Recording, remembering to complete, and turning in homework is a skill most middle school students are still developing, and the longterm goal is for all of our students to develop the habit of taking responsibility for their own homework. At Hui LA'AU, we gather in our homerooms every day and go over the homework together. Every student is provided with a planner, and they are given the time and guidance to write down their homework assignments. We answer any questions the students may have, elaborate on instructions, etc. Sometimes family members who are supporting students with their homework may want to check for themselves to see what the assigned homework is. We provide a record of the homework assignments on https://www.engrade.com_, also, for students who have missed school and families to check.
All homework is due on the due date (really). We understand that sometimes students must miss school. They are still responsible for any work done in classes they have not attended, as well as homework assignments, Students missing school have ONE SCHOOL DAY to complete and turn in assignments they missed. Please see our Homework Policy at the bottom of this page for more details.
How do I see what the homework assignments are? Log in to your child's Edmodo account athttps://www.edmodo.com, and look for assignments in each of the groups your child is a member of. The assignments are posted there as assigned. Most assignments have a description of the task, and any needed documents are ready to download there as well. Please send an email to [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.
Homework Policy at Hui LA’AU
Purpose of homework-- Hui LA’AU faculty believe the purpose of homework is to: encourage students to develop responsible habits guide students in taking responsibility for their own learning allow students to practice skills and concepts presented at school give students the opportunity to practice the skills they will need in High School, college and in the workplace (creating quality work, improving writing skills, reading for comprehension, applying math skills, problem solving, etc.) Homework is NOT the only data used to determine final grades reported on the official report card.
Process for assigning and handing in homework-- Homework may be assigned by any faculty member in any of the learning sessions during the school day. Assignments are written on the white board in each homeroom and are posted within one (1) day (unless unforeseen circumstances create a delay) on the Hui LA’AU website (http://huilaau.weebly.com). Students may download extra copies of assignments and track their progress on https://www.engrade.com. Students have their log in information for their Engrade account. Family members may obtain the log in information from a Hui LA’AU staff member if needed. Any documents required for homework are handed out to the students when they are assigned...once they are handed out, they become the responsibility of the student.
Homework is due the next school day, unless specifically stated by the instructor. Completed homework is to be handed in to the designated area by the students by the due date and time. Assignments are to be done in pencil, blue ink or black ink ONLY. All homework must have the student's name, the date, and a brief description of the homework (example, 2 paragraphs on Sugar Act) on the top of the page. Papers without names will be placed in the Lost and Found bin and counted as late if not claimed before the assignment is due. The Lost and Found bin is cleaned out every four weeks. All homework should be legible and in good condition.
Grading homework -- Homework will be graded by faculty as quickly as possible. Graded homework will be returned to students during whole group time or in a learning session. Faculty will upload grades onto the Engrade website as soon as possible, and students and families may check the grades there if they desire. Engrade scores reflect how well the student is doing in completing and handing in homework. They DO NOT necessarily represent how well the student is doing in mastering concepts presented in school. Engrade scores are NOT the grades reported on the official report card.
Improving scores/late homework-- Assignments may always be improved if they are handed in on time. Improvements to an assignment are to be stapled on top of the original assignment, and the word CORRECTIONS, printed in large letters, is to be written across the top of the resubmitted work. Of course, all assignments need to have name, date, and short description of the assignment on the top page. Any late assignments must have LATE written across the top of the paper. Late assignments are eligible to receive up to half the possible points of the original assignment. A score of exactly half the possible points on Engrade usually indicates the assignment was not turned in on time. We understand that sometimes things happen that get in the way of students completing homework on time. Arrangements may be made by parents/guardians for students to extend the deadline for assignments by sending a written note, emailing or talking to a faculty member in person. These arrangements must be made in advance, or at the latest, on the day the homework is due. Arrangements may always be made, however, through a parent-teacher conference (with the student in attendance) to develop a plan with Hui Malama faculty to help a student succeed.
Family support for homework-- The Hui LA’AU faculty feel strongly that families should be aware of the homework requirements for their children. To help with this, we post homework assignments on the Hui LA’AU website. All assignments posted on the Hui LA’AU site will always: have been explained in class, with the opportunity for students to ask questions have necessary materials distributed in class serve the purpose of supporting the learning activities that have taken place in school Students may download documents from the Engrade website, either at school or at home, in order to complete their assignments. The purpose of posting assignments on the Engrade site, however, is not to provide necessary documents needed for assignments. All necessary documents are distributed at school. Any concerns that families may have about homework (content, amount, clarity) should be brought to the faculty's attention as soon as possible. We want to work with you to support your child's success. Families may contact us by written note, message through the Engrade website, cell phone after 3 pm (Tom 640-7905), HAAS phone (965-3730), or by stopping by the classroom (after 2:30 pm).
Support systems for students who misplace assignments-- We know that sometimes things happen, so we have set up some procedures in the classroom for students who have misplaced their papers. Students can always: ask a classmate about the assignment recreate the lost paper on another piece of blank paper, complete the assignment, hand it in log on to Engrade in the classroom (before or after school, during their break, at recess) to read a description of the assignment and print out any documents needed log on to Engrade at home and print out any documents It is not the responsibility of Hui LA’AU faculty to print out documents for students who have already received a copy. The faculty are happy to help students problem-solve, but students must also remember that the time before school is needed by teachers to prepare for the upcoming school day -- assistance to students in catching up with homework in the mornings before 8 am is at the discretion of the teacher.