Simplestic

Email to parents about academic concerns

If you are concerned about a child’s academic progress, it’s important to communicate those concerns with parents as soon as possible. This will allow both the parent and teacher to take steps toward helping the student avoid falling behind in class. While it may be tempting to send a long email detailing every concern you have about your student, this will not be received well by the parent. Instead, include only the most important issues in your email and provide additional information if necessary.

The first paragraph of your letter should summarize what you are doing and why. The second paragraph should provide more detail about your concerns, including any problems that have occurred with the student’s performance. In the third paragraph, you should explain why you are writing. For example, you may want to say that you are concerned about the student’s progress in class or that his grades have fallen below expectations. The fourth paragraph should offer a solution or recommendation. Here are sample Emails to Parents About Academic Concerns:

I am writing to let you know that we have concerns about your child’s academic performance. Last week, we took a look at how your child is doing in all of their classes and we noticed that they are not meeting our expectations for several subjects. We have been working with your child for some time now and we thought it was important to let you know that we are concerned about their performance.

We know that school can be hard sometimes, but we want to make sure that all of our students are doing well in all subjects so that they can be successful. This is not something that we take lightly, and we want you to know that we are taking steps to ensure that your child meets these expectations. Please know that we do not make these decisions lightly, but for us to continue providing quality instruction for every student in our school district, all students must meet the academic standards set by their teachers and themselves.

I am writing to let you know that we have concerns about your child’s academic performance. Last week, we took a look at how your child is doing in all of their classes and we noticed that they are not meeting our expectations for the following subjects: Math-Science-Language Arts.

We have been working with your child for some time now and we thought it was important to let you know that we are concerned about their performance. We know that school can be hard sometimes, but we want to make sure that all of our students are doing well in all subjects so that they can be successful. This is not something that we take lightly, and we want you to know that we are taking steps to ensure that your child can meet these expectations.

Please know that we do not make these decisions lightly, but for us to continue providing quality instruction for every student in our school district, all students must meet the academic standards set by their teachers and themselves.

We understand that this can be a difficult time for students and their families, but we want you to know that we are here to help. We will be offering after-school tutoring sessions to give your child the chance at success that they need to move forward with their education. We hope that this will make it easier on both of you as well as your teachers who have been working hard on this project. We know that this can be a difficult time for you, and we want to help you through it by providing resources to assist with tutoring and remediation.

We have a list of recommended local tutors on file in the front office and we encourage parents to use these services whenever possible. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, please let us know so that we can ensure these plans are adhered to as well. We want to make sure that your child can meet these expectations.

Please know that we do not make these decisions lightly, but for us to continue providing quality instruction for every student in our school district, all students must meet the academic standards set by their teachers and themselves. If you have any questions about this letter or if you would like to discuss your child’s progress, please feel free to contact me.

We look forward to working with you in the future and hope that you will be able to help us meet these goals.

It is with great concern that we write to inform you of your child’s academic performance in math. This year, your child has been performing below grade level expectations for their class, and as a result, their progress will be closely monitored for the remainder of this school year.

We want to inform you that your child has been identified as needing academic assistance. We take this very seriously, and we will be working with your child over the next few weeks to ensure that [he or she] is able to meet our expectations for academic achievement.

Please know that we would not make this decision lightly; however, all students in our school district must meet the standards set by their teachers and themselves.

We are eager to continue working with you and would appreciate your assistance in meeting these goals.

We are writing this letter to inform you that your child is not meeting the academic expectations of his or her teacher. We need to provide a quality education for all students in our school district, and as such we will not allow any student to fall behind. We are writing to let you know that your child has been identified as needing additional support in one or more academic areas.

Please know that we do not make these decisions lightly; however, all students must meet their teachers’ standards and work hard for us to continue providing quality instruction. Please know that this is not a reflection of your child’s ability, but rather an indication that they may need some extra help to be successful in school.

We are writing to inform you that your child is not performing at the level we expect of him or her in class. We have identified the following areas in which your child may need additional support: Math—Your child is currently below grade level, and we feel that they could benefit from some extra tutoring or support.

Please see the attached list of math tutors and their contact information. We’ve also included a list of local after-school programs that offer math help. We are confident that one of these options will be able to meet your needs while allowing your child to continue participating in other extracurricular activities.

