Start a conversation about homework:

The Medium is the Message

Many schools use ParentSquare to communicate with parents. Parent phones are so overloaded with apps and notifications: texts from work, news notifications, email notifications, reminders, the list goes on.

Consider using an app for communication that you know most parents are checking on a daily basis for recreation, Instagram. Creating a private Instagram page for your class can be a option for communicating with parents that doesn’t add another easily ignored notification.

Keep it Simple

When student’s homework contains excessive, rigid or unclear instructions, parents can feel overwhelmed and alienated. Avoid using school-specific language or methods of homework completion.

Simplify open-ended instructions and consider the language that the student’s family may speak at home.

Communicate the Why

Share with families your overall goals around homework as well as any goals associated with specific assignments.

When parents understand the goals of an assignment, they are better able to assist their student. Understanding the goal of an assignment also gives parents an opportunity to suggest creative ways that their families can meet the stated goals in ways that work best for them.

Two-Way Feedback

One study of parents included interviews from parents who said they felt unrecognized in their efforts to assist their child at home with completing homework well.

Consider a system of recognition for parents in their work on homework. It can be as simple as a mass-message thanking them for their participation and assistance. Parents are more invested in a process that they feel recognized and included in. This also gives parents an important opportunity to provide feedback about homework.

Flexibility

Offer multiple ways for families to engage in the homework, or supply the openness for families to supply their own preferred method of engaging in homework.

Families with low SES backgrounds succeed more in tasks that allow them to draw on lived experiences. Not all families have the time and resources to engage in homework in the same way.

Include reflection options for families to talk through their methods together.