Expanding Our Notion of Success
A-B Challenge Success Newsletter - November 2016
Challenge Success Partnership
This month's newsletter will focus on HOMEWORK.
Changing the Conversation about Homework: From Quantity and Achievement To Quality and Engagement
Our district is engaged in a number of important conversations about homework. We are focused on expanding the conversation from quantity and achievement to quality and engagement.
To read a Challenge Success white paper on this topic: http://www.challengesuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ChallengeSuccess-Homework-WhitePaper.pdf.
For more research around HW, check out our AB Wellness site: http://abschoolswellness.weebly.com/homework--workload.html.
Did You Know?
In spring 2016, we administered a Challenge Success survey to our nearly 2900 6th – 12th grade students, who were also asked how they felt about the amount of homework
they had each night.
- In grades 9-12,, 47% of students felt they had the “right” amount, while 52% reported they had “too much” HW.
- In grades 6-8, 67% of students felt they had the “right” amount, while 26% reported they had “too much” HW.
The survey also asked students how much time during weekdays and weekends they spent in various activities, including time spent on school-assigned and non-school- assigned homework (e.g. language or religious school, tutoring, SAT or ACT prep homework), extracurricular activities, and using the computer/cell phone for recreational purposes (Instagram, email, texting, etc.).
On average, students reported doing between 0 and 7 hours of school-assigned and non-school-assigned homework per weeknight and on a typical Saturday or Sunday. This data is outlined in the chart below:
Video Resources: Homework
Student Voice
Website: http://www.challengesuccess.org/blog/we-need-to-challenge-the-verb-achieve-by-emma-seevak/
Teacher Voice: What Teaching 8th Graders Has Taught Me About Homework and Stress
Website: http://www.challengesuccess.org/blog/what-teaching-8th-graders-has-taught-me-about-homework-and-stress-by-paul-franz/
Facebook: facebook.com/Paul-Franz
Twitter: @Paul_Franz
Books to Consider
Madeline Levine, Ph.D.
November Stress-Buster Tip
Website: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/settle-your-glitter#
The Well-Balanced Student with Denise Pope, Ph.D.
This learning event is for all parents/guardians and grandparents with children preschool through grade 12, and for any interested community members.
Tuesday, Nov 8, 2016, 07:00 PM
Acton Boxborough Regional High School, Charter Road, Acton, MA, United States
Challenge Success Mantra
At Challenge Success, we believe that our society has become too focused on grades, test scores, and performance, leaving little time for kids to develop the necessary skills to become resilient, ethical, and motivated learners. We provide families and schools with the practical, research-based tools they need to create a more balanced and academically fulfilling life for kids. After all, success is measured over the course of a lifetime, not at the end of a semester.