Hillyt mom to
Ian 11
Ella, Holly, Jilly 6
Hadley 2

I am getting a bad vibe from one of our three first grade teachers. At the beginning of the year the district sent out a huge message on the new elementary homework policy. It is no longer graded, should only be assigned to practice a skill, and is supposed to receive feedback from the teacher. One of many purposes they listed for this policy was to keep homework from being a source of angst and argument for parents/students. They instead, want the child to willingly do their homework, and see it as a positive chance to practice.
Without getting into all the specifics of how I feel about the policy, I am not liking the negative feedback that I am seeing from one of the teachers. Every little mistake is noted on each paper. She marks every handwriting botch, every reversed letter, spelling error, and what really got me was the day that one of my six year olds forgot to return it on Monday, so she turned it in on Tuesday. It came back with a big LATE label on the top. I get that they are trying to teach responsibility, but breaking the spirit of a kid who worked really hard to complete the assignment, and forgot it one time? Is that a little harsh? I was a middle school teacher, and I followed school policy on late assignments, but always reinforced to my students that completed work was better late than not at all. Those were 11-12 yr olds. This is a 6 year old. We are ironing out all the organizational details that it takes to get four kids to two schools with all of their stuff every day. I am not perfect, and stress to my kids that they should be the best they can, but mistakes are normal. Is it just me that sees this as a little punitive?
BTW I would see it differently if it was a habitiual thing. I would still talk to the parent, but at least then I could understand what the big deal was. This has happened ONE time since school began a month ago.

Hillyt mom to
Ian 10
Ella, Holly, Jilly 5
Hadley 2

"At the beginning of the year the district sent out a huge message on the new elementary homework policy. It is no longer graded, should only be assigned to practice a skill, and is supposed to receive feedback from the teacher. One of many purposes they listed for this policy was to keep homework from being a source of angst and argument for parents/students. They instead, want the child to willingly do their homework, and see it as a positive chance to practice."


I think that I would package up the homework, complete with all of the mark-ups and "LATEs" and prepare a cover letter. The opening paragraph of that letter would lift the precise language of the district's message on the new elementary homework policy.

From there, I'd point out that

"I have, apparently, misunderstood the type of feedback that a child would be receiving from the teacher with respect to the homework. I agree with the district's goal of establishing a good attitude towards homework so that they will see it as a positive chance to practice. Teacher feedback can be very helpful, but I have some concerns here that the feedback being provided to my first grader is, in fact, likely to result in my child being unwilling to do the homework and may result in a very negative view of the assignments.

Perhaps we should discuss this with an eye towards establishing some guidelines as to what I can do to assist my child during homework, and what you might be able to do to ensure that my child sees this as something more positive. When can we meet?"

I'd address the letter, and a copy of the homework, to the teacher. Be sure to keep a file copy of the letter and keep the originals of the homework. If the homework has been marked in red, then make sure that your photocopies are color copies. Meet with the teacher and, confirm your agreement with a second letter to the teacher outlining what you have agreed to do. Again, keep copies.

It's likely that the teacher will appreciate the opportunity to work with you one on one to resolve this issue. And, if it doesn't work, you have proof that you tried to handle this at that level.

IF the problem then continues, ask for a meeting with the teacher and the principal and bring in your letters and photocopies and copies of the more recent "feedback."

Good luck.

Cat w/3 Kittens
Caidan, Carina and Caeleigh
Born at 31 weeks, 1/8/04.