Time to play and enjoy the world around us

Established on 5/27/2015.

Stays in effect for 2016-2017; 2017-2018; 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022

Our Philosophy:

Every family desires successful school and life experiences for their children. During the school day, children learn and grow in a rigorous, academic environment. After school, children need time with family and friends, to play, relax, and exercise.

Much research indicates that traditional homework completion does not greatly impact academic achievement at the elementary level in literacy, science and social studies.
Research does indicate that home and school environments provide the following indicators of academic and life success:

Time to cuddle up with a good book

• expansive vocabulary (conversation and reading is a strong predictor of reading/writing success)
• a wide variety of experiences (background knowledge is a strong predictor of academic success)
• creativity and problem solving
• habits of mind and body (physical activity, work habits, character)
• curiosity

Our Practice:

Therefore, we rarely require traditional paper/pencil homework (outside of mathematics). Instead, we passionately encourage families to:

• READ (aloud as a family, independently, books, magazines, etc)
• WRITE (thank-you notes, cards, letters, stories, poems, plays)
• PROBLEM SOLVE (play games, cook, build, measure, count forward & backward, by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s, memorize math facts, occasional skill practice)
• CREATE (play, draw, paint, dance, put on plays, sing, cook, build, dig)
• EXPLORE (play in your house, your yard, your town, your state; visit museums, libraries, performances; research your interests)

Teachers will communicate current skill work in their bi-weekly newsletters posted on the Columbine website (including spelling, vocabulary, math). Please practice these skills as needed at home. In addition, quarterly skills are posted by grade level on the Columbine website.

Occasionally, teachers will ask your child to complete the following:

• mathematics skill practice
• work not finished in class
• corrections to assignments &/or assessments
• extra practice in an area of need
• optional enrichment

Any work completed at home must meet the following expectations: neat handwriting-including math, correct spelling, complete sentences.