Homework Policies

I did a blog post on homework back in February,  you can read it here.  Make sure you read that post for a pretty detailed post on how I did homework last year.   Several things have changed for this coming year and because we have a new curriculum (Carnegie Learning), are heading to standard-based grading, and a new personalized learning delivery model things are going to change quite a bit, but I have not figured out how everything will work yet.  Let's just say that this year will be a work in progress.

I do know that our percentages for grading have changed to the following:

Tests 50%

Quizzes 25%

Mathia Computer Lab 20%

Homework 5%

Our district is currently in the first year implementation of a new Common Core Aligned curriculum called Carnegie Learning.

At my middle school we had many thoughtful discussions last school year about grading and homework.  I really spent a lot of time reflecting on the amount and type of homework I give.  I started to give them the odd problems so they could check the answers in the back of the book while working, to see if they were on the right track.

I try to do so much more of the practice in class so I am available to answer questions and guide the students.  I also found that the days where students had time at the end of class to work on homework homework completion was much better.  We also have a twenty minute home base period at the end of the day where students can work on homework.  I would tend to pull my chronic homework non-completers in and have them work with me or just work independently in my classroom so I would monitor them and help keep them on task.

Now that I have my own middle schooler (my son is on 8th grade this year) I am able to see how multiple assignments from different teachers can really add up the homework.  Kids and families these days are very busy after school.  I definitely see the value and importance of homework, but I have also seen throughout the years some ridiculous (IMO) homework assignments and projects.  Thankfully the ridiculous have been few and far between, but that has made me even more reflective on what I assign for homework and why I feel it is necessary.

Goals for 2012-2013

I really need to stop this late night blogging pattern of the past couple nights.  The past two days have been jam packed with school related projects, back to school outlet mall shopping, fall baseball games, and a wonderful dinner with my parents.  Tomorrow I am heading into school to spend the day working on my classroom, as my boys are with my parents.  I am hoping to finish up my Math Focus Wall I have been busy working on and get some other things set up in my room.

This coming year is going to be a wild and crazy ride for me with implementing a new curriculum, Carnegie Learning, and a new personalized learning delivery model.  Can you say overwhelming and beyond exciting and innovative?  I am so energized for this coming school year, but will feel better once I feel I have a handle on how this will all work.

This year my classroom goals will really be driven by the initiatives that my district has chosen to undertake, including Personalized Learning Model with Carnegie Learning Curriculum, Standards Based Grading District Committee and Lesson Study Facilitation.

Stop:

• Spending so many late evenings at school.  Last year I felt that I was NEVER home to help my two younger sons with their homework  due to all the after school meetings I had and trying to keep up with everything in my classroom.   I really need to change this year.  My goal is to pick one night a week to stay late at school, two max.  I need to make sure I remember that my own kids need to come first and they need guidance on their own homework.  Trying to keep working mommy guilt at bay as many of you know all too well.
• Wasting time an energy on things I cannot control.  I must repeat the Serenity Prayer to myself on a daily basis and really remember why it is I chose to be a teacher.  I also need to keep in mind that everything I do needs to be for and about my students.
• Spending time on things that do not directly impact my goal achievement.  It is so easy to get sidetracked on the day to day classroom minutiae and lose sight of what is really important.

Continue:

• Co-teaching.  Last year the sped teacher and I really became more effective working together after taking a co-teaching class together, but due to my having a student teacher 4th quarter things we weren't really co-teaching at the end of the year.  I am really excited because we will be co-teaching both afternoon math classes this year.  Looking forward to taking our co-teaching to the next level!
• Using learning stations for review and differentiation in the classroom.  Also using them more in my Core Plus class.
• Working with my 7th grade math team during PLC time to implement our new program to fidelity and working together on compacting and assessment.

Start:

• Researching and figuring out the best way to do conferencing with my students.  This will be an integral part of our personalized learning model.
• Consistently doing some form of daily review with my students.  I started off strong with warm-ups last year, but then kind of fizzled out at the end of the year.
• Really focusing on some of the things I learned during my Guided Math Book Study this summer.  I am really excited about my Math Focus Wall and really making my classroom a numeracy rich environment for my students this year.
• Implementing Carnegie with fidelity and really focusing on the Common Core and Standards for Mathematical Practice.  I am so lucky to have a great curriculum to help me implement common core the way it is meant to be.