Let's talk about homework...

School has been out for a month in Vernon, and I have a question for all of my fellow parents… are you working with your children on their homework?  It seems almost sacrilegious to say it, but summer isn’t just for hanging out anymore.  Research done by Johns Hopkins shows that the average child loses 2.6 months of grade level equivalency during the summer break. 

Teachers typically spend the first 4-6 weeks of a new school year simply catching the kids up on what they lost over the summer.  Learning is, like any other skill, all about repetition and consistent practice.  And like it or not 10 weeks off in the summer kills the momentum.

That’s why every year the Vernon school system sends home a package of homework for parents to do with their kids over the summer.  No, this isn’t mandatory.  No one can make your child do it, and they certainly don’t get graded on it.  But frankly if that was the only motivation to help your child do the work you’ve missed the point. 

Part of the mission statement that the Board of Education passed involves turning our children into life-long learners.  That goal is one that has been repeated throughout the school year.  Being a life-long learner doesn’t mean memorizing facts or spouting figures.  It is knowing HOW to learn.  It is understanding where to go to find the answers.  And most importantly it is developing a real desire to simply know. 

Not every child is going to be passionate about every subject.  Most will gravitate to a particular love, and even that will change over time.  Thirty years ago I was convinced I would be an NFL football player.  20 years ago I thought I would be an actor.  Heck, even adults average 3.5 career changes in their lifetimes.

There are opportunities to learn all around you.  When you go on vacation, talk a little bit about the history of the place.  Take a nature walk and learn about local wildlife.  Enjoy the excellent summer opportunities provided by the local library system.  Whatever you do, encourage and engage your children to keep working on being learners.  And if the dog already ate your homework, you can always download it fresh from http://vernonschools.com/. 

I’ve heard all the arguments for summer break.  I completely agree that kids need time to just be kids.  And 20 years ago if you had told me I would be taking this stance I would have called you crazy!  But like the song says, the times they are a changing.  And our method of educating our children needs to change with it.  The schools can’t do this alone.  Parents can’t do this alone.  If we want to close the gaps that exist in our schools it takes a constant, consistent effort from everyone.  So I hope your kids are doing their homework this summer, and I hope you are too!

-The opinions expressed here are strictly my own and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Board of Education.