|
Rationale
| Outcomes | Guidelines
| Implementation | Teacher's
Role | Parent's Role | Student's
Role
MOUNT ST THOMAS PUBLIC SCHOOL
Revised July, 2002
HOMEWORK POLICY STATEMENT
RATIONALE:
"Homework should be a purposeful
learning experience which may consolidate, extend and/or enrich the school’s
programme. Essentially homework should be viewed as an educational
activity which arises from an interesting, stimulating and appropriate
school experience and which is seen by the child as deserving attention
out of school hours".
OUTCOMES
Homework
is a valuable part of schooling. It
allows for the practising, extending and consolidating of work done in
class. Homework provides
training for students in planning and organising time and develops a range
of skills in identifying and using information sources.
Additionally it establishes habits of study, concentration and
self-discipline.
It also
strengthens home-school links, reaffirms the role of parents as partners
and provides parents with insights as to what is being taught and the
progress of their child.
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GUIDELINES
The amount of time that students
are expected to spend on homework will depend upon the age, ability, home
environment and extracurricular activities of students, including family
and cultural obligations. It
is important that students of all ages have opportunities for free time,
leisure and physical activities outside of school.
The three main types of homework
are:
- Practice exercises – providing
students with the opportunities to apply new knowledge, or review and
reinforce newly acquired skills, including:
- Consolidating
exercises e.g. maths, including memorisation of tables
- Practising
for mastery e.g. spelling words
- Revising
information about a current topic
- Practising
words or phrases learnt in a language other than English
- Reading
for pleasure
- Essay
writing
- Preparatory homework –
providing opportunities for students to gain background information on
a unit of study so that they are better prepared for future lessons,
including:
- Collecting
items e.g. geometric shapes
- Researching
topics for a class unit of work
- Background
reading
- Extension assignments –
encouraging students to pursue knowledge individually and
imaginatively, including:
- Writing
e.g. a book review
- Making
or designing something e.g. an art work
- Investigations
e.g. science, social science
- Researching
e.g. history, local news
- Information
and retrieval skills e.g. using a home computer to find material n the
Internet
- Monitoring
e.g. advertising in particular newspapers
Wherever
possible homework should recognise the place of technology in today’s
world and the benefits of using technology such as home computers, e-mail
and Internet for organising and accessing information.
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IMPLEMENTATION
Kindergarten - Year 2
-
Homework
provides real opportunities for children to learn at home, assisted by
their parents and caregivers.
-
Parents
can greatly assist their young child’s learning by talking with them
about school and by becoming involved in their homework activities.
Parents can help develop their child’s reading by listening
to the child read, giving praise and reading to their child.
- Virtually all everyday
activities at home and in play provide opportunities for parents to
help young children develop numeracy, problem solving abilities and a
wide range of other knowledge and skills.
- Each child will receive a
homework sheet each week for completion.
Each child is expected to read from the Home
Reading Scheme on a nightly basis.
- Children in Years 1-6 are
expected to complete a card nightly from the Home Maths Scheme. These activities should usually total up to a maximum of two
hours per week.
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Years
3-6
- As students progress through
primary school, they increasingly will work independently on their
homework. Most homework
activities will be in the areas of English and Mathematics, but
students may also be given homework in other Key Learning Areas.
-
Activities
may include completion of classwork, additional formal bookwork and
tasks, reading, research, observation and data collection, designing
and making, practising and problem solving.
- Each child will receive a
homework sheet each week for completion.
Each child is also expected to complete Home
Reading Scheme and Home Maths Scheme activities nightly.
- As a guide, students should
complete about two hours of homework per week in Year 3, increasing to
about four per week in Year 6.
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Teacher’s
Role
The teacher’s role and
responsibilities in setting homework are to:
-
Inform
and clearly explain the schools’ policy and guidelines relating to
homework, and its benefits, preferably at the earliest possible time
in the school year. (Orientation
Day or Parent/Teacher Meetings).
-
Provide
quality homework related to classwork.
-
Give
clear instructions on how homework is to be completed, and how it will
be assessed.
-
Allow
sufficient time for completion of homework, taking into account extra
curricula activities.
-
Ensure
that follow-up on homework be offered to all students so that homework
expectations remain credible.
Parent’s
Role
Parent
or care giver’s role and responsibilities are to:
- Know and support the school’s
homework policy.
- Provide if possible, a quiet
work place where there is a desk or table and adequate lighting.
- Try to establish a homework
routine where homework is done at the same time each evening.
- Be supportive when assisting
students to complete homework. Demonstrate,
encourage, praise and keep explanations as simple as possible.
- Assist teachers to monitor
homework, by signing off tasks according to the instructions indicated
in the student’s homework book or diary.
- Communicate with teachers about
any concerns with homework or their child’s approach to homework.
Student’s
Role
Student’s role and
responsibilities are to:
-
Understand
importance of homework.
-
Complete
homework in given time.
-
Seek
assistance from parents and teachers when difficulties arise.
-
Show
homework to parents and teachers.
- Ensure
homework is of high standard.
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