Arbor RidgeK-8

Homework Philosophy

At the Arbor Ridge School Magnet Middle School, homework is designed to help our students achieve at the high academic level necessary for high school preparation. Schoolwork done at home provides training in study habits, skills and discipline; it increases background knowledge and conceptual understandings, and provides experiences in problem solving and self-monitoring. A respectful balance between family and community obligations and homework is desired while achieving the overall goal of high school preparation.

Students can expect homework and should plan for approximately thirty minutes per core subject area per evening. Also, there are additional responsibilities and tasks such as independent reading and long-term projects added to this amount in the more advanced level classes.

The purpose for our deliberately and carefully planned homework assignments is class preparation, practice, revision and exploration. As students grow and mature, their capacity to reap benefits from homework increases. Concurrently, as student responsibility and awareness of learning needs increase parent involvement in homework should decrease.

Middle School Homework Specifics

• The overriding philosophy of middle school homework is that students must grow in independent learning and in time management skills. The most successful students are those who master time management and planning strategies.

• Students should plan on approximately 30 minutes per course, per night for core courses with occasional work in non-core courses.

• Typically students have homework five nights per week including weekends.

• Homework can include reading, writing, study and projects especially in honors level classes.

• Weekend homework is a typical evening’s work and includes previewing and planning for the upcoming week.

• Many students use weekends to catch up on long-range projects and plan ahead. Time management is a crucial skill for students to master at the middle school level. Long range planning for test preparation and project completion is essential.

• Parent involvement at the middle school level should be to act as a sounding board, not as a helper. Students should work independently of parents and rely on parents only for minor advice, direction or study skills acquisition if necessary. It is important that students are given the latitude to “learn how they learn” before going off to high school.

• Students heavily involved in co-curricular activities including student-athletes are expected to manage both their academic and athletic/co-curricular commitments without deadline extensions. Daily contests and practice must be planned for ahead of time.

• Students who choose to take on advanced courses should be committed to significant amounts of study outside the classroom. This is a function of the coursework chosen and the expectation is that the student will be successful without time extensions.

• Leaving homework at home, partially completing the work, or completing the homework prior to serving Homework Detention does not excuse the student from this loss of privilege.

• If a student receives 3 Homework Detentions in a month, then s/he will get a call home warning them that their next homework detention will result in an Administrative Wednesday Detention from 2:00-3:00 P.M. A parent/guardian will need to provide transportation.