breakdown of homework. Guess who will have the advantage as an adult?

It sickens me. Here is an elementary school with 78% FARMs and 42% ESOL run by a leader who lowers expectations for those already at a disadvantage.

And THIS is a good idea? My daughter's not suffering over homework. She's practicing concepts learned in school. How can you learn math if you don't practice? Do you think writing well just magically happens?

so disturbing on so many levels

well your stupidity is sickening but whatever.

One of the main issues is those children are less likely to have an adult in the home to help them complete the homework or even be able to read and understand it. The extra homework doesn't benefit these kids in the long run in the elementary level.

I'm a teacher, and couldn't agree more. The research shows that in elem school, homework has essentially no value. With this population, parents are much less likely to be able to help their children with homework, and the students are more likely to have no opportunity to do their homework anyway (a homeless shelter feeds into this school). What parents CAN do is read with their kids for 30 minutes, and if they can't, the students have access to age-appropriate literature in the school media center and can read their library books at home.

My kids aren't in school yet, but I'm seriously considering being that crazy parent that sends in a note at the beginning of the year, saying that we will be "opting out" of homework. In middle and high school, sure, it's expected and important for study habits. But five-year-olds should be playing after school, not doing worksheets. I applaud this principal's brave decision.

do tell - how do we opt out of homework? i would be interested in this in the early grades (K-2).

My guess would be to send a note saying "Johnny will not be doing homework." And then, you know, don't do it. I wouldn't apply this to long-term projects, though, that do offer some enrichment, and kids do benefit from daily reading at home, so I would be doing that as well. To be fair, I have not encountered this in my own school, so I don't know how much pushback you would get, and you certainly don't want to create unnecessary tension. BUT if I received a note from a parent, I would probably follow up with them, possibly alert my principal, and then carry on. I'm not sure if there would have to be any effect on grades, with the new reports cards focusing more on mastery of objectives rather than assignments completed, but even if it did, my take as a parent would be that it doesn't matter. The ES report card, especially in lower grades, is a measurement of progress, not a college entry ticket. If your child is progressing appropriately, that's all that matters.

In my medium-length teaching career (10 years), I have had a handful of students in crisis situations at home who could not complete homework and were basically given a pass, after several meetings involving the principal and parents.

Anonymous wrote:I am so appalled by your responses. What lazy parenting!

My daughter is in third grade at a private school. Each week, we get a daily breakdown of homework. Guess who will have the advantage as an adult?

It sickens me. Here is an elementary school with 78% FARMs and 42% ESOL run by a leader who lowers expectations for those already at a disadvantage.

And THIS is a good idea? My daughter's not suffering over homework. She's practicing concepts learned in school. How can you learn math if you don't practice? Do you think writing well just magically happens?

so disturbing on so many levels

My guess: The student whose school takes into account current research when making decisions about homework, and who understands that this research shows that priorities for young children need to include adequate time for reading, as well as time for children to practice social and executive functioning skills such as playing cooperatively, building narrative skills through dramatic play, and making and carrying out independent plans.

I wonder if Ms. Brant opted out of homework for her kids, too, who attend a different MC elementary school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so appalled by your responses. What lazy parenting!

My daughter is in third grade at a private school. Each week, we get a daily breakdown of homework. Guess who will have the advantage as an adult?

It sickens me. Here is an elementary school with 78% FARMs and 42% ESOL run by a leader who lowers expectations for those already at a disadvantage.

And THIS is a good idea? My daughter's not suffering over homework. She's practicing concepts learned in school. How can you learn math if you don't practice? Do you think writing well just magically happens?

so disturbing on so many levels

well your stupidity is sickening but whatever.

One of the main issues is those children are less likely to have an adult in the home to help them complete the homework or even be able to read and understand it. The extra homework doesn't benefit these kids in the long run in the elementary level.

I'm a teacher, and couldn't agree more. The research shows that in elem school, homework has essentially no value. With this population, parents are much less likely to be able to help their children with homework, and the students are more likely to have no opportunity to do their homework anyway (a homeless shelter feeds into this school). What parents CAN do is read with their kids for 30 minutes, and if they can't, the students have access to age-appropriate literature in the school media center and can read their library books at home.

My kids aren't in school yet, but I'm seriously considering being that crazy parent that sends in a note at the beginning of the year, saying that we will be "opting out" of homework. In middle and high school, sure, it's expected and important for study habits. But five-year-olds should be playing after school, not doing worksheets. I applaud this principal's brave decision.

do tell - how do we opt out of homework? i would be interested in this in the early grades (K-2).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so appalled by your responses. What lazy parenting!

My daughter is in third grade at a private school. Each week, we get a daily breakdown of homework. Guess who will have the advantage as an adult?

It sickens me. Here is an elementary school with 78% FARMs and 42% ESOL run by a leader who lowers expectations for those already at a disadvantage.

