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Home Learning Policy

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Glenealy School – Homework Policy

Rationale:

Homework is a vehicle for continuing, purposeful and meaningful learning at home.  It is seen as a good discipline for children to do homework on a regular basis. Homework is a means of furthering the school-home partnership, informing parents about the student's learning programme and progress.

Homework needs to be:

  • Suitably pitched for the varying levels of learners so that they can be reasonably independent in their studies at home.
  • Manageable and meaningful for teachers, students and parents. With support and reference material provided if required.
  • Linked to classroom programmes.
  • A vehicle to assist parents and caregivers to understand the learning that is happening in class.
  • Balanced, varied and enjoyable.
  • Reinforcing basic maths and language skills.
  • Flexible enough to cater for different family lifestyles and priorities.
  • Consistent within year group classes.
  • Acknowledged, by giving feedback to students in a variety of forms.

Guidelines: 

Homework grids will be used as the format of homework for years 1-6 (Year 1 commencing in Term 2) and will operate on a weekly cycle.

There will be 4 compulsory elements in each homework grid with the emphasis on reinforcing essential skills. The 4 elements are:

  • Reading
  • Spelling
  • Mathematics
  • Mandarin

On occasion there may also be additional activities set which directly link to other aspects of the students learning. Alongside this there will be a range of activities for students to explore on ‘Gloodle’, Glenealy School’s student learning platform.

Reading:

Students are expected to read on a daily basis and record their reading. In addition to this they may have reading tasks related to their UOI.

Spelling:

Students will be expected to learn and record their spelling using a variety of strategies. Sometimes they will be engaged in additional activities, which will have a word study focus.

Mathematics:

Years 3-6 will incorporate activities from the Mathletics website related to each classrooms programmes and differentiated appropriately.  The tasks set will reinforce strategies and methodology taught alongside the development and memorisation of essential number facts and times tables.

Years 1-2 will be reinforcing number concepts covered within the classroom, using a range of approaches.

Mandarin:

The child’s specialist teacher will give Chinese homework.  This work will be given during daily lessons and returned in the following lesson where possible.

Time frames:

The school understands that our community has varying expectations in relation to this.  When averaged out daily over a school week, we would expect the following timeframes to act as a guide:                         

                    Year 1:                  10-20 minutes

                                Year 2:                  20 minutes

                               Year 3:                  20-30 minutes

                                Year 4:                  30 minutes

                                Year 5:                  30-45 minutes

                                Year 6:                  45 minutes

 

The weekly homework cycle allows families to spread this over the weekend and to balance the child’s commitments to suit the family’s schedules.

Feedback in regards to homework:

Teacher feedback will take many forms depending on the task.  This may include; feedback through comments or symbols, conferencing the work with individuals, groups or the class, and/or informal/formal sharing within the class.

Homework over the holidays/family absences and illness:

We do not expect children to do homework over the school holidays. However students will continue to have access to learning platforms and websites such as Gloodle, Mathletics (Yr 3-6) and Raz Kids (Yr 2-4).

In some circumstances the teacher, parent and Individual Needs coordinator may negotiate specific tasks to continue if it is considered essential for the child’s development.  This will be done on a case-by-case basis.

Schoolwork will not be issued when children are away due to family holidays or events when the school is open for lessons. However, in the case of longer illnesses, the school via the teacher can provide advice and support on continuing learning at home.

Parents/Caregivers Role:

To assist their child parents can:

  • Schedule a weekly homework timetable balancing this with other extracurricular activities – this assists the child to develop good time management and study patterns.  It also establishes the importance of homework.
  • Set up a homework area.
  • Set up a homework essentials pack containing pens, pencils, eraser, ruler and sharpener etc.
  • Talk to your child about the importance of homework.  It should be a positive and enjoyable experience and your words and actions must convey this message.
  • Praise your child.  Your encouragement will further motivate the child to do his or her best.
  • Provide adequate access to a PC/laptop for tasks that require the use of online programmes.

 Revised August 2011