As we approach the end of the school year and your child’s final report card has been issued, we wanted to take this opportunity to inform you of academic concerns that have been brought to our attention. We have identified several factors that may contribute to your child’s academic struggles, including Difficulty with reading and/or math skills-Inability to focus on schoolwork consistently. We have identified several strategies that you can use to help support your child’s learning at home.

These include setting up a study schedule with specific times and days for your child to complete their homework, creating a quiet environment where they can focus on their studies, avoiding distractions such as television or social media during this time, and checking in with them regularly to see how things are going. At this time, we would like to suggest some resources that may help your child learn the necessary skills.

Please see the attached list for more information about these providers or feel free to contact us if you have any questions. The school district has created an individualized education program (IEP) for your child, and we will continue to monitor his progress. We will also be working with you on how best to provide this support so that he can meet the standards set by his teachers.

The school district has created an individualized education program (IEP) for your child, and we will continue to monitor his progress. We will also be working with you on how best to provide this support so that he can meet the standards set by his teachers.

We are committed to providing your child with the support they need to be successful, and we believe that this will help them reach their full potential. To provide your child with the best possible opportunities, we have put together a program of interventions that will help them improve in these areas.

Please know that this is not a punishment; rather, it’s our way of ensuring that all students are successful. We want all of our students to be successful, and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that every student has access to quality education.

Please know that your child’s progress is important to us, and we will continue working with you as well as their teachers to ensure that they can meet their full academic potential. Our goal is to provide all students with an equal opportunity to receive a quality education, and we will continue to work closely with you to make sure your child is being challenged appropriately. Please know that we take your feedback seriously; if you have any comments or concerns about this recommendation please contact us at [number] or email us at [email protected].

Template 10

We are writing to inform you that your child is not performing at the level we expect of him or her in class . We have identified the following areas in which your child may need additional support [subjects]. We want your child to be successful in school, and we appreciate your support in helping us provide the resources needed for them to succeed.

We understand that this may be an overwhelming time for you as a parent; however, please know that there are many resources available for you and your child, including professional development opportunities for teachers, social workers and counsellors who can help support you with these types of situations.

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Dealing With Missing Homework

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In the spring, a young teacher’s fancy turns to thoughts of . . . homework? That’s what happened in the TLN forum discussion group last week, when a fifth-year middle school teacher asked her colleagues: “What’s your feeling about students who won’t or don’t do work outside of school?”

She went on to explain:

I carefully plan my class so that the homework I give is meaningful. Basically, I ask students to continue the reading process we begin in school. Home reading is a valuable habit for them to develop, and practical since I can’t devote enough class time to silent reading for my students to get through books in a timely manner.

Much of the time they have chosen their own books and by October most of my students are reading in class and for homework. But I have a few students who just hold out on me. They read in class, but no matter what, it seems they won’t read at home. These are students who also don’t do any work outside of school in any of their other classes. It’s true they go home to chaotic environments and some have lots of household duties. But does this mean they truly can’t work outside of school? Or are they simply refusing? Is it okay? How hard should a teacher push on this?

My close colleague grew up with both her parents working long hours and she basically raised her four younger brothers and sisters. She was exhausted, but she did her school work despite it and she excelled in school. She is a great teacher and has no sympathy for students who don’t do work outside of school. She believes it’s necessary for students to take responsibility for their education and she refuses to “make excuses for them.” She has the highest number of failing students in the building. Nonetheless, students say they learn a lot from her and come back to visit her, saying she prepared them for high school (we both teach 8th grade).

Where do you stand on students working on assignments outside of school? What about those few that don’t?

A suburban high school English teacher replied:

There are a variety of aspects to consider: the students’ ages, individual circumstances, the expectations of the school and department, the expectations in their high schools, and any relevant standards you operate within.

I’m sure you appreciate the importance of communicating one-to-one with these students and showing that you value them and want to understand the relevant factors that prevent them from doing work. At the same time, you can use that interaction to communicate the importance of what you’re asking—how it will serve them well in the future, that it’s not an arbitrary requirement you cooked up to torture students. Beyond that, I’m not sure what the consequences should be for that age group, in your context.

