Is this what you say about your child?
“Johnny goes into his room and finishes his homework by himself before supper.”
“I haven’t had to punish Sally for not completing her homework in months.”
“I kind of miss doing homework with Boyd. He is so independent now.”
Who are these paragons of virtue? These are students with dyslexia, ADHD and related learning differences attending Woodland Hall Academy who have learned HOW TO DO HOMEWORK.
Too often parents report that in their child’s previous school, they spent hours doing homework each night but that the homework did not seem to improve the child’s academics. They also report the frustration of seeing their child do the homework, put it in their backpack, and then being called because their child did not turn their homework in to the teacher!
How does Woodland Hall Academy (WHA) tame the monster? Three basic rules for WHA homework: 1) Homework is what the child has demonstrated they can do independently. 2) Homework assignments are written in the assignment book and checked by the teacher each day. 3) Missed or incomplete homework is completed on the day it is due AT SCHOOL. The teacher works with the student to see why homework was incomplete. If there is any confusion with the concept, it is addressed. If the student is not completing a Homework Step, that step is practiced.
Homework Support Club: All new students entering WHA are in an afternoon Homework Support Club until they can demonstrate independence with these steps. Homework Support may last from two weeks to two months, whatever it takes to assist the child to becoming independent. When a child has a problem with a homework assignment, the teacher identifies which of the steps the child has missed and uses corrective practice to help the child develop the appropriate skill.
Homework is a 12 Step Process:
Bet you never knew homework had so many steps or considered that it is a 24- hour process! The Homework Support Club teacher models the successful process and has the student imitate and then practice each step. The student and teacher discuss what steps the student already does independently and then practice the weaker steps.
Step 1: Teacher assigns the homework.
Step 2: Student writes the assignment in assignment book.
Step 3: Student reads his assignments at the end of the day.
Step 4: Student gathers the materials he needs before he leaves school.
Step 5: Student has a time and place for doing homework.
Step 6: Student reads his assignments in his assignment book.
Step 7: Student works through each assignment.
Step 8: Student checks off the assignment book at the completion of his assignment.
Step 9: Student places the assignment in the proper place in his homework folder.
Step 10: Student places his homework folder in his backpack.
Step 11: Student takes his homework folder to school.
Step 12: Student turns in his homework to the teacher.
8 year old Hanna’s Mother: “We used to spend 2-3 hours doing homework before my daughter came to WHA. Now she rarely struggles with homework and does it independently.”
Chandler’s Mother – Chandler is a 2016 WHA Graduate
“Chandler started WHA in the 4th grade. The year before starting WHA Chandler would spend hours doing homework. He would cry and it would be so hard on him.
At Woodland Hall Academy, Chandler started learning and the structure of their homework system has carried forward with him to college. He was on the Dean’s List his first semester at Tallahassee Community College.”