The author discusses a currently important issue –design of the textbook-based home assignment in teaching the Russian language as a school subject. The author views the purpose of this article in drawing attention to that issue, because home assignments largely consist of textbook exercises. However, since the goals of education, principal approaches to the design of the educatory process, and the teaching environment have changed in the past decade, it is necessary to update approaches to the design of schoolchildren’s home assignments in the Russian language. Having based on advanced methods of academic research, completed experimental work and her own school-teaching experience, the author comes at the conclusion that existing textbooks of the Russian language provide ample opportunities for the design of home assignments targeting development of modern education’s key skill in the students – ability to self-educate. At the outcome, the study helps to identify the teachers’ priorities in organizing homework of schoolchildren and describes the vectors of changes in organizing textbook-based homework. The working methods and techniques proposed by the author take into consideration the informational and educatory environment of the contemporary school student, and have been tried out and evaluated within the framework of experimental activities.