Homework

Green Park Elementary School Part of the Walla Walla School District 140

Value of Homework

We believe homework is a valuable tool to improve student learning. Homework strengthens academic skills, reinforces concepts students learn in class, and helps students learn responsibility. It develops positive study habits and makes parents aware of students' work.

Definition of Homework

Homework is an independent activity, to be accomplished outside of class time and without teacher assistance, to reinforce concepts learned in class. It may be a short-term assignment due the next day or a long-term assignment/project due at a future date.

Although accomplished outside of class time, unfinished class work, or class work missed due to absences. is not included in the District's definition of homework.

The Amount of Homework

Current research suggests that the amount of homework should not exceed 10 minutes per grade per night (i.e., a combined total of 30 minutes of homework for a 3rd grade student). The 10 minutes is a recommended average. It is recommended that teachers assign homework based on the maturity and ability level of their students.

Parents' Responsibilities

Parents are responsible for:

Providing a good study environment for their child to do homework, which is free of TV and other distractions.
Providing encouragement for their child to complete homework and do their best. contacting teachers if they have a concern about homework policy, their child's difficulties with homework, or a need for enrichment activities.

Although some homework may require parental assistance, parents are not responsible for doing their child's homework.

Teachers' Responsibilities

Teachers are responsible for:

Assigning homework to students for the purpose of improving student learning. providing in-class explanation and directions needed by the students to complete the work outside of class.
Checking homework assignments and providing feedback to students in a timely manner.
Providing clear written explanations or examples of finished long-term assignment/projects which should be broken down into components with clear deadline.
Consider the availabity or resources, necessary for students to successfully complete homework.
Sharing their homework expectations with parents and students at the start of school and reviewing them as appropriate throughout the year.
Attempting to coordinate with other teachers due dates of major assignments.

Students' Responsibilities

Students are responsible for:

Knowing and following each teacher's homework expectations.
Recording and understanding the directions of homework assignments.
Communicating with the teacher when home work clarification is needed.
Completing and returning homework as required.
Checking with the teacher for missing homework assignments and completing them as required.
Being aware that teachers may use homework assignments as part of their grade.

HOMEWORK HELP SITES:

http://www.ash.udel.edu/ash/index.html Check out the exhibit hall, play some challenging games, or get help with your homework.

http://www.discovery.com/stories/skinnyon/skinnyon.html Regular column by writer Hannah Holmes on Discovery Online with answers to nagging questions like why there's no channel 1 on a TV, and why pizza makes you thirsty.

http://www.gomath.com/ Tutors are waiting here to answer with your Math questions.

http://forum.swarthmore.edu/dr.math/ Math questions answered!

http://www.wsu.edu/DrUniverse/ Every week, this cat answers a new question on topics ranging from beans to money to wildflowers.

http://www.answers4free.com/ Search Who, What, Where, When, and How questions and answers. If yours isn't there, submit it and have it researched.

http://njnie.dl.stevens-tech.edu/curriculum/aska.html Get answers to questions about science, math, movies and more.

http://www.grammarlady.com/ Find answers to most of your English grammar questions. If you can't find the answer you seek, you can also post your question for the Grammar Lady.

http://www.ala.org/ICONN/AskKC.html Need help with your homework? A school librarian will get back to you within two days. Send an e-mail now!

ANIMAL INFORMATION SITES:

http://www.seaworld.org/animal_bytes/animal_bytes.html Quickly find information about some of the unique creatures found in the animal kingdom. Includes scientific classification, fun facts, and biological value.

http://www.d91.k12.id.us/www/skyline/teachers/robertsd/skulls.htm Contains pictures of skulls of animals of all classes.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/animalmind/ Articles and audio and video clips highlight this exploration of animal intelligence, emotions, and consciousness.

http://www.georgetown.edu/cball/animals/ Explores the way that different languages represent animal sounds.

http://www.primenet.com/~brendel/ Pictures and descriptions of the Felidae (cats), Canidae (dogs), Ursidae (bears) and more.

http://www.neosoft.com/neopolis/zoo/default.html Provides links to a variety of animals with pictures, sounds, and games.

http://mymecology.org : the science about ants. Everything you would want to know about ants.

http://www.mindspring.com/~zoonet/ -- List of zoos, museums etc related to animals. Great starting resource for animal reports

SPACE AND BEYOND SITES:

http://sorgeweb.com/astronomy/ Space pictures, movies, animations, links, and more.

http://www.seasky.org/ Explore the splendors of the sea and the wonders of the universe through information, images, sounds, links, and interactive games.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/stars/index.html Journey through the stars with National Geographic. Includes a Star Chart with overlays of images from the Hubble Telescope.

http://hubble.stsci.edu/steiner/ A multimedia foray into the mysteries of the universe.

GENERAL SCIENCE SITES:

http://www.howstuffworks.com -- articles and animated diagrams on how everyday things work. Could be much fun for kids of all ages.

http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience -- Activities adapted from some of the country's best children's and science museums. Could be a good combination site with the "How Stuff Works" site.

http://www.capecod.net/schrockguide/ -- Home page for Bill Nye, the Science Guy.

MATH, MATH, MATH

http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/ Kathy Schrock's new home page on Discovery. The sites listed below are all linked to this page. A great place for the family to start searching for fun family activities in math, science and other areas.

http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/math.html Kathyh's math link page. Numerous links to good sites math and some science

http://www.eduplace.com/math Nice site with weekly brainteasers by grades 3-4, 5-6, 7+

http://www.edu4kids.com/math/ Flash cards for kids. Will you take the challenge?