Posted April 19, 2022 in Articles
For many students with learning differences, the words homework and misery are synonymous. After a student expends a lot of energy simply navigating the daily demands of school, coming home to hours and hours of homework is both overwhelming and unhealthy.
Research shows more isn’t better for these learners, and homework assignments should only include previously mastered material. We believe this approach benefits students everywhere and can bring peace to every family’s nightly routine.
Lawrence’s Director of Student Advocacy and Support Services Denise Brown-Triolo, Ph.D. and Upper School Academic Dean Cheryl Cook share their thoughts.
"At Lawrence, we believe the type of homework and amount of homework has to be mindful for the learner and allow them time to do the other things outside of school that are important to them," says Cook. "This is why we only assign work that students are already familiar with and feel competent at. We focus on homework that students can do with minimal support from Mom and Dad; they can do it on their own based on what they’ve shown in class.”
Brown-Triolo adds that homework should focus on practicing an already mastered skill, not necessarily perfecting it. “If a student’s learning difference is related to spelling, they should not have points off for spelling in a math homework assignment,” Brown-Triolo explains.
Whether your child is a student at Lawrence or attends school somewhere else, how you approach homework at home can make a big difference. Cook offers these proven strategies for making homework a more positive, empowering experience. (Yes, it’s possible!)
- Set up a routine about when homework will get done—ideally the same time each day.
- Have a designated homework space; encourage your teen to make it their own by picking out a desk, décor, and materials.
- Homework time should be limited; work with your teen’s school to decide what that limit should be, and then stick to it.
- Make sure there are lots of breaks; after working for 15 minutes, take a 5-minute break
If your child is a student somewhere other than Lawrence and struggles with completing homework, you may need to further advocate on their behalf. Brown-Triolo shares these key homework accommodations to ask for:
- Whatever assistive technology your teen needs in the classroom (such as text reader, dictation, speech-to-text) should also be provided at home.
- If your child has a print disability, request at-home access to electronic versions of books or articles.
- Students with difficulty organizing materials or physical weaknesses may need access to an extra set of materials (textbooks, papers, etc.) at home.
- If motivation is a factor, request that the plan include wording emphasizing homework effort, not accuracy.
- Request that homework be limited to a certain amount of time to accommodate executive functioning learning differences and teens with academic learning anxiety.
Changing your mindset and working with your child’s academic team should turn the homework battleground into common ground. But remember, even once you have a plan in place, you may still hit roadblocks along the way. Says Brown-Triolo, “You should never hesitate to reach out to your teen’s teachers and IEP coordinators if you have concerns.”
Hear more about Lawrence's homework policy on the LionShare podcast. Listen here.
This article was written in collaboration with Wendy Wisner from Your Teen.