Working with high school students in the context that I do, I have a clear expectation, consistent with my department, school, and district, that students must do work on their own outside of school. Like you, I aim to keep it relevant and valuable—no busy work. When students don’t do the work, I talk to them, and offer support and flexibility on the amount or timing of work as warranted—but there’s not much chance of getting around the basic expectation of reading and writing outside of school hours.

When students say they just can’t do it, I’m comfortable saying that they also can’t expect a grade of C or higher in the class. I try to present it as a matter of providing evidence. They may very well be capable of satisfactory completion of a high school English class, but if, for whatever reason, they can’t demonstrate it at this time, the grade is unfortunately reflecting that there’s no evidence to warrant a more desirable grade.

Another middle school teacher, in a small midwestern town, wondered: “Should failure be an option?”

I teach 7th grade math and try not to assign homework as such. However, math is very skill-oriented and there are assignments each day. Students who use class time wisely usually have little or no work to complete outside of class. I plan my assignments so students can complete them during class time because I want to be available to help them if they are struggling.

Unfortunately, the students who struggle most tend to be either slow workers or those who care very little about their grades anyway. These students seldom finish their assignments in OR out of class, and consequently, their grades suffer. I have a fairly liberal grading policy. Homework not turned in does not count against students. However, students who do not complete daily work have little chance of being successful on assessments.

I am not sure what the solution is. I have tried working with individual students, writing contracts with parents/students, offering to stay after school to help, whatever. But for some students (and their parents) school is simply not a priority. While I understand that other things interfere with students and time to complete assignments, I also feel that school should be their number one priority right now and somehow we need to make them understand this.

An upper elementary teacher in New York state wrote:

I see great value in the concept of meaningful homework for a variety of reasons. Obviously, it’s valuable for the transfer of content and strategies along with the positive effects of practice and reinforcement. I also think it is a perfect way to provide opportunities to build character in terms of responsibility and personal accountability—skills that can go a long way in life.

A high school teacher in the rural deep south remembered:

I once visited the home of a student who almost never did his homework. I discovered that he lived in a trailer (not double-wide) with five siblings, two cousins, and three adults. There were two light bulbs in the entire trailer: one in the bathroom, the other over the kitchen area. I started making arrangements for him to do his homework in my room after school or early in the morning.

Our local youth ministry operates a homework club that provides space and support for members to do homework a couple of nights each week. We have many parents who are illiterate or semi-illiterate. Some push their children to get an education; others are intimidated by anything from school and embarrassed that they can’t help their children. Consequently, I’ve become much less rigid about work done outside of school. It’s always optional, although I stress the value of it for the doer.

A teacher in California questioned whether there is evidence that homework actually improves learning.

I recently read an article stating that homework had little or no impact on student achievement in content. Other research I’ve read supports that thinking as well. It’s one of those sacred cows that would be worth discussing and learning more about.

Do my kids do work at home? Yes. But mostly they do it on their own terms based on what they need in order to accomplish projects by a certain date. Reading is an expectation too, but it’s always their choice of book. Work completion and quality have risen since I ceased assigning “homework,” and I see how much more serious they are about the work we do in class together.

Rick Wormeli, a TLN forum member who writes and speaks about homework issues frequently as a professional development consultant, had this to say:

Some teachers see homework as evidence of learning. This is true, but it’s formative evidence at best. As such, it is never to be used in the final summative grade, or if used, it should be used with an extremely small influence on the overall grade—2 percent, 5 percent, or similar. Most experts will cringe even at this concession. We should use any evidence gained in assessing homework assignments to provide feedback to students and revise instruction, not as the final declaration of what a child knows and is able to do regarding a standard or outcome.

Homework is definitely practice. In fact, in my middle school classes, we called it what it was—"practice.” The phrasing I used was, “Students, your science practice tonight will be...,” or, “For practice tonight in English, please do the following....” This kept both students and me mindful of homework’s true role in learning (and its weight in grading) and removed a lot of the emotional baggage associated with the term “homework.”

Nowhere else in the world do we grade practice. We don’t give the gold medal to Olympians who trained well and worked hard, we give it to those who achieve the highest results. Homework is the time to practice and wrestle with the ideas, try out hunches, and explore the topic. If the score on our practice work counts for much of our grade, we don’t have the freedom to explore without fear of labeling and rejection.

