..Homework

........At Hudson, teacher feedback to students and parents helps students learn how to pace themselves and take a great deal of personal responsibility for their studies, both of which are essential for later success in college and life.

Montessori homework is rarely boring! We attempt to challenge our students to think, explore, and pursue tangible projects that give them a sense of satisfaction.

Homework begins with our elementary students. They are expected to read for at least an hour a day, even over the summer, working from reading lists developed by our faculty. In addition, they are always encouraged to pursue topics that capture their interest on their own.

Once a week the teachers prepare for each age group a packet of “At Home Challenges.” Each assignment normally involves some reading, research, writing and something tangible to accomplish. These are often presented as things-to-experience, such as reading a book, visiting a museum, or going to see a play; things-to-learn, stated in terms of skills and knowledge, such as “See if you learn how to solve these problems well enough that you can teach the skill to a younger student”; and products-to-submit, such as a play, essay, story, book report, experiment, model, etc. Sometimes students may choose among several alternative assignments.

We prepare a week’s assignments at one time because many families may not get home at a consistent time every evening. Work, dance class, soccer practice and evening meetings sometimes make it difficult for children to complete assignments due the next day. At the end of the next week, the teachers sit down with the children to review what worked, what they enjoyed, and what they found difficult or unappealing.