King middle school homework and academics

Homework is supposed to be an extension of what's been learned in class and there is research that shows that homework is not necessarily good for kids, especially too much of it. Since its the beginning of the year some teachers may still be reviewing last year or setting kids up for the routines they may be working on this year. There may be more homework coming or her teachers may take the "less is better" approach. As far as class work coming home- CA has adopted the Common Core state standards which focus on communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. Learning in the 21st century is about having deep conversations about topics/issues/problems and understanding them conceptually and being able to share and explain your thinking with others, solving problems in different ways using different strategies, etc. Its about going deeper to gain knowledge not just filling out a worksheet or knowing an algorithm. This may be the reason work isn't coming home. Teachers don't really teach with worksheets anymore. If you go to your daughter's classes ask to see some of the work she's doing in class. You may see different kinds of journals for  writing, math, reading.. you will probably see graphic organizers which are just a way to organize your thinking about different ideas. She's probably having alot of small group, partner, and whole class discussions (hopefully). this type of learning does not translate to papers coming home in a backpack. 

I have an 8th grader at King and she had almost no homework last year. Even less than in 6th grade (which was even less than in 5th grade). I am not a fan of homework, so this aspect would not have bothered me had she been really engaged and challenged during the school day. Unfortunately she wasn't. 7th grade was really hard, and the academics (or lack thereof) were a big part of it. I know some of it was the mix of teachers she got because some of her friends had more interesting things they were working on. This year seems better already, though homework is still minimal. I still think she should have to work a bit harder for those 4s, but then again it's just middle school ;) 

The new style is "no homework." I doubt you can change the minds of the teachers. I would make sure that at least my kids were reading and writing every day. Read books together and discuss them. It can be books about anything: politics, history, art, novels, science, biography. And writing every day. Maybe a sort of diary on a subject that interests her like clothes or makeup or sports. 

This question is best asked first of her teachers, or by reviewing the class syllabi.  Do the teachers have students collect work in a portfolio to review at the end of the semester?  Is work filed in a binder and kept on a shelf in the back of a classroom?

Has the Back to School Night yet occurred?  If not, perhaps her teachers are keeping work to show parents until that date.

It's not clear if you are directly equating quality of academic instruction with number of hours or minutes spent on homework.  If, by chance, you are, please understand that they are not the same, and that wise teachers are careful to only send home beneficial practice work, taking care not to load kids up on busywork.

 I have two middle schoolers.  If given the choice, I'd much rather they do very difficult work in the classroom, with minimal review for homework, and that much of their evening time was reserved for time to rest, to participate in family events and chores, and to get ahead on their own self-motivated projects and studies of interest.