The Homework Policy Every Early Childhood Class Should Have

Take a look at your homework policy and think about your family literacy goals.

Do you know what every teacher and family wants this school year?

It’s NOT the tenth worksheet of the day.

It’s NOT feeling rushed to complete a diorama between dinner and soccer practice.

It’s NOT late night runs to the store for a costume for dress like a character day.

And, it’s NOT digging for the crumpled reading log to sign for the 88^th time this year.

Teachers and families really do want the same thing.

We all want families to read and spend time talking together.

So why oh why do we continue to send home busy work that frustrates the teacher to prepare, the student to complete, and the family to manage?

Let’s STOP.

There is a lot of debate on the effectiveness of homework.

This year commit to helping families spend more time reading and talking together. Ditch the traditional homework policy.

How?

5 Alternatives to Traditional Homework

Here are 5 ideas to make Project Read and Talk (#projectreadandtalk) happen in your classroom or school.

1. Monthly Book Suggestions

Send home monthly book lists of age-appropriate books, favorites from the classroom, or topic related books to families.

Growing Book by Book has over 100 book lists some of which are printable.—>SEE THE AVAILABLE BOOK LISTS

2. Family Dinner Book Club

Encourage families to try a monthly Family Dinner Book Club. It’s a fun project to get families talking and reading over a themed dinner.—> SEE OVER 50 FREE FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUBS

3. Book Based Activity Calendars

Send home monthly reading calendars that include book recommendations and easy meaningful activities tied to books.—>GET THE BOOK BASED ACTIVITY CALENDARS

4. Read-Aloud Family Events

Hold monthly read-aloud family activities at school or in the community. Serve dinner to help families even more.—>GET TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL FAMILY LITERACY EVENTS

5. Take Home Book Bags

Send home books for families to read. Try our Take Home Book Bags filled with printables and book recommendations to get started very easily.—>START A TAKE HOME BOOK BAG PROGRAM

Are you with me? Are you committed to helping families find the time, resources, and confidence to read and talk at home? Be a part of Project Read and Talk.

Say it with me…

I will not send home busy work for families to complete.

INSTEAD

I will HELP families find the time, resources, and confidence to build literacy skills at home through reading and talking this year.

You’ve got this! And, I’m here to help you. Grab a copy of Empowering Families to Build Literacy Skills at Home to guide you through the year.

Let’s brainstorm some more ways to help families spend time together talking and reading this school year and change our traditional homework policies. Leave your idea in the comments.