Homework at Lang: Building Skills and Independence

At The Lang School, we believe that homework should be purposeful, manageable, and supportive of both academic growth and social-emotional well-being. For twice-exceptional (2e) learners, homework is not just about practice—it’s about building confidence, independence, and the skills needed for success in high school, college, and beyond.

A Thoughtful Approach to Homework

Homework at Lang is designed as “extra practice” rather than a stressful obligation. Teachers use it to reinforce skills taught in class, help students strengthen time management and organizational skills, and provide opportunities for independent application. Assignments are differentiated based on student needs, so that each child is appropriately challenged and able to succeed without excessive frustration.

Homework is also an extension of Lang’s collaborative approach: teachers communicate regularly with families about assignments, progress, and strategies for support. If a student consistently struggles, advisors, teachers, families, and our school psychologist work together to create an individualized homework plan.

Importantly, homework is never assigned over school breaks or summer vacation—though independent reading is encouraged and supported with summer reading lists across grade levels.

Lower School: Building Habits and Joyful Practice

In the early grades, homework is minimal and focused on establishing positive routines.

• Grades 1–2: Students may have one or two short assignments per week, no more than five minutes a day. These might include reading with a parent, observing the moon’s phases, or practicing a skill introduced in class. Homework at this stage is framed as “parent homework”—a chance for connection, not stress.

• Grades 3–4: Students complete 5–10 minutes of homework, three to four days per week. Assignments are simple and predictable, alternating between math and reading.

• Grade 5: Students take on 20–30 minutes per night, with a schedule that rotates across core subjects.

At every stage, homework tasks are designed to promote independence, reinforce classroom learning, and encourage exposure to diverse reading materials—including audiobooks, SORA, and physical texts.

Upper School (Grades 6-7): Building Stamina and Executive Function

By middle school, homework becomes a tool for building academic stamina and executive functioning skills. Students are expected to complete 60–90 minutes of homework across four evenings each week, with each subject having its designated night (e.g., ELA on Monday, Math on Thursday).

Assignments are multimodal, supporting different points of access—whether through writing, visuals, or technology—and are designed to be completed independently. Teachers ensure that tasks fall within a student’s zone of proximal development, meaning they are challenging enough to stretch learning but not so difficult that they become overwhelming.

Upper School (Grades 8-12): Preparing for College Demands

In the Upper School, homework prepares students for the independence and rigor of college coursework.

• Grades 8–10: Students complete 60–90 minutes of work nightly, structured across the four core disciplines.

• Grades 11–12: Homework increases to 90–120 minutes per night, mirroring the expectations of advanced high school and early college courses.

Assignments continue to emphasize practice and reinforcement, but they also cultivate essential skills: time management, self-advocacy, critical thinking, and persistence. Teachers post assignments clearly in Google Classroom with all necessary links and resources so that students can take ownership of their work.

Why Homework Matters at Lang

For 2e learners, homework serves as a bridge between school and the wider world of learning. It helps students:

• Reinforce and extend skills in literacy, numeracy, science, and history.

• Develop executive functioning skills like planning, organization, and time management.

• Practice independence in a supportive structure that gradually increases in complexity.

• Prepare for college by experiencing increasing levels of rigor and responsibility.

By the time they graduate, Lang students are not only academically prepared for higher education but also equipped with the skills to manage the demands of independent learning, self-reflection, and personal growth.

At Lang, homework is not busywork. It is an intentional, developmental tool—one that helps students grow steadily from joyful early learning to the confidence and independence required for college and beyond.