General Homework Tips for Parents
Home Learning Book:
In Room 6 our home learning book is for reviewing each days learning. Read the sentences, practice writing the focus word and say the poem aloud while pointing to it. Our Word Whizz notebook is to practice our high frequency words (by reading and writing them) and we have a reader each day. On Fridays we have a poem to share in our publishing book and on Wednesdays we have library books to share. We also have words cards and number cards to practice counting, sorting and ordering.
- Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework.
Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with other distractions, such as people coming and going.
- Make sure the materials your child needs, such as paper, pencils and a dictionary, are available.
Ask your child if special materials will be needed for some projects and get them in advance. - Help your child with time management.
Establish a set time each day for doing homework. Don't let your child leave homework until just before bedtime. If your child is an early riser - mornings can be a good time. - Be positive about homework.
Tell your child how important school is. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires. - When your child does homework, you do homework.
Show your child that the skills they are learning are related to things you do as an adult. If your child is reading, you read too. If your child is doing math, balance your accounts. - When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers.
Giving answers means your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her. - When the teacher asks that you play a role in homework, do it.
Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team. Follow the directions given by the teacher. - If homework is meant to be done by your child alone, stay away.
Too much parent involvement can prevent homework from having some positive effects. Homework is a great way for kids to develop independent, lifelong learning skills. - Stay informed.
Talk with your child's teacher. Make sure you know the purpose of homework and what your child's class rules are. - Help your child figure out what is hard homework and what is easy homework.
Have your child do the hard work first. This will mean he will be most alert when facing the biggest challenges. Easy material will seem to go fast when fatigue begins to set in. - Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration.
Let your child take a short break if she is having trouble keeping her mind on a task. - Reward progress in homework.
If your child has been successful in homework completion and is working hard, celebrate that success with a special event (e.g., pizza, a walk, a trip to the park) to reinforce the positive effort.
Home Learning Book:
In Room 6 our home learning book is for reviewing each days learning. Read the sentences, practice writing the focus word and say the poem aloud while pointing to it. Our Word Whizz notebook is to practice our high frequency words (by reading and writing them) and we have a reader each day. On Fridays we have a poem to share in our publishing book and on Wednesdays we have library books to share. We also have words cards and number cards to practice counting, sorting and ordering.
Spelling :
The Word Whizz notebook is to reinforce our Word Whizz words we practice every day. Every Friday we have a Word Whizz test. The words the children got wrong are left blank without my initials and other words that they may have forgotten will have a question mark beside them. Later in the year they will have rhyming words or ones that come out of their writing books. Practice these each night by reading and writing them together.
Please do not let your child write in the notebook and any questions feel free to ask. Here are some suggestions to help practice these words at home...
¨ Write the words on paper or card and flash them at your child - say it and get them to repeat it. ¨ Make up and write short sentences using the words - leave a blank space for the child to fill in.
¨ Make an extra set and play memory with cards face down.
¨ Write the words on a piece of paper, cut and jumble them up get the child to put back together (only 1 at a time).
¨ Put your _____ on? Spread cards out face up and ask child to put their body parts on different words.
¨ Spread them out on the ground and call out a word to bounce a ball on.
The Word Whizz notebook is to reinforce our Word Whizz words we practice every day. Every Friday we have a Word Whizz test. The words the children got wrong are left blank without my initials and other words that they may have forgotten will have a question mark beside them. Later in the year they will have rhyming words or ones that come out of their writing books. Practice these each night by reading and writing them together.
Please do not let your child write in the notebook and any questions feel free to ask. Here are some suggestions to help practice these words at home...
¨ Write the words on paper or card and flash them at your child - say it and get them to repeat it. ¨ Make up and write short sentences using the words - leave a blank space for the child to fill in.
¨ Make an extra set and play memory with cards face down.
¨ Write the words on a piece of paper, cut and jumble them up get the child to put back together (only 1 at a time).
¨ Put your _____ on? Spread cards out face up and ask child to put their body parts on different words.
¨ Spread them out on the ground and call out a word to bounce a ball on.
Reading :
Everyday your child will bring home a reader. Some will have been guided with the teacher and some will be independent choice. Please help your child to read these but allow for them to problem solve words on their own. See suggestions below of how you can help...
Everyday your child will bring home a reader. Some will have been guided with the teacher and some will be independent choice. Please help your child to read these but allow for them to problem solve words on their own. See suggestions below of how you can help...