Kellison Elementary believes that homework is an integral part of the educational process. Homework may be an assignment that was unfinished in the classroom or an assignment specifically intended to be done at home. In addition to reinforcing specific subjects in the classroom curriculum, homework can and should be used to:

• Develop responsibility and good study habits
• Encourage growth of the individual to his/her full potential
• Enhance communication skills
• Apply knowledge to real-life situations in a meaningful way
• Logically connect to facts and ideas
• Provide each student an opportunity to develop independent judgment
• Think critically and problem solve

Accepting the responsibilities of homework means the student needs to independently take direction, manage time, and complete the work to the best of his/her ability. Homework is about learning to make choices about when to do homework, how to do homework, where to do homework, and when to turn it in.

Parent support of homework is an extremely important factor towards building positive attitudes and successful study habits. Parent interest in schoolwork reflects their belief that what their child is doing is important and that school is a family priority. It is evident that student, parent and teacher needs and expectations vary. Therefore, flexibility must exist in the assignment of homework. Time requirements are difficult to establish because of a wide variation of reading and work speeds.

Keeping up with the positive role that homework should provide, the following parameters are established as general guidelines (rather than as limits or requirements) in terms of time spent by students:

• In grades K-1, homework should not normally exceed an average of 10-20 minutes per day.
• In grades 2-3, homework should not normally exceed an average of 20-30 minutes per day.
• In grade 4, homework should not normally exceed an average of 30-40 minutes per day.
• In grade 5, homework should not normally exceed an average of 40-60 minutes per day.

Teachers at each grade level will have specific responsibilities for students and parents when assigning homework and will share those at the onset of the school year. If there are occasions when the student does not have specific assignments Kellison encourages the following:

• Fifteen minutes of recreational reading
• Practice of spelling words (Ex. use them to write a story)
• Practice of math facts (Ex. make and use flashcards)
• Using resources, such as libraries, reference materials, encyclopedias, or the internet to find information on a topic of interest

Homework brings the school and home closer together. As the school and home share the responsibility for education in the years ahead, cooperation between home and school is even more imperative to develop a sound and sensible educational program at Kellison for each and every student.

Homework Due to Vacation/Illness
Students are expected to make up any schoolwork they miss during absences. The following guidelines will assist parents, students and teachers in handling these situations conveniently and efficiently:

• If a student is absent for only one day, the make-up work will be handled by the classroom teacher when the child returns.
• When a student has been absent two or more days, homework may be requested by calling the school office by 10:00 am. The teacher will have the assignments ready to be picked up in the office between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. If another student is to take the work home, please give the student's name and room and the homework will be sent to that child. Any requests made after 10:00 am will be handled only if possible.