big kids
BY TINA OUTERBRIDGE, SOMERSFIELD ACADEMY
Homework
Versus Home
Learning
When Somersfield Academy’s Head of School, Carlos Symonds suggested the
switch from “Homework’ to “Home Learning”, it was a natural fit for what I already
believed to be true. The educational philosophy at Somersfield is one that believes
in teaching the whole child by enthusing students to search for the “whys”.
M
aking meaningful connec-
tions outside of the four
walls of the classroom is
something that I cannot
emphasize enough. Dr. Maria Montes-
sori believed that children should be
so inspired and motivated by school
activity and presentations, that their
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interest naturally carries over to after
school hours. Given the opportunity,
she believed that children will naturally
create their own projects and challenge
themselves.
As an educator and a parent I
can commiserate with the struggles
that many families face with regards
to homework. I often wondered why
children were not making any ad-
vancements in areas that I assigned as
homework, and why so many parents
were complaining about the amount of
stress it caused at home? How could this
be happening when as a teacher I care-
fully planned, organized and prepared