Homework Protocol for Grades K-5
District 401 is committed to the education of the whole child and recognizes that students are active in extracurricular activities outside of school.
We believe that homework practices implemented in classrooms should both recognize the value of homework and maintain a developmentally appropriate balance between homework and other life activities.
As such, we agree that homework assignments for students in grades K-5 should:
- Purposefully reinforce previously covered concepts aligned with priority standards.
- Serve as a communication tool between the school and parents/guardians.
- Encourage independent thought, self-direction, and self-discipline.
- Be of appropriate frequency and length, and not become excessive.
- Be personalized to meet the needs of individual students.
- Be aligned with current research on best practice as well as school and District policies.
We agree that homework should be used only as a learning tool. Homework may not be used for punishment, and students may not lose privileges for incomplete homework assignments.
Additionally, homework will not be included in course grades. Any homework-related behaviors will be reported and shared with parents via the "Work Habits" portion of a student’s report card. Work Habits include expectations for student behavior and are aligned to schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).
Parents are encouraged to contact their child's teacher for guidance on specific, targeted skills that can be practiced and reinforced at home.
Additional homework, practice and application resources aligned to student learning can also be found on all of our digital curriculum platforms. For additional information on accessing these resources from home, please see our web page titled Accessing Curriculum Links from Home.