Curriculum Council to air homework discussion live and seek community input via Twitter

IUSD’s Curriculum Council will convene on Wednesday, Feb. 16, for the first of two sessions to engage local teachers, parents and students in a candid dialogue about the role of homework in Irvine. While space is limited, you’re invited to participate by watching live on television and submitting your input via Twitter. Wednesday’s conference will kick off with a presentation from 8 to 9:30 a.m. that will share recent research and summarize the longstanding debates and philosophies related to home studies. Teachers from throughout the district will then take part in a panel discussion from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Following lunch, a group of parents will engage in a similar dialog from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Those who are interested can watch the meeting live on IUSD’s channel 39, which is broadcast via Cox Communications in Irvine. Community members may also submit their own questions and comments during the two panel discussions by following IUSD on Twitter and replying to our message – or tweet – about the Curriculum Council. You can also send your own tweet that includes “@iusd” and we’ll be sure to find it. In anticipation of the meeting, district staff also sent out homework surveys to gather feedback from students, parents and teachers. “While our district has a long history of soliciting input from our community on matters of significance, this is the first time we will do so via Twitter,” said Assistant Superintendent Cassie Parham, who will lead the discussions. “This is an extremely important topic, and we want to ensure that anyone who is interested has an opportunity to join the conversation.” IUSD’s Curriculum Council is made up of dozens of district educators and students who meet each year to refine instruction. Following its Feb. 16 meeting, the council will reconvene on Feb. 23 to examine data from the recent homework surveys, evaluate best practices and explore potential recommendations.