ADAPTED FROM: EPSTEIN, J. L., ET AL., (2002). SCHOOL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: YOUR HANDBOOK FOR ACTION, SECOND EDITION. Interactive Homework

Student Benefits  Involves the child as an active learner and guides students to share and demonstrate their skills to show parents what they are learning.  Builds students' confidence by requiring them to show their work, share ideas, gather reactions, interview parents, or conduct other interactions with a family member  Links schoolwork with real-life situations. 

Parent Benefits Helps parents understand more about what their children are learning in school. Encourages parents and children to talk regularly about schoolwork and progress. Enables parents and teachers to frequently communicate about children's work, progress, or problems.

Teacher Benefits Enables teachers to communicate and better guide parents in amount of involvement with homework. Helps teachers organize homework into manageable, focused segments. Helps more students complete work.

Step 1. Select the subject(s) for interactive homework assignment The teachers should discuss the subjects and grade levels for which the interactive homework process will be used. If possible, a team of teachers should be identified for each interactive homework subject and grade level. Teachers should choose subjects that are comfortable for parent and student sharing.

Step 2. Select one skill for each week for the Interactive homework assignments Teachers should examine the sequence of skills that are taught in each unit throughout the school year. Teachers should identify one skill or learning objective each week that will promote enjoyable and useful student-parent interactions. These will be the topics for the interactive homework assignments.

Step 3. Adapt and develop interactive activities to match the curriculum Teachers should work together during the summer months to examine existing interactive homework and prototype activities. Teachers should decide which of the available interactive assignments will be useful for the skills they teach or they should design new interactive homework to match the learning objectives in their curricula.

Step 4. Orient students and families to the interactive homework process Teachers must explain the interactive homework process and purposes to students and to their parents on Back-to-School Night, in letters, presentation at parent meeting or other ways. Special attention is needed to inform and involve parents with limited reading proficiency or who speak languages other than English at home. Students need to know that on interactive homework assignments they are expected to show, share, and talk about their work with a family member

Step 5. Assign interactive homework on a regular, family-friendly schedule Teachers assign interactive homework activities to students weekly or every other week on a regular schedule. Teachers may give students a few days or a weekend to complete each assignment to allow time for students to work with a family member. Teachers should take holidays, and other family commitments into consideration.

Step 6. Evaluate student work and respond to family questions Teachers should evaluate and comment on interactive activities just as they would any other homework assignment. Teachers also should respond to questions written in the Home-to-School Communication section to encourage open channels of communication about students’ needs and progress. Teachers need to clearly explain the evaluation process.

Step 7. Revise and improve activities as needed Teachers should note any problems with particular sections of assignments throughout the year Teachers should revise activities or develop new activities as needed. Teachers should ask for feedback from parents and students on the use of interactive homework

Evaluating Interactive Homework Expect it to be completed like any other homework Review, return, and discuss like any other homework Include a “Home-to-School Communication” section  For parental observations and reactions  For parental comments on child’s understanding and enjoyment of activities  For teachers to monitor parents’ reactions and respond to questions with phone calls, s or notes

Designing Interactive Homework Limited to two sides of one page.  Focus on quality of questions not quantity Clear and attractive  Use computer graphics when relevant Reproduced on light-colored paper  Identifies activities as interactive homework Sample  Go to  Click on TIPS on left side of home page  Click on appropriate subject area

Assignment Review samples of interactive homework formats and activities. Choose or create an attractive layout. Remember to include a Home-to-School Communication section. Create an interactive homework assignment. Find a colleague on the same or similar grade level Peer edit and then peer evaluate. Share the results with me.