Aldine I.S.D. Teacher Handbook - Aldine Independent School District

General Homework Information for Grades K-4
It is expected that most homework be done out of class. However, it must be noted that any
assignment should be thoroughly discussed and explained in class. In many subjects, it is best to
give the students time in class to begin work on the assignment to insure that they understand what is
expected.
Homework should be purposeful and adjusted to the needs of the individual student. A discussion of
the homework assignment, the purpose of the assignment should be made clear to the students.
Often assignments appear to the students to be a meaningless, time-consuming task. Sufficient
explanations must be given so that students know:
- How the assignment is related to the topic under study
- The purpose of the assignment
- How the assignment might best be carried out
- What needs to be done to demonstrate that the assignment has been completed
It is good practice to write the assignments on the overhead or chalkboard and then see that the
students write their assignments down in the assignment section of their notebooks.
The following are guidelines to be used by the teacher in making homework assignments:
1. Is the assignment a logical outgrowth of the work of the class?
2. Is the assignment meaningful and carefully planned rather than busy work?
3. Do the students understand the content/skills/concepts with which the assignment is
concerned to such a degree that incorrect learning is not being reinforced?
4. Do the students fully understand the directions? Have the students written down the pertinent
directions? Are the directions on printed material?
5. Can the assignment be adapted to fit students’ abilities and to minimize their limitations?
6. No homework should be assigned as a punitive measure.
7. Is a long-range homework assignment such as reading a novel or developing a project
extended over an adequate amount of time? Are periodic deadlines built into the long-range
assignment? Will several grades/checks be taken on the long-range assignment during the
time allotted to insure students are on task and that they understand the assignment?
8. Homework should not be used to teach complex skills. It should generally focus on simple
skills and material or on the integration of skills already possessed by the student.
If the above are followed as principles and procedures for assigning homework, then there need not
be any specific guidelines concerning the maximum length of time students should spend on
homework.
O. MAKE-UP WORK
Work assigned on the day of an absence must be completed and given to the teacher. It is the
responsibility of the teacher to provide make-up work when the student returns to class. The student
is expected to complete and submit the make-up work. No penalty is to be attached to make-up work
turned in within three school days of returning to class for any absence.
For extended absences of more than three school days, special arrangements need to be made with
the teacher for makeup work.
When students are absent for several days, the school will help in getting assignments from teachers.
Parents will need to call a day in advance to make these arrangements.
P. INSTRUCTIONAL INTERVENTION – RE-TEACHING/REASSESSMENT POLICY
Re-teaching and re-assessment is appropriate for all instructional objectives assessed as major grades
as recorded in the teacher’s gradebook regardless of the original assessment grade. It should be a
continuous and ongoing component of every course. All students will have the opportunity to re-
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