Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
EdD Program for Educational Leaders
Advisor
Betty Johnston
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Committee Member
Rochelle Green
Keywords
academic achievement, elementary schools, grade-level standards, homework, homework accountability, homework assignments, homework grades, homework logbooks, homework rubrics, parent participation, parent-school communication, parental involvement, progress reports, student progress, student accountability, student achievement, weekly reports
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to help students achieve better homework grades. Previous attempts at getting students to return their homework assignments had been unsuccessful. Parents did not know what the homework assignments were. Parents needed more information on grade-level standards.
The writer developed a weekly report of student progress that was sent home each week with the students. The report was to be signed by a parent and returned to the school. Students used homework logbooks to record daily assignments to inform parents of their assignments. A homework rubric was developed for students to inform their parents of the criteria for each assignment and the components for success. A homework data sheet and teacher checklist was kept to record the rate of return on homework assignments. Students were encouraged to continue with these methods, which helped them with homework accountability.
An analysis of the data revealed that students experienced an increase in their homework averages after the implementation. The rate in which students returned their homework assignments also increased. Parents reported being informed of student progress, skills, and homework assignments.