This, perhaps, is the change in metaphor we need to consider: Grades are not compensation. They never were. Grades are reports of what happened—that’s it. They are communication, and as such, they must be accurate.

If we include such factors as homework performance; the number of days he used a quiet, indoor voice; whether she brought her supplies in a timely manner; if she completed tasks assigned, met deadlines, or brought in canned food for food drives; or a host of other distorting factors, we remove all validity in the initial report of what the students knows and can do regarding the standards/outcomes. Now the grade can no longer be used to inform academic decisions, document progress, or provide accurate feedback. Our enterprise is undermined.

Some suggest that doing homework builds character and therefore should be counted in the grade. I agree that doing assigned tasks, meeting deadlines, managing time, and sticking it out to finish an assignment when you’d rather be watching television all have their place in building character. But responding with inappropriate grading policies is not the way to build moral fiber. Hold students accountable for doing homework and following through on requests from the adults in their lives, but don’t do it through your grading practices. Grades are very poor teachers.

One last thing: There are numerous research reports regarding the impact of homework on student achievement in school, and the correlations are nothing or next to nothing for primary and elementary grades. In middle school there is a small bump, and in high school a slightly higher bump, but the correlation is still stunningly low. We have to accept the fact that while homework is one tool for learning a topic, it is only that—one tool. We have hundreds of other ways to teach students.

If the homework door is closed for whatever reason, it’s not the end of learning. Consider how you would teach if you didn’t have homework assignments to rely upon. When I did this earlier in my career, it changed what I did the classroom. My instruction improved as a result.

So how about you? Is homework important? Do you include it in your grading system? Have your views changed over time?

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How To: Help Students to Complete Missing Work: The Late-Work Teacher-Student Conference

  • Self-Management

teacher note to parents about incomplete homework

The reasons that students fall behind in assignments are many. Students who are just developing homework skills , for example, often need more time than peers to complete independent assignments, can find it challenging to focus their attention when working on their own, and may not have efficient study skills (Cooper & Valentine, 2001). To be sure, student procrastination and avoidance in work assignments is a widespread problem. And many students who fall behind in their work also develop a maladaptive, self-reinforcing pattern of escape-maintained behavior: as these students owe ever-increasing amounts of late work, they respond to the anxiety generated by that overhang of overdue assignments by actively avoiding that work. And thus the problem only grows worse (Hawkins & Axelrod, 2008).

When a student begins to slip in the completion and submission of assignments, the teacher can take steps proactively to interrupt this work-avoidant pattern of behavior by meeting with the student to create a plan to catch up with late work. (It is also recommended that the parent attend such a conference, although parent participation is not required.) In this 'late-work' conference, the teacher and student inventory what work is missing, negotiate a plan to complete that overdue work, and perhaps agree on a reasonable penalty for any late work turned in. Teacher, student (and parent, if attending) then sign off on the work plan. The teacher also ensures that the atmosphere at the meeting is supportive, rather than blaming, toward the student. And of course, any work plan hammered out at this meeting should seem attainable to the student.

Below in greater detail are the steps that the teacher and student would follow at a meeting to renegotiate missing work. (NOTE: Teachers can use the Student Late-Work Planning Form: Middle & High School to organize and document these late-work conferences.):

  • Inventory All Missing Work. The teacher reviews with the student all late or missing work. The student is given the opportunity to explain why the work has not yet been submitted.  
  • Negotiate a Plan to Complete Missing Work. The teacher and student create a log with entries for all of the missing assignments. Each entry includes a description of the missing assignment and a due date by which the student pledges to submit that work. This log becomes the student’s work plan. It is important that the submission dates for late assignments be realistic--particularly for students who owe a considerable amount of late work and are also trying to keep caught up with current assignments.  A teacher and student may agree, for example, that the student will have two weeks to complete and submit four late writing assignments. NOTE: Review this form as a tool to organize and document the student’s work plan.  
  • [Optional] Impose a Penalty for Missing Work. The teacher may decide to impose a penalty for the work being submitted late. Examples of possible penalties are a reduction of points (e.g., loss of 10 points per assignment) or the requirement that the student do additional work on the assignment than was required of his or her peers who turned it in on time.  If imposed, such penalties would be spelled out at this teacher-student conference. If penalties are given, they should be balanced and fair, permitting the teacher to impose appropriate consequences while allowing the student to still see a path to completing the missing work and passing the course.  
  • Periodically Check on the Status of the Missing-Work Plan. If the schedule agreed upon by teacher and student to complete and submit all late work exceeds two weeks, the teacher (or other designated school contact, such as a counselor) should meet with the student weekly while the plan is in effect. At these meetings, the teacher checks in with the student to verify that he or she is attaining the plan milestones on time and still expects to meet the submission deadlines agreed upon. If obstacles to emerge, the teacher and student engage in problem-solving to resolve them.

