Weekly Homework Expectations |
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I believe homework is necessary for practicing skills that have been learned or for enriching the classroom experience. In many cases, homework is simply class work that was not finished. I try to give ample time in class for the completion of most assignments, but some students work more slowly than others and may need to finish at home.
Here is a list of consistent weekly assignments. Please check your child's agenda every night for other homework.
Read 120 minutes per week: (I recommend 20 minutes 6 nights a week.) Students keep track of their at-home reading and have parents sign a reading log. This reading log will come home every Monday, and be due the following Monday.
Reading Journal: Each student is required to write a letter to me every other week in a reading journal. This letter will be about reading done that week, and I will respond by writing a letter back. Journals are due on different days for each student. Most of the time, students should be able to complete the journal assignment in class during the week, however some students choose to journal at home.
Word Study (Spelling): Spelling lists (word sorts) will be introduced on Monday. Each day there is an assignment to complete in class. If your child is absent and cannot complete the work in class, it will become homework. All word study homework is assigned on Tuesdays and due on Thursdays.
Weekly spelling tests over no excuse words are on Fridays.
DLI: I use a program called DLI (Daily Language Instruction) to practice proofreading and editing each day. The main focus is capitalization, punctuation and grammar. On Fridays I will give a test over the skills we worked on throughout the week. Students are encouraged to take their practice papers home on Thursday evening to help them prepare for the Friday test.
Math Mods: Homework will be assigned 3-4 days each week. Students are expected to complete the work the same evening it was assigned and be prepared to turn it in on the next day.
Math Fact Practice: In my experience, students have difficulty moving on to a higher level reasoning in mathematics until they master their basic math facts. You can help your child by studying with flash cards or using a homemade drill sheet. You can even call out math facts to your child while driving in the car or waiting in the doctor's office. If you do not have flash cards at home and would like some, let me know and your child can stay in for recess to make a set. I encourage you to practice these facts with your child until he/she is fluent at instant response with the correct answer.
Science Current Events: Every other week (opposite reading journals) students will be required to find acurrent event article related to science. Some good sources for articlesinclude: National Geographic for Kids, Reader’s Digest,newspapers, Popular Mechanics, web sites for news, and www.timeforkids.com. Please assistyour child in finding an article that is at his/her reading level and canunderstand. A power outline (which will be modeled at school) will need to befilled out and handed in with the article. Current events are due
on Wednesdays.
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