Listen to Renée read this article aloud.

At our recent Back to School Night, I enjoyed chatting with many families. A topic of conversation that arose, as it does nearly every year, had to do with homework. This was especially true of families new to Carroll. Many parents and caregivers shared that they felt relieved that homework is no longer a daily battle in their home. Others wondered whether —  and how — they should remain involved.

So, I wanted to take the opportunity to share my responses to parents more broadly.

Here’s a run-down of what to know, what to do, and what not to do — consider it Homework 101 for Carroll families, new and returning alike.

Our Homework Philosophy

Homework should be an independent — that is, parent-free — exercise for all Carroll students, from our youngest to our oldest. It is meant to provide an additional opportunity, outside of the school day, for students to practice and build key “muscles” in different skill areas.

Homework is an essential tool for teachers. It helps them to gauge how well the lesson is being received among students and how to tinker with it, if necessary. Allowing students to work on homework by themselves is so important. If it's taking an unexpectedly long time or causing frustration, they should stop and email their teacher (or a parent can email, for younger students), explaining where they got stuck.

It’s about quality over quantity. Carroll students are actively engaged in productive struggle all day. When they get home, they’re understandably tired. We want homework to positively reinforce the concepts they have learned during the day, not require hours of extra work, frustration, or tears.

It’s also about building confidence. Exercising homework muscles — including learning how to use technology at home to leverage reading comprehension, and knowing how to stop and ask for help when needed — builds competency, endurance, and confidence. When high school arrives, students are equipped to handle the increased workload because they have practiced and amassed these skills.

Here’s How Parents Can Help

• Create a quiet space in your home for your child to complete homework, and stick to a nightly routine.
• Provide plenty of snacks and encouragement.
• If you notice your child struggling for an unusually long time, guide them to stop and email their teacher.
• Consider purchasing a small timer, so your child can manage their own reading time.
• Designate family reading time each night; modeling is persuasive!
• Read aloud to your child, or take turns reading a page or chapter. Siblings can join in, too.
• Extra downtime at night? Play a family game (see sidebar for suggestions).

We trust your ability and intuition as parents to do all these things, so sit back, enjoy a less stressful homework experience, and allow us to manage the teaching and learning experiences.

As we tell students, the journey is far more important than the destination. Homework is just one important step in this journey. It’s a space for them to build their independence, endurance, and confidence to tackle work on their own and to communicate with teachers when they’re struggling. Think of it as bite-size opportunities to practice the very skills needed in life. 

That’s the art of homework at Carroll. 

If you have a happy homework story to share, we would love to hear from you! Email Renée Greenfield at hos@carrollschool.org