Harry's Corner

Teachers, Students Question Value of Homework

(Posted on FOX 13—Tampa, Florida, Nov. 10, 2016)

 

LUTZ (FOX 13) - School doesn't end for children once they get home.  For generations, students have been expected to do homework. But a new movement is changing that: Many schools across the country are adopting the "no homework" trend.

Texas second-grade teacher Brandy Young sent home a letter to parents letting them know she wouldn't be assigning homework for the entire school year. It quickly went viral. On her website, she encouraged other teachers to do the same, saying, "Research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performance.

Dr. Yvonne Franco, a professor of education at the University of Tampa, agrees. "The research just doesn't show that deeper learning occurs from more hours of homework."

Teachers, students question value of homework

Center Academy Lutz takes a different approach to homework, in order to help their students who are already struggling with learning challenges.

"Our goal for our students is to have no homework," the academy's Andrew Guido explained. "We'd like them to work hard while they are here."

Eighth-grade student Alexandria Piburn says this tactic has been a game-changer. "I like it better because then you could just go up to the teacher right then and there and just ask them and everything, and then you can bring the easier stuff home."

"Going home and having that free time and not feeling stressed out that you don't have to continue to do work is the best thing. Then there are no struggles at home," her mom Randi added.  "There is no crying at home, and she feels accomplished."

Alexandria's teacher says students like her struggled in the public school setting.

"Her grades have gone up because she has the help throughout the day with her work," Magalie Mitchell offered.  "One of the reasons was because of the homework policy and they could not get their work completed or completed correctly."

We checked the homework policies of some Bay Area counties. According to Hillsborough County's policy, homework should not exceed a total of 15 to 20 minutes per night for kindergarten, 30 minutes for grades one through three, and 45 minutes in grades four and five.

In Pinellas County schools, homework is a teacher-by-teacher decision in all subject areas.

Polk County policy states that the number, frequency, and degree of difficulty of homework assignments should be based on the ability and needs of the student.

Alexandria says her school's policy has given her more time with her family and made her a better student.

"It'll also help me be able to just study more and put more time into my studying for school instead of like having to sit there and do homework as well."

The site will be open through Wednesday, November 16th to ensure delivery by the holidays. All orders will ship (for free!) to school for distribution. Browse around and shop for a variety of clothing items for the entire family. Proceeds from the school store will go towards reducing the cost of school trips and other school related activities. As the store evolves, new items and designs will be added. Please contact John Rutledge at john.rutledge@ecsnj.org with any questions. 

Trivia Night Fundraiser 

 AN IMPORTANT NOTE:

It is time for us all to take a break and have some fun together, and the bonus is that we can do something helpful for Elysian at the same time! We hope you will join us for our Trivia Night Fundraiser on Wednesday, November 30 (described below).   

The volunteers for the Friends have designed this night in response to requests for a smaller more affordable fundraiser that allows our parents to participate, build community, and benefit Elysian. To create a successful evening, our volunteers need your response this week so that we can organize teams ahead of time. If you are planning to come, and we hope you are, please buy your tickets by Friday. And of course, if you can, we would appreciate you doing so even earlier (like today!).  

Please remember, you do not need to come with a full team of six. You can buy one, two, three [etc.] tickets. We will put teams together. (We hope that this is a great way to meet new people too!) 

(Also, we want to include as many Elysian parents as possible, but after Sunday, November 20, we will open it up to non-parents as well.) 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Sibling Applications for Kindergarten 2017-2018 are due for Elysian Family Sibling Preference

If you have any questions, please contact lynne.shapiro@ecsnj.org.

PTSO CORNER

PICTURE RETAKE DAY is Tuesday, November 15! Please email elysianptso@gmail.com if you plan to have retakes. We will need your child's name and teacher. Please keep the flyer you received, as the unique online access code will remain the same. Both the original and retake photos will both be available using that one access code.

Please click on this link to check out the fundraiser and donate: https:;;fundly.com/the-pete-s-project

Elysian Collects Box Tops and LABELS for Education:  Look for the container near Deb's desk in the office!  Thank you! 

As per state law, we no longer publish the exact location of trips for security reasons.

Friday, December 2

• 6th grade returns from overnight trip