I just finished watching the UHM PD video. I am super excited about starting to use it. I do have a quick question, though. I have some students who will never do the homework. Would you suggest giving a grade for the homework or would that ruin the motivation? I'm just not sure how to handle UHM in relation to the gradebook. Could students get bonus points for each level of homework they complete? This is truthfully an entirely new concept for me. I've never given homework with the population of students I have now because most of them don't have a home life that supports it. I realize, as it was stated in the webinar, that it is my classroom and ultimately up to me, however I would love some suggestions. Thanks!

A ash, I just started UHM and I too need to week it a bit. I am by far not an expert but I can see that for those children who can do one star homework it is super speed reading 100. That they should be able to do even if an older sibling is watching them or grandma who does not speak English (in my case). The home reading and letter may be the tricky part. So as to not un motivate the others I'd ask those kids to do this part as extra during one of those "what do I do now" class times. Maybe even have another teacher be mom and sign off. Sometimes these are the same kids who come to school at the crack of dawn because their parents work 2 or 3 jobs, have morning homework club.only they work and don't interact with you. The deal is you need them to show self improvement for the star wall and not discourage the others. Did this do any good?
Annette.

Anash,

I would talk to those students who never do any homework and try to see what is going on. Annette is right, many of them will be the ones who are at school early and someone in the cafeteria (or wherever they go) can sign off. I also allow students to have a sibling do that. Another thing I do is allow students to stay/hang around after school. They can do HW or at least the part where they would need others or have someone check. Sometimes I will allow another students to check it and sign off or sometimes I will even do it. There are many ways to work with those students. Also, you could differentiate your HW in another way within the one, two, three stars. Give them something different for a one, two, or 3 star. They will know if they have done it and that will earn them their points for HW. Do you have to submit a HW grade on the report card? If not, I would not attach a grade to it, but that's just me. I see HW as practice that will help them do better and will effect their grades in the subject areas because of the practice they do with the HW. That is how the HW plays into their grades.

I would suggest that you don't count your students out of being able to do the homework, regardless of their home life, because it is good practice since they will have to do homework in the years to come. It also helps them to practice being responsible. But, YOU are the expert on your community, your students, and your classroom, so do what you need to do and what you feel is right. As students show growth in completing hw and doing a certain # of days in a row, definitely award super improvers stickers for that! Personally, for 1 star, its reading 20 min, 2 star is spelling hw, 3 star is math. They all must have their agenda signed. And I teach in the 13th most poverty stricken community in the US and all but 1 or 2 get it all done each day. (I provide them with help, a safe place, and options to help get it done.) Good luck adjusting the HW model to fit your needs. Let us know what you decide! : )

Thank you both so much for the suggestions. I feel much better about the idea of not taking a grade for it. I think that I will have to differentiate it a little more for my kids. I'm probably going to take a few weeks to figure it out and try to start it at the beginning of next nine weeks. I am excited about it, though!