And THIS is a good idea? My daughter's not suffering over homework. She's practicing concepts learned in school. How can you learn math if you don't practice? Do you think writing well just magically happens?

so disturbing on so many levels

Sorry, there have been studies done which show homework in elementary school has little to no value. At that age it is more important for them to be playing and exploring.

totally agree!

I'm most interested to see that homework is controlled at the school level rather than the district level. I had thought everyone in MCPS was the same across schools. Relieved to see it is not.
My K had much too much homework last year. It was completely counterproductive and did nothing to help his skills. Reading at night was valuable. 10-12 worksheets a week were not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so appalled by your responses. What lazy parenting!

My daughter is in third grade at a private school. Each week, we get a daily breakdown of homework. Guess who will have the advantage as an adult?

It sickens me. Here is an elementary school with 78% FARMs and 42% ESOL run by a leader who lowers expectations for those already at a disadvantage.

And THIS is a good idea? My daughter's not suffering over homework. She's practicing concepts learned in school. How can you learn math if you don't practice? Do you think writing well just magically happens?

so disturbing on so many levels

well your stupidity is sickening but whatever.

One of the main issues is those children are less likely to have an adult in the home to help them complete the homework or even be able to read and understand it. The extra homework doesn't benefit these kids in the long run in the elementary level.

Well, my parents never helped me with home work but I did just fine.. I do agree that sometimes home work turns into busy work but how about just cut down on the # of days it is given. Instead of every night how about once a week, kids can have over the weekend to complete it. Extra practice, studying alone can be extremely beneficial.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so appalled by your responses. What lazy parenting!

My daughter is in third grade at a private school. Each week, we get a daily breakdown of homework. Guess who will have the advantage as an adult?

It sickens me. Here is an elementary school with 78% FARMs and 42% ESOL run by a leader who lowers expectations for those already at a disadvantage.

And THIS is a good idea? My daughter's not suffering over homework. She's practicing concepts learned in school. How can you learn math if you don't practice? Do you think writing well just magically happens?

so disturbing on so many levels

well your stupidity is sickening but whatever.

One of the main issues is those children are less likely to have an adult in the home to help them complete the homework or even be able to read and understand it. The extra homework doesn't benefit these kids in the long run in the elementary level.

I'm a teacher, and couldn't agree more. The research shows that in elem school, homework has essentially no value. With this population, parents are much less likely to be able to help their children with homework, and the students are more likely to have no opportunity to do their homework anyway (a homeless shelter feeds into this school). What parents CAN do is read with their kids for 30 minutes, and if they can't, the students have access to age-appropriate literature in the school media center and can read their library books at home.

My kids aren't in school yet, but I'm seriously considering being that crazy parent that sends in a note at the beginning of the year, saying that we will be "opting out" of homework. In middle and high school, sure, it's expected and important for study habits. But five-year-olds should be playing after school, not doing worksheets. I applaud this principal's brave decision.

Anonymous wrote:I am so appalled by your responses. What lazy parenting!

My daughter is in third grade at a private school. Each week, we get a daily breakdown of homework. Guess who will have the advantage as an adult?

It sickens me. Here is an elementary school with 78% FARMs and 42% ESOL run by a leader who lowers expectations for those already at a disadvantage.

And THIS is a good idea? My daughter's not suffering over homework. She's practicing concepts learned in school. How can you learn math if you don't practice? Do you think writing well just magically happens?

so disturbing on so many levels

If you were at this school and felt your daughter would benefit from homework, I'm sure you could either come up with something yourself (because you're not lazy, right?) or work with the teacher to come up with some extra practice.

Anonymous wrote:I am so appalled by your responses. What lazy parenting!

My daughter is in third grade at a private school. Each week, we get a daily breakdown of homework. Guess who will have the advantage as an adult?

It sickens me. Here is an elementary school with 78% FARMs and 42% ESOL run by a leader who lowers expectations for those already at a disadvantage.

And THIS is a good idea? My daughter's not suffering over homework. She's practicing concepts learned in school. How can you learn math if you don't practice? Do you think writing well just magically happens?

so disturbing on so many levels

well your stupidity is sickening but whatever.

One of the main issues is those children are less likely to have an adult in the home to help them complete the homework or even be able to read and understand it. The extra homework doesn't benefit these kids in the long run in the elementary level.

Anonymous wrote:I also wonder about developing good work habits. But busywork worksheets are mostly bogus. What they *could* do is come up with creative alternatives for the kids to do at home, such as projects incorporating the information and skills they're learning at school.

I do like the move to get outside the box and out of the rut of mindless worksheets, but there must be a better alternative.

bingo - But according to the article, HW quality, which IS the problem, is ignored. Change the homework! Make it authentic.

"We really started evaluating the work that we sent students home with," explained Principal Brant. "We started looking, and really, it was a lot of worksheets. And the worksheets didn't match what we were doing instructionally in the classroom. It was just: we were giving students something because we felt we had to give them something."