I have used this At-Home Learning approach in my IB PYP classrooms for years, from KG right up to G5, and I will never go back to traditional 'teacher-directed' homework again. It saves me hours of time, it's great for the kids, and the parents love it. It has spread like wildfire in my schools - once my colleagues see how easy and effective it is, they all start doing it too!

Now you can do it as well.

Are you looking for a homework alternative that's effortless for teachers, engaging for students, and popular with parents? It's time for a change, so that you never have to prepare or mark homework again! Your students will love it, and they'll develop the habits they need to become lifelong learners and inquirers.

I developed this Google Slideshow and Parent Letter so you can effortlessly implement this easy, no-prep homework approach in your class. The slideshow will teach your students (and you) the three easy steps needed, so you can say goodbye to homework worksheets, task boards, menus, and marking - forever! I have included dozens of images to show your students examples of the kinds of things they can do for their Inquiry Homework (which I call Learning, Unlimited).

It's as easy as 1...2...3...

Give each student a blank notebook or scrapbook.

1. Students choose what they are interested in.
2. Students choose how to record their activities and learning in their notebook.
3. Students bring their book to school to share with their classmates and teachers.

You can choose how (and how often) you want students to bring their books in to share in class. I had my students bring their books in every Monday, and we did a ‘Gallery Walk’ (Students opened their books on their desks/on the rug, and they all walked around to see and talk about what everyone had done).  Students loved this sharing time and were really proud of their own work and excited to see what others had done.  It also kept them accountable because they didn’t want to have ‘nothing’ to share. 

I also took photos and sent examples home in our newsletter, so parents could see the variety of ideas and the standard of work.

I'm not sure what the best part of this approach to homework is: That it helps your students become truly engaged and enthusiastic about learning, that it works for all students (including Gifted and Talented, SEN, and 2E) without any extra differentiation, or that it's so simple and effortless for teachers!

All you need to do is:

1. Hand out blank notebooks or scrapbooks
2. Show students the Google Slideshow
3. Send home the parent letter or email it (PDF and Editable Google version included)
4. Choose a time for sharing the students' learning in class

Are you tired of preparing and marking homework? Of course you are!

Included in this product:

• Google Slideshow (to motivate and inform your students - Editable)
• Parent letter with multiple examples (Editable Google Version)
• Parent letter with multiple examples (PDF version)
• Student notebook cover pages (in case you want to use them)

When we went online, students continued with the same system, but just took photos and uploaded them to their digital journal (we were using Seesaw, but any program would work the same). I shared these on the Seesaw ‘blog’ so the students could continue seeing and commenting on each other’s work. It was great to be able to seamlessly switch back and forth between online and in-person learning.

If you wanted to use this same approach but in a digital format, it is very easy to adapt it.  Students could even add videos of what they are doing at home.

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As a 23-year veteran International School IB PYP teacher, former PYP Coordinator and School Visit Team Member, I focus on creating resources that are hands-on, open-ended, inquiry-based, easy for teachers, and engaging for kids!

You may also like:

• Creative Thinking - Open-Ended Tasks

• IB Learner Profile Units (Lessons and Activities) - PYP, MYP, DP
• IB PYP Key Concepts Mini-Units
• IB Learner Profile Blank Posters

• Poems for Beginning Readers
• Fairy Tale Board Games

• Song Parodies and Teacher Editions

• Fun Breaks with Digital Spinners
• Digital Spinner Early Language Games
• Digital Spinner Math Games
• Back to School
• 100th Day

Coming Soon:

• My other IB PYP Learner Profile Mini-Units and additional resources
• More Open-Ended, Inquiry-Based Learning Engagements for various subjects

Follow Me if you'd like to receive updates when I add new products!

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©HOTLIB

All rights reserved by author. For Single Classroom/Single Teacher Use Only.

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For more hands-on resources, Visit my TpT Store: HOTLIB

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