Attachments

  • Download This Blog Entry in PDF Format: How To: Help Students to Complete Missing Work: The Late-Work Teacher-Student Conference
  • Cooper, H., & Valentine, J. C. (2001). Using research to answer practical questions about homework. Educational Psychologist, 36 (3), 143-153.
  • Hawkins, R. O., & Alexrod, M. I. (2008). Increasing the on-task homework behavior of youth with behavior disorders using functional behavioral assessment. Behavior Modification, 32, 840-859.

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Smart Classroom Management

A Simple, Effective Homework Plan For Teachers: Part 1

So for the next two weeks I’m going to outline a homework plan–four strategies this week, four the next–aimed at making homework a simple yet effective process.

Let’s get started.

Homework Strategies 1-4

The key to homework success is to eliminate all the obstacles—and excuses—that get in the way of students getting it done.

Add leverage and some delicately placed peer pressure to the mix, and not getting homework back from every student will be a rare occurrence.

Here is how to do it.

1. Assign what students already know.

Most teachers struggle with homework because they misunderstand the narrow purpose of homework, which is to practice what has already been learned. Meaning, you should only assign homework your students fully understand and are able to do by themselves.

Therefore, the skills needed to complete the evening’s homework must be thoroughly taught during the school day. If your students can’t prove to you that they’re able to do the work without assistance, then you shouldn’t assign it.

It isn’t fair to your students—or their parents—to have to sit at the dinner table trying to figure out what you should have taught them during the day.

2. Don’t involve parents.

Homework is an agreement between you and your students. Parents shouldn’t be involved. If parents want to sit with their child while he or she does the homework, great. But it shouldn’t be an expectation or a requirement of them. Otherwise, you hand students a ready-made excuse for not doing it.

You should tell parents at back-to-school night, “I got it covered. If ever your child doesn’t understand the homework, it’s on me. Just send me a note and I’ll take care of it.”

Holding yourself accountable is not only a reminder that your lessons need to be spot on, but parents will love you for it and be more likely to make sure homework gets done every night. And for negligent parents? It’s best for their children in particular to make homework a teacher/student-only agreement.

3. Review and then ask one important question.

Set aside a few minutes before the end of the school day to review the assigned homework. Have your students pull out the work, allow them to ask final clarifying questions, and have them check to make sure they have the materials they need.

And then ask one important question: “Is there anyone, for any reason, who will not be able to turn in their homework in the morning? I want to know now rather than find out about it in the morning.”

There are two reasons for this question.

First, the more leverage you have with students, and the more they admire and respect you , the more they’ll hate disappointing you. This alone can be a powerful incentive for students to complete homework.

Second, it’s important to eliminate every excuse so that the only answer students can give for not doing it is that they just didn’t care. This sets up the confrontation strategy you’ll be using the next morning.

4. Confront students on the spot.

One of your key routines should be entering the classroom in the morning.

As part of this routine, ask your students to place their homework in the top left-hand (or right-hand) corner of their desk before beginning a daily independent assignment—reading, bellwork , whatever it may be.

During the next five to ten minutes, walk around the room and check homework–don’t collect it. Have a copy of the answers (if applicable) with you and glance at every assignment.

You don’t have to check every answer or read every portion of the assignment. Just enough to know that it was completed as expected. If it’s math, I like to pick out three or four problems that represent the main thrust of the lesson from the day before.

It should take just seconds to check most students.

