RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOMEWORK-COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS - FROM PARENTS, CLASSROOM TEACHERS, AND SPECIAL-EDUCATION TEACHERS

The purpose of this study was to generate recommendations for improvin g communication between home and school regarding the homework assigne d in mainstream classes. Specifically, the objectives of the study wer e to identify recommendations for ameliorating homework-communication problems between (A) parents and classroom teachers, (B) parents and s pecial education teachers, and (C) classroom teachers and special educ ation teachers. Subjects for this study were 8 parents of students wit h mild disabilities, 13 special education teachers of students with mi ld disabilities, and 11 classroom teachers who taught students with mi ld disabilities in their classes. Six focus groups were used to genera te recommendations. Many recommendations for solving homework-communic ation problems were identified by parents, classroom teachers, and spe cial education teachers. Five themes emerged from these recommendation s: time and opportunity; knowledge; attitudes and abilities; bypass; a nd other. These results, as well as limitations of the study and futur e research needs, are discussed.