homework organizer for teachers and students

HOMEWORK ORGANIZER FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS Sharon S. Schanzer Janet K. Wohlman

Homework is an important aspect of school. It is often a problem area, however, for both teachers and students. Students who understand the homework's content are frequently confused about the organization and format as well as the expected performance standards of the assignment. For young children, especially, it is important to delineate just what the format and criteria are. This is often just as necessary for older children with learning disabilities who may have problems in organizing and completing their independent homework assignments. The impetus for the construction of the Homework Organizer was our need to know exactly what aspects of an assignment a child had completed. We originally used the organizer in two classes, each of which had eight learning-disabled children between the ages of nine and twelve. Because of its high degree of success, we have continued to use the organizer for the past six years. Eight items are checked each day. The child is required to put the assignment in the "To Be Marked" basket first thing in the morning. Thus, item 1, "Hand Everything I n , " is checked if Sharon S. Schanzer, MEd, 28 Simpson Road, Ardmore, Pennsylvania 19003, is an intern school psychologist at Child Study Institute of Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 19010. Janet K. Wohlman, MEd, is a learning disabilities teacher at the Cornman Diagnostic Center, 12th and Melon Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19123. 577

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the student submits a completed assignment. If the youngster completes the assignment and spontaneously puts it in the basket without a reminder, he receives a check for item 2 (i.e., "Hand Everything In On Time"). Item 3, "Name and Date," requires the student to put these on every sheet of the assignment. On item 4, students have to number lists of words and sentences in assignments that require it. "Neatness," item 5, refers to legible handwriting and a paper that is relatively clean. "Underlining/' item 6, is applicable to specific assignments in spelling and reading. This chart appears on the teacher's desk at the beginning of the week. Each morning the teacher completes the chart for each child with the appropriate number of checks, a task which takes no longer than two or three minutes for the entire class. When the students receive their marked homework the following morning, they are informed of the accuracy of their work. They then make the necessary corrections which are checked by the teacher. When all corrections have been completed, the students receive a check for item 7, "Corrections." They also receive a check for item 8, "Preparation," if they bring all of their materials (books, pencils, notebooks, etc.) to class. At the end of the week, the checks are tallied for each child. Those who earn 90 percent or more of the total possible checks receive rewards in the form of certificates or free time. Lesser rewards are also given to student with 75 or 80 percent of the checks so that they have some partial reinforcement. We have found that charting can usually be discontinued when the child has received 100 percent of his checks for three or four consecutive weeks. An occasional return to charting for about one week may be necessary for a particular child. Generally, however, the use of this charting system has been very effective in the establishment of good organizational and work habits. The Homework Organizer serves several purposes: First: It clarifies, in an objective manner, the exact components of the homework required of each child and tells whether or not he has completed them. Thus, global statements about "good" or "bad " homework are eliminated, and help can be given in specific problem areas. Second: It emphasizes the responsibility of each student for the total preparation of his school work and materials. Third: Finally, it serves as an incentive for the improvement of homework preparation in particular and work habits in general. 578

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Student's Name

Hand Everything In

Hand Everything In On Time

Name and Date Numbering

ID

•

MAY 1979 / HOMEWORK ORGANIZER


579

Neatness

Underlining

Corrections

Preparation (books, pencils, notes, etc.)

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