Remember, homework is the practice of something they already know how to do. Therefore, you shouldn’t find more than a small percentage of wrong answers–if any. If you see more than this, then you know your lesson was less than effective, and you’ll have to reteach

If you find an assignment that is incomplete or not completed at all, confront that student on the spot .

Call them on it.

The day before, you presented a first-class lesson and gave your students every opportunity to buzz through their homework confidently that evening. You did your part, but they didn’t do theirs. It’s an affront to the excellence you strive for as a class, and you deserve an explanation.

It doesn’t matter what he or she says in response to your pointed questions, and there is no reason to humiliate or give the student the third degree. What is important is that you make your students accountable to you, to themselves, and to their classmates.

A gentle explanation of why they don’t have their homework is a strong motivator for even the most jaded students to get their homework completed.

The personal leverage you carry–that critical trusting rapport you have with your students–combined with the always lurking peer pressure is a powerful force. Not using it is like teaching with your hands tied behind your back.

Homework Strategies 5-8

Next week we’ll cover the final four homework strategies . They’re critical to getting homework back every day in a way that is painless for you and meaningful for your students.

I hope you’ll tune in.

If you haven’t done so already, please join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week.

What to read next:

  • A Powerful Way To Relieve Stress: Part One
  • The Best Time To Review Your Classroom Management Plan
  • Why Your New Classroom Management Plan Isn't Working
  • A Simple Exercise Program For Teachers
  • How To Make A Warning Most Effective

21 thoughts on “A Simple, Effective Homework Plan For Teachers: Part 1”

Good stuff, Michael. A lot of teachers I train and coach are surprised (and skeptical) at first when I make the same point you make about NOT involving parents. But it’s right on based on my experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator the past 17 years. More important, it’s validated by Martin Haberman’s 40 years of research on what separates “star” teachers from “quitter/failure” teachers ( http://www.habermanfoundation.org/Book.aspx?sm=c1 )

I love the articles about “homework”. in the past I feel that it is difficuty for collecting homework. I will try your plan next year.

I think you’ll be happy with it, Sendy!

How do you confront students who do not have their homework completed?

You state in your book to let consequences do their job and to never confront students, only tell them the rule broken and consequence.

I want to make sure I do not go against that rule, but also hold students accountable for not completing their work. What should I say to them?

They are two different things. Homework is not part of your classroom management plan.

Hi Michael,

I’m a first-year middle school teacher at a private school with very small class sizes (eight to fourteen students per class). While I love this homework policy, I feel discouraged about confronting middle schoolers publicly regarding incomplete homework. My motive would never be to humiliate my students, yet I can name a few who would go home thinking their lives were over if I did confront them in front of their peers. Do you have any ideas of how to best go about incomplete homework confrontation with middle school students?

The idea isn’t in any way to humiliate students, but to hold them accountable for doing their homework. Parts one and two represent my best recommendation.:)

I believe that Homework is a vital part of students learning.

I’m still a student–in a classroom management class. So I have no experience with this, but I’m having to plan a procedure for my class. What about teacher sitting at desk and calling student one at a time to bring folder while everyone is doing bellwork or whatever their procedure is? That way 1) it would be a long walk for the ones who didn’t do the work :), and 2) it would be more private. What are your thoughts on that? Thanks. 🙂

I’m not sure I understand your question. Would you mind emailing me with more detail? I’m happy to help.

I think what you talked about is great. How do you feel about flipping a lesson? My school is pretty big on it, though I haven’t done it yet. Basically, for homework, the teacher assigns a video or some other kind of media of brand new instruction. Students teach themselves and take a mini quiz at the end to show they understand the new topic. Then the next day in the classroom, the teacher reinforces the lesson and the class period is spent practicing with the teacher present for clarification. I haven’t tried it yet because as a first year teacher I haven’t had enough time to make or find instructional videos and quizzes, and because I’m afraid half of my students will not do their homework and the next day in class I will have to waste the time of the students who did their homework and just reteach what the video taught.

Anyway, this year, I’m trying the “Oops, I forgot my homework” form for students to fill out every time they forget their homework. It keeps them accountable and helps me keep better track of who is missing what. Once they complete it, I cut off the bottom portion of the form and staple it to their assignment. I keep the top copy for my records and for parent/teacher conferences.

Here is an instant digital download of the form. It’s editable in case you need different fields.

