Aldine I.S.D. Teacher Handbook - Aldine Independent School District

portfolios
speech/communication/presentation skills
• Note: Each subject area may have special categories that have not been listed, but
should be used consistently throughout the district.
• Non-weighted classes will use the Daily category in the gradebook for all assignments.
4. Homework
At least one (1) homework grade is required each grading period with the exception of nonweighted
courses.
Each school will communicate and enforce a homework policy. The campus homework
policy will include consequences for late and/or incomplete homework.
It is expected that most homework be done out of class. However, it must be noted that any
assignment should be thoroughly discussed and explained in class. In many subjects, it is
best to give the students time in class to begin work on the assignment to insure that they
understand what is expected.
Homework should be purposeful and adjusted to the needs of the individual student. A
discussion with the class for the purpose of evaluating homework assignments can be
helpful.
Insistence on your part that homework should be done and done well is important. In your
discussion of the homework assignment, the purpose of the assignment should be made
clear to the students. Often assignments appear to the students to be a meaningless, timeconsuming
task. Sufficient explanations must be given so that students know:
- How the assignment is related to the topic under study
- The purpose of the assignment
- How the assignment might best be carried out
- What needs to be done to demonstrate that the assignment has been completed
It is good practice to write the assignments on the overhead or chalkboard and then see that
the students write their assignments down in the assignment section of their notebooks.
The following are guidelines to be used by the teacher in making homework assignments:
2. Is the assignment a logical outgrowth of the work of the class?
2. Is the assignment meaningful and carefully planned rather than busy work?
3. Do the students understand the content/skills/concepts with which the assignment is
concerned to such a degree that incorrect learning is not being reinforced?
4. Do the students fully understand the directions? Have the students written down the
pertinent directions? Are the directions on printed material?
5. Can the assignment be adapted to fit students’ abilities and to minimize their
limitations?
6. No homework should be assigned as a punitive measure.
7. Is a long-range homework assignment such as reading a novel or developing a
project extended over an adequate amount of time? Are periodic deadlines built into
the long-range assignment? Will several grades/checks be taken on the long-range
assignment during the time allotted to insure students are on task and that they
understand the assignment?
8. Homework should not be used to teach complex skills. It should generally focus on
simple skills and material or on the integration of skills already possessed by the
student.
Teacher Handbook 2012-2013 96