Recognizing the value of homework and what it means to students is essential when developing a homework intervention. Considering the age of the students sampled and the demographic, it was also important to consider the pre-established research of parental participating and expectation for lower income families. Homework also needed to stay within the science discipline and the intervention strategy required thematic elements that reflect those of science standards. This action research requires a foundation in the value of homework, parental involvement in homework, and a firm understanding of the Curiosity Project.
Analysis/Synthesis
Value of Homework. Homework has great impact on a child’s academic achievement(Danielson, …show more content…
A student should find their assignment to be meaningful, not take up to much time, and is attractive to the eye (Carr, 2014, p. 174). While homework can impact achievement, if the family is not able to assist the student, it can lead to more stress and frustrations amoung multiple parties (Carr, 2013, pg. 170). When planning, consideration of families is important. Homework should be accessible for all students. Teachers must be mindful of additional costs, technology, and materials that are available to all students (Danielson, et. Al, 2011, pg. 20).
Family involvement in homework. Parents are an overlooked resource in helping a student improve academic achievement (Schnee and Enakshi, 2010, pg. 92). Teachers often do not consider how often parents as engaged in their child’s homework. Van Voorhis (2011) found that students admitted to their parents assisting them with homework several times per week despite teachers only requiring it once or twice a month for more difficult tasks (p.223). Parents are continually involved in homework (Van Voorhis, 2004, p. 205) and it is best to provide them with guidance of how to be of the best …show more content…
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) provide opportunity for inquiry and allow students to really consider and encompass the idea of asking why and how(“Appendix F,” 2013). To promote this school of thought at home and to provide parents with a framework to help students answer those questions, homework can be presented as project based. Scot Hoffman created “The Curiosity Project,” this at-home project provides an alternative to the skill reinforcement homework students typically receive. It is designed to have students and families collaborate with one another to become experts on a particular topic. Students embody engineering principles while participating in project-based learning (Boss, 2014). The project provides “a structure so that parents would be partner’s in their child’s inquiry,” (Boss, 2014). Work from a framework created by Scot Hofman, students and parents go on a 6 week journey to allow the student to really understand a topic and eventually present their findings top their classmates. Parents are given specific and clear instructions and are only required to work on the project two to three times a week (Boos,