Policies & Procedures: Homework Policy
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HOMEWORK PHILOSOPHY AND GUIDELINES
September 1, 2006
Philosophy:
Agia Sophia Academy may assign some amount of homework to many of its students at any given time. Below are the primary reasons for homework being assigned:
- Students often need some amount of extra practice in specific, new concepts, skills, or facts. In certain subjects (e.g. math or language), there is not enough time in a school day to do as much practice as may be necessary for mastery. Therefore, after reasonable in-class time is spent on the material, the teacher may assign homework to allow for the necessary practice.
- Repeated, short periods of practice or study of new information is often a better way to learn than one long period of study.
- Since Agia Sophia Academy recognizes that parental involvement is critical to a child's education, homework can be used as an opportunity for parents to actively assist their child in his or her studies. This will also keep the parents informed as to the current topics of study in the class.
- Homework may also be assigned to students who, having been given adequate time to complete an assignment in class, did not use time wisely.
Guidelines for assigning homework:
- Since homework, by nature, takes time at home, it is not to be assigned due to the teacher's poor planning or in place of an assignment that could have been completed in school.
- The necessity for doing homework will vary from grade to grade and even from student to student. The guide below should be regarded as maximum times, not as required minimum times, and then only if homework is assigned. In any event of homework normally being assigned, a Weekly Homework Assignment Sheet should be used in the elementary grades.
- Homework assignments may not be complex or novel. Homework should focus on simple skills and material or on the integration of skills already possessed by the students.
- Homework may not be assigned to punish students.
- Teachers must collect homework, check it for completeness, and give intermittent instructional feedback. Teachers are not required to grade every homework assignment. Homework assignments should be used to locate problems in student progress and to individualize instruction.
- Major projects should not be assigned over weekends, Christmas vacation, Spring Break, or during Holy Week.
The times provided below should be used as a guideline, keeping in mind that the amount of time it takes a child to complete his homework may vary based on the child's work ethic and temperament.
GRADE LEVEL MAXIMUM APPROX. TIME PER NIGHT
Primer: 10 min. of reading (parent or student)
1st: 20-35 minutes (infrequently)
2nd: 30-35 minutes (as needed)
3rd: 30-45 minutes
4th-5th: 45 minutes
6th: 45-60 minutes
Because Agia Sophia Academy recognizes that many of its families place a high priority on the Liturgical Life of the Church, homework may be reduced for major feasts that fall on weekdays.
Specific Guidelines by Course:
- PE, studio, and performing arts- limited homework may be assigned subject to administrative approval.
- Faith history and Science- Completion of assignments not finished during class, reviewing information presented during class (like studying for tests)
- Math- Completion of problems not finished during class or 15 minutes per night, whichever is more. Flash cards or drills should be done every night for fact families (age appropriate).
- History and Literature- Completion of reading or writing assignments not finished during class. Teachers may assign nightly reading, not to exceed an average of 25 minutes, outside of class. Reading has the highest priority of all assigned homework.
- Art History- Completion of reading or writing assignments not finished during class
- Latin/Greek- Completion of assignments not finished during class. Review of vocabulary and grammar every night with drills or flashcards.
- Rhetoric/Logic- Preparation for presentations and tests
NOTE: Students who have been absent and have work to complete and/or students who need extra work to maintain a satisfactory level of learning, may have to spend more time completing homework.
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