Thanks again for your blog. I love the balance you strike between rapport and respect.

Your site is a godsend for a newbie teacher! Thank you for your clear, step-by-step, approach!

I G+ your articles to my PLN all the time.

You’re welcome, TeachNich! And thank you for sharing the articles.

Hi Michael, I’m going into my first year and some people have told me to try and get parents involved as much as I can – even home visits and things like that. But my gut says that negligent parents cannot be influenced by me. Still, do you see any value in having parents initial their student’s planner every night so they stay up to date on homework assignments? I could also write them notes.

Personally, no. I’ll write about this in the future, but when you hold parents accountable for what are student responsibilities, you lighten their load and miss an opportunity to improve independence.

I am teaching at a school where students constantly don’t take work home. I rarely give homework in math but when I do it is usually something small and I still have to chase at least 7 kids down to get their homework. My way of holding them accountable is to record a homework completion grade as part of their overall grade. Is this wrong to do? Do you believe homework should never be graded for a grade and just be for practice?

No, I think marking a completion grade is a good idea.

I’ve been teaching since 2014 and we need to take special care when assigning homework. If the homework assignment is too hard, is perceived as busy work, or takes too long to complete, students might tune out and resist doing it. Never send home any assignment that students cannot do. Homework should be an extension of what students have learned in class. To ensure that homework is clear and appropriate, consider the following tips for assigning homework:

Assign homework in small units. Explain the assignment clearly. Establish a routine at the beginning of the year for how homework will be assigned. Remind students of due dates periodically. And Make sure students and parents have information regarding the policy on missed and late assignments, extra credit, and available adaptations. Establish a set routine at the beginning of the year.

Thanks Nancie L Beckett

Dear Michael,

I love your approach! Do you have any ideas for homework collection for lower grades? K-3 are not so ready for independent work first thing in the morning, so I do not necessarily have time to check then; but it is vitally important to me to teach the integrity of completing work on time.

Also, I used to want parents involved in homework but my thinking has really changed, and your comments confirm it!

Hi Meredith,

I’ll be sure and write about this topic in an upcoming article (or work it into an article). 🙂

Overall, this article provides valuable insights and strategies for teachers to implement in their classrooms. I look forward to reading Part 2 and learning more about how to make homework a simple and effective process. Thanks

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Mom Emails 10-Year-Old Daughter's Teacher Because She's 'Done With Homework' & Her 'Kid Needs To Be A Kid'

She doesn't find it necessary to force kids to do hours of homework after being in school for 7 hours a day..

By Megan Quinn Last updated on Mar 12, 2024

stressed girl doing homework

It’s tough being a kid. Imagine waking up at the crack of dawn, going to school for seven to eight hours a day, then going to extracurricular activities and sports practices, and then going home and being forced to open books again to do hours of homework.

After a long day of sitting at a desk and learning, the last thing many kids want to do is more work, especially when they’re supposed to be spending time with family or taking time to decompress.

Students aren't the only ones who dislike homework. One mother expressed her disapproval of homework to her daughter’s school in an email, declaring that she will no longer be participating in it when it is assigned.

A mom penned a letter to her 10-year-old daughter’s teacher claiming she was ‘done with homework’ and her kid ‘needs to be a kid.’

The mother, Bunmi Laditan , shared a screenshot of the email she sent to her daughter's teacher. She revealed how homework has negatively affected her daughter, Maya, and her concerns about how it could lead to her downfall.

RELATED: Woman In The Gifted Program As A Child Explains That The True Purpose Was Not To Help Smart Kids Do Better

“Hello Maya’s teachers,” she opened her letter. “Maya will be drastically reducing the amount of homework she does this year. She’s been very stressed and is starting to have physical symptoms such as chest pain and waking up at 4 a.m. worrying about her school workload.”

“She’s not academically behind and very much enjoys school. We’ve consulted with a tutor and a therapist suggested we lighten her workload,” she continued. “Doing two to three hours of homework after getting home at 4:30 is leaving little time for her to just be a child and enjoy family time and we’d like to avoid her sinking into a depression over this.” Laditan then thanked her daughter’s teachers for understanding.

