HIllcrest Elementary
30 Griswold Street
Turners Falls, MA 01376
413.863.9526
Fax: 413.863.3284

Homework In The Early Grades

Gill-Montague Regional School District and the Hillcrest School believe that children are successful in school when their parents are involved in their education.  This is vital at the early grades when a young child is first developing a sense of him or herself as a learner.

At the Hillcrest School we make every effort to engage parents in their child's learning.  This effort includes holding important family events at the school, making curriculum guides for parents available and making "assignments" to be completed by the child and a family member.

At the Hillcrest School, our approach to learning is child-centered and hands-on.  That is we know that sound educational practice requires children to be directly involved with their learning.  This may occur through the manipulation, examination and observation of objects, collection of information, writing, reading, drawing, building, experimenting and of course talking about their experiences.  These kinds of experiences make learning "real" and lasting.

All of our "assignments" of homework are extensions of practices found in our classrooms

Samples of homework might include the following:

• Collection of leaves, rocks to be brought into the class for sharing, observation and study.
• Reading together. Sample stories, words, library books are sent home with the intent that the child reads with a family member. One of the most important home-school connections there is!
• Investigating the "Book Bag" together.  Each classroom has a book bag program which is unique.  Some feature math, puzzles, games, craft activities, others on reading and writing activities.
• Finding words and objects at home which highlight a letter of the alphabet, a color, can be counted to a certain number etc.  Example: find 6 things that have the "s" sound.
• Your child may be asked to bring in a piece of fruit or vegetable for a class cooking project.  This kind of assignment helps the child to feel like he or she is contributing something special, strengthening the home-school link.

As you can see from the above examples, all of our homework assignments require a family member work directly with their child.  It is critical in these early years for children to know that their family is interested in their schooling.  Children whose parents participate this way are more successful throughout their school careers.

This Doesn't Sound Like "Real" Homework!!

The model of homework as something a child does alone at the kitchen table is more suitable for the older learner.  For young children in kindergarten, first and second grades, it is the adult-child collaboration which is the key ingredient to successful homework.

We hope that you will look for messages from your child's teacher about assignments!