|
|
Homework Policy
Springwood Road State School believes:
-
That
in determining homework it is important to take into
consideration that students may be engaged in many different
activities outside of school. These may include a range of
physical activities and sport, recreational and cultural
pursuits.
-
That
homework is an important strategy for improving student
outcomes, informing parents about what is happening in
classrooms and indicating to parents student mastery of basic
skills.
-
That
homework should be directly related to class work and
appropriate to students learning needs.
-
That
timelines for homework need to include flexibility to suit
different lifestyles and commitments.
-
That
homework will be corrected and acknowledged.
Recommended Guidelines
for Homework
|
Prep |
No set homework |
|
Year 1 - 3 |
Could be up to but generally not more than 1 hour per
week.
Homework Tasks could include:
Daily reading to, with and by parents/caregiver or
other family member.
Conversations around what is happening at school.
Preparation for oral presentations.
Opportunities to write for meaningful purposes.
Activities to develop literacy, numeracy and problem
solving skills.
|
|
Year 4 - 5 |
Could be up to but
generally not more than 2 -3 hours per week.
Homework Tasks could include:
Daily independent reading.
Activities to develop English, Mathematics and problem
solving skills.
Opportunities to write for meaningful purposes.
Preparation of oral presentations.
Extension of class work including projects and
research.
|
|
Years 6 - 7 |
Could be up to but
generally not more than 3-4 hours per week.
Homework Tasks could include:
Daily independent reading.
Activities to develop English Mathematics and problem
solving skills.
Conversations around what is happening at school.
Opportunities to write for meaningful purposes.
Preparation of oral presentations.
Extension of class work including projects and
research.
|
Homework Tips for Parents
1.
Set a regular time and a quiet place for homework.
2. Plan the work to be done and the time to be spent on each
task.
3. Take short breaks between tasks.
4. Set small realistic goals for each area or night.
5. Avoid study marathons.
6. If problems occur, talk to the teacher.
7. Read to young children and ask them to read to you.
8. Encourage students. Praise them for their efforts, not just
their results.
9. Talk to the teacher if your child is struggling with the
homework.
Why Homework
Homework
bridges the gap between learning at school and learning at home. It
reinforces work done in class. It helps develop skills such as
research and time management.
Homework helps to establish the habits of study, concentration and
self discipline. Parents / caregivers have the opportunity to see
the progress of their child. Homework provides challenges and
stimulus to gifted and talented children.
How to Organise for Homework
|
 |
Use a diary to write down your
homework and make a note of when you have to hand it in. |
|
|
If you don't understand
something ask the teacher before you go home |
|
|
Have a special study area -
not where there is a TV - as homework takes heaps longer if
you're watching TV at the same time! (Some people find that
they work well if there is music playing. Do you?) |
|
|
Get into a study routine. Do
homework every night, even when you haven't got any. Use the
time to practise skills, read or find out about something. |
|
|
Make a homework timetable. Put
down all the things you do after school - eg. sport, music
lessons, drama etc. - and work out when your homework time
will be each night. Stick to it, and you will find that
homework gets easier to manage and you still have time to
hang out with your friends. |
|
|
Do your work on your own. It's
OK to ask mum or dad for help - after you have had a really
good try by yourself. They're not going to be sitting next
to you at school so you need to learn how to do things by
yourself don't you? |
|
|
Negotiate with mum and dad
about programs you want to watch so that you can work round
your favourite shows. Or ask if you can tape them so that
you can watch when you have time. |
|
|
If you know something special
is happening that night - eg. you're going straight to a
birthday party - ask your teacher if you can have extra time
or work at lunch so that you get your work done. |
|
|
Catch up on work missed if you
are sick. |
|
|
Get work from school if you
are sick for more than two days or are going to be away for
a long time. |
|
|
Make it a rule that you don't
do homework on weekends, then make sure you get it all done
during the week so that you can keep the rule. |
Forms of Homework
Homework can take on many forms
including rote learning, reinforcement of concepts learnt at school,
handwriting practice, spelling drills, writing assignments,
research, extension activities for some children.
Homework Grid
The homework grid is a solution to the old question of getting
children to do something at home and not opt out of family life. It
enables parent to get children to do their share of work in the home
including housework, shopping and physical activity. It also covers
areas such as reading, playing a game, researching on the computer,
music practice etc.
This Strategy by Ian Lilico
|