In the caption of her post, she clarified that when she wrote “drastically reduce” the amount of homework Maya was given, she meant it as a polite way to imply that she was done doing homework entirely . She added that Maya “loves learning” and spends much of her downtime reading books and researching topics she’s interested in, as well as painting and even taking coding classes.

Mom Emails Daughter's Teacher Because She Wants Her To Stop Doing Homework And Just Be A Kid

However, over the last four years, Laditan has watched her daughter’s attitude toward school change as she became overwhelmed with the amount of homework she received.

“By stressed I mean chest pains, waking up early, and dreading school in general,” Laditan shared. “She's in school from 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, so someone please explain to me why she should have two to three hours of homework to do every night?”

Laditan worries that spending too much time doing schoolwork at home could lead her daughter to become depressed and burnt out .

RELATED: Teacher Introduces 3rd Grade Students To Real World Problems By Charging Them 'Rent'

“Did you know that in Finland homework is banned? And that they have the highest rate of college-bound students in all of Europe ,” Laditan pointed out. But while homework in Finland is not entirely forbidden , the number of teachers that assign it is slim.

Educators in Finland believe there are much more effective activities than homework that students can do to maintain their school performance, including exercising, spending time with family, and getting a good night’s sleep.

“Children do not need hours of homework time to succeed, yet we act like sitting at a kitchen table after a full day at school somehow makes sense. It does not,” Laditan wrote, adding that children need downtime after school just like adults need downtime after work. “Children need time to just enjoy their childhoods.”

Laditan says her top priority for Maya and her other children is to ensure that they are happy and healthy.

“We all want our children to grow up and succeed in the world . While I believe in education, I don't believe for one second that academics should consume a child's life,” she said. “I just want her to be intelligent, well-rounded, kind, inspired, charitable, spiritual, and have balance in her life.”

She wants her children to understand that work is an essential part of life, but it is not all life has to offer: “It will not keep you warm — family, friends, community, giving back, and being a good person do that.”

Other parents praised Laditan’s decision and agreed that homework was becoming unnecessary.

“I've never understood how it could be illegal to make a grown adult work above X number of hours but six-year-olds can go to school for seven or more hours and then have two or more hours of work when they get home,” one user wrote.

Even teachers agreed with her, with one Facebook user sharing, “I am currently a 4th-grade teacher. I have gone to a no-written homework policy. I request students read a book of choice for 30 minutes and practice multiplication facts.”

RELATED: Language Arts Teacher Considers Quitting Because Her 10th Grade Students Don't Know How To Read

Studies have shown that excessive homework has a negative impact on kids.

The National Education Association (NEA) recommends that homework time should increase by 10 minutes per school year, with a standard of “10 minutes of homework per grade level,” intending to set limits on afterschool work.

Unfortunately, one study found that early elementary school students were receiving nearly three times as much homework than recommended by the NEA. Kindergarteners received 25 minutes of homework per night on average, while first and second graders had 28 and 29 minutes of homework each night.

Researchers added that the amount of homework a child has can lead to stress in the family, leading to families being 200% more likely to argue when parents don't have a college degree.

For high school students, who may do up to two or three hours of homework each night, it's greatly impacting their overall health. In fact, a study found that students who spend too much time doing homework can experience "academic stress, physical health problems, and lack of balance in their lives."

Additionally, 56% of students blamed homework as their primary stressor at school and 44% of students reported having three or more physical symptoms like weight loss, stomach pain, stress, and headaches.

Mom Emails Daughter's Teacher Because She Wants Her To Stop Doing Homework And Just Be A Kid

The point that Laditan is trying to make is that while learning is important for children, they shouldn't be forced to forgo the things that make them a kid: playing, spending time with their families, being free from routines and restraints, and not being pushed to mature faster than they should.

Moving forward, Laditan knows that she and her daughter’s school will have some important decisions to make, but for now, her household will be homework-free so Maya has the opportunity to be what she won’t be forever: a kid.

RELATED: Kindergarten Teacher Says There's A 'Big Shift' In Children And 'Gentle Parenting' Is To Blame For Ruining Our Kids

Megan Quinn is a writer at YourTango who covers entertainment and news, self, love, and relationships.

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  1. Missing or Incomplete Homework note for parents by Jackie Hill

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  2. Parent Homework- Get to Know Your Students with Parent Letter

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