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Effective Homework Centers
When done correctly, homework centers can be an engaging feature of an after school program.
Whenever I visit an after school program, I make sure to observe homework centers in action. In the best cases, I see staff fully engaged with students and promoting learning by asking questions and teaching self-help strategies. In other cases, however, I see large groups of students talking and goofing around while after school staff act as "homework police."
Taken from LitART's QSM Tool, here are ten staff actions to look for when you assess the quality of a homework center:
Effective After School staff members...
- Know and follow the homework policy.
- Use a homework agreement to communicate the purpose of homework time.
- Keep a daily record of students who have or do not have homework.
- Teach self-help strategies.
- Group students by grade/content.
- Use effective support strategies and avoid doing the homework for the students.
- Allow a flexible amount of homework time to accommodate different needs.
- Prepare and post at least three activity options for students who complete homework or do not have homework.
- Keep a daily record of students who do and do not complete their homework.
- Communicate as needed with regular teachers about homework issues and needs.
To find out more about teaching self help strategies or any other item on this list, look in the Homework Centers section of the LitART Training Guide.
