As far as the upper school goes, the best way to answer that age old question, “Do you have homework?” is the assignment notebook. This year in ELA I took time in the introductory weeks to teach the how and why of the assignment notebook. I use mine to this day and I shared my process and format with the students as well as referencing an article. I also check them weekly to be sure this practice is becoming a habit. Now that school is in full swing we are holding students accountable for maintaining this habit and if a student is not then parents may begin to get communication from teachers about the important of this habit. The following article also has a lot of valuable information for parents about the role and importance of the assignment notebook.

I am doing this post so parents have the ability to know how their child should be using their assignment notebook. Below are the requirements of keeping the assignment notebook. The purpose of requiring students to build in this organizational to are to keep kids organized and on top of the growing amount of work they must complete each week in upper school, to record and help or supplies they might need for school or home, and to allow parents to be able to see with full transparency what homework their child needs to complete each night and week.

Assignment Notebook Requirements:

1. Your assignment notebook should be with you in each class and go home with you each night.
2. Write exactly what the teacher asks you to rather than putting things into your own words. This prevents miscommunication between what a student needs to do and what they think they needs to do
3. If you have no homework write and X in the box, the word “non” or “no Homework”. This shows me and you very clearly that there is not homework for that class that day.
4. Write ongoing assignments each day until they are completed. This allows for long terms planning and task breakdown.
5. Cross out or check tasks when they are completed. This shows you and your parents you already completed your homework and allows you to keep organized.
6. If your homework is on Google Classroom write “check Google Classroom” or the symbol we created in class. This reminds you that you have homework in another place that needs to be done.