Case
Parent help with homework

Students are given a book project twice a quarter in Mrs. Newman's class. Students generally have four weeks to read the book and complete the project. It's apparent that some students are having assistance from their parents with this effort. It's obvious because the students, who have never crafted an assignment as creative, organized, or on topic in the classroom setting, are turning in exemplar models. How does Mrs. Newman handle this with both the student and the parent?

Posted on: 10/18/14 | Views: 1006
Solution #1
It is not completely wrong for the parent to assist the child with homework. As a teacher, we should encourage parents to assist students in creating exemplar models. However, I would talk with the parent directly to ask that they guide the student through the work as opposed to doing it. I would advise doing a face to face parent-teacher conference. Keep samples of the student's class work to compare with the homework assignments. Assignments should be a reflection of the student's practice, it is not an end to all means of success if they do not do well.
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Solution #2
Mrs. Newman should have the next book project completed during school hours, as an in-class activity, to obtain an honest and realistic pulse of the students abilities. Afterward I would share these results with the parents and reitierate the importance of allowing their children to show what they are capable of encouraging creativity however; you are setting them up for failure if they are not capable of meeting up to the parents standards on their own. It is alright for parents to assist their children however; they should NOT do the poject for them. Showing the parents how to encourage their children to excel will carry them much further in life, and building that relationship with the parents will create a strong bond between teacher and parent.

I like that idea. The students should have the first one to develop in class first. After they have created one in school I would make the second one an at home assignment. Parents can assist, but I would clarify that in a class note to take home with the assignment.

I like this solution because it gives the teacher an idea of what the student may be having problem with and the teacher can make sure that the student is doing the work. I think maybe towards the end of the due date it would be okay for students to take the project home and work on it.

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Solution #3
When I have projects I make sure to allow time for at school work. I don't have a problem with the parents reading with their children; I encourage that. However, I do require that the majority of the project be completed at school during part of their reading centers. This allows me to see what my students, not their parents, know. I try not to send home graded work as part of homework for exactly this reason. It's important for parents to help their children with homework, and when the activity is for a grade it makes that "help" problematic at times.
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Solution #4
It is not bad when parents help students with their homework assignments. It is a problem if parents are completing the entire assignment for the student. The student who has submitted the exemplar work should not be punished. If anything this will help their grade because they have not been doing great work in the classroom. I would call the parent and tell them thanks for being concerned about your student's grades and it was a great assignment. The next assignment though I would like to see more student led initiative.
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