Why I Keep Homework Simple and What I Actually Send Home

Let’s be honest: if I had it my way, I wouldn’t assign homework at all. I’m a firm believer that kids need time after school to play outside, create, explore, and just be kids. More schoolwork? No, thank you.

But… I’m not on the school board. Our district does have a homework policy, so I do what I can to meet the expectations while keeping things simple, purposeful, and as painless as possible—for everyone involved.

What I Used to Do

In past years, I used a weekly STAR Homework format with a basic cover sheet. It got the job done, but it felt a little flat and didn’t provide enough information for families. So, I gave it a little makeover.

Enter: Monster Memos!

I borrowed the Mon-STAR idea from Teaching Maddeness and used some of the same headings she does. It added a fun and engaging spin for students (and a little more clarity for parents).

I’m still tweaking the “Re-moe-STARS” section—it doesn’t scream “reminders” quite like I’d hoped.

What Homework Looks Like in My Classroom

Each night, students optionally complete the following:

• ½ page of Reading and Math review
• Practice math facts
• Practice sight words (if needed)
• Read for 10 minutes
• Then read for 10 more minutes

Yes, you read that right—it’s optional. I don’t grade homework. I don’t collect it for points. I don’t want it to be stressful. It’s more of a resource for families who want that daily practice at home.

The reading and math practice comes from Second Story Window, and it’s fantastic. It aligns well with our standards, is easy for parents and siblings to help with, and is simple to copy and hand out.

Supporting Sight Word Practice

I encourage students to work on sight words each night. This year, I used this sight word packet, but next year I’ll switch to this one, which focuses exclusively on irregular (non-decodable) words—those tricky words that don’t follow standard phonics rules and need to be memorized.

Earning Stars

To make things more engaging, students earn a star for each homework task they complete. If they read for the full 20 minutes, that’s two stars!

At the beginning of the year, we have a big conversation about honesty and responsibility. I trust my students to track their work truthfully. Of course, if someone isn’t making progress with sight words or math facts, that’s usually a clue that the homework isn’t getting done.

Each day, students return the bottom section of their homework sheet with their stars marked. As a class, we total up the stars and chart them together.

Here’s what that looks like:

• Each column on our chart has 10 boxes (like base-10 sticks).
• We use it as a way to introduce and reinforce two-digit addition by adding our new stars to the running total.
• It’s a simple, real-world math moment that builds excitement and adds purpose to our charting.

Our class goal is always to beat our total from the previous week. I’ll admit—I don’t always track it religiously, especially as the year goes on. But it’s a great start-of-year motivator and might be even more fun with some kind of incentive system next year.

Homework doesn’t have to be overwhelming—for students, teachers, or parents. In my classroom, it’s a light touch meant to support learning at home, not replace playtime or cause stress.

So I’m curious:

How do you approach homework in your classroom? Is it a must-do? A minimal add-on? The bane of your teacher existence?

And what are your thoughts as a parent? I’d love to hear your take in the comments!nd provides a motivational problem to solve.

So, how do you do homework?  Is it the bane of your existence as a teacher?  What are your views on homework as a parent and as a teacher?