Aim

 

Homework is seen as an integral part of the School’s philosophy on teaching and learning. It provides for extension and consolidation of what is developed in the classroom. Homework develops and extends the core learning skills of inquiry and independent study. Homework serves to strengthen the partnership between home and school. It provides parents and caregivers with insights as to what is being taught at the school.

 

Homework is defined as the preparation students do outside class time to help them learn, including projects, assignments, assessment tasks and private study. It is always integrated with the learning outcomes of modules of class work. When students complete homework, they complete specific learning tasks in the short term and add to their long-term knowledge and skills levels.

 

While set homework may not be given on a nightly basis by each subject teacher, students are expected to continue with their review of notes taken in class, revision of past units and work on assignments each night as part of their homework routine.

 

Parents are expected to support their children in developing a regular homework and study routine according to their timetables. It needs to be balanced with family, social and extracurricular activities.

 

Objectives

 

The purpose of homework is to:

 

• Encourage students to develop the skills, confidence, motivation and creativity needed for the practice of independent learning.

• Develop self-discipline, self-confidence and perseverance.

• Help students recognise the links between good study habits and higher standards of achievement.

• Consolidate and reinforce skills and understanding developed at school. 

• To allow students to pursue their own specific interests.

• Involve parents in the management of their children’s learning and keep parents informed about the work their children are doing.

• To enable a teacher to judge an individual’s understanding and achievement, and identify any problems experienced by that individual.

 

Expectations

 

Students should:

• Keep details of homework set each day in their exercise books and make sure that their parents sign it on a weekly basis.

• Develop a homework routine, aiming to produce quality work on the day for which it is set.

• Allocate a certain block of time which should be set aside each day for Homework and study. Students should have five-minute rest breaks after every half hour of work. If students find one large block to be too difficult to manage then shorter periods of time with longer breaks should be considered.

• Organise and monitor use of time and study over a period of evenings rather than deferring work until the last moment.

• Ensure that their work is well researched and presented.

• Concentrate on developing effective time-management skills in devising a homework routine and meeting work and assessment deadlines.

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As a general principle, there should be no excuse for not completing set homework. If set homework is not completed from the previous day, teachers may require that the homework be completed during Recess or Lunchtime under supervision in the classroom.

 

Teachers must consider the following when setting Homework:

• Set homework which is appropriate to the student's skill level and age.

• Set varied, challenging and meaningful tasks related to class work that are appropriate to the students' learning needs and to the intended outcomes of the unit of work being taught.

• Co-ordinate the allocation of homework by different teachers through use of the school calendar.

• Set tasks which develop student skills and knowledge

• Provide constructive feedback to set tasks.

 

Exercise books for each subject will be checked weekly by teachers to ensure that students are completing their homework and that parents have signed their child’s Exercise books. Teachers must ensure that students are writing their homework in their exercise books at the end of every lesson. Teachers may issue lunch detentions if students are failing to write their homework in their Exercise books or have not had their exercise books signed.

 

Types of Homework

 

Homework is set in order to increase a student's understanding of a topic or theme and for the aims of practice, preparation and extension.

Homework which is generally set may include the following:

• Set work based on the daily work in the subject.

• A task related to revision of the day’s lesson and/or some past work – this might be revision for a test for example.

• Practice exercises which provide students with the opportunity to apply new knowledge and skills.

• Major assignments and assessment tasks which need to be worked on over a lengthy period.

• Extension tasks which aim to encourage student mastery and pursuit of knowledge.

• Wide reading of texts.

• Software program units

 

Using the School Exercise Books

 

Apart from this homework policy, the School Exercise book also indicates the extent and range of homework that should be done by students. The School Exercise book is also one communication tool between staff and parents. Parents are encouraged to check the Exercise book for Teachers' comments regarding their child’s progress, particularly regarding homework.

 

To assist in the communication between home and school, messages or comments from teachers to parents, or from parents to teachers, may be written in the Exercise book. A parental signature in the Exercise book indicates to the teacher that homework is being monitored at home.

 

Inability to Complete Homework

 

Where a student has exceeded the recommended time suggested for homework as set out above and has been unable to complete all homework due the next day, they must have their parents sign a note in the Exercise book to that effect to indicate to teachers that they were not able to complete the work as required.

 

Should homework be taking longer to complete than the guidelines suggest, parents are requested to notify their child’s teacher. The students have a very full life and it is important that the appropriate balance is maintained between School commitments and outside interests.

Non completion of homework is a serious matter with repeated offences being dealt with according to the School Level System.

 

Absence from School

 

Class work and homework should be caught up as soon as possible after returning to school and preferably before the student returns to school. This is particularly important if there is a long period of absence from school. Students are advised to be proactive in contacting their teachers for work which has not been completed due to absence. It is each student's responsibility to ascertain what work has been missed and to catch up on that work.

 

Setting up a Homework Routine

 

It is important to plan homework and set up a study routine in accordance within the above framework. Students should take into account individual subject demands which arise from time to time; thus, flexibility within the homework regime is also suggested. Sport, music and other co-curricular activities also need to be considered. Where homework is set which requires consistent application towards a deadline (e.g. a project, an independent learning task), students need to include this in the homework schedule. Homework needs to be conducted in an atmosphere conducive to study. A set time of the day should be allocated for homework without distractions and interruptions. Parents and students are urged to negotiate these aspects so that a systematic approach to homework and learning may be developed.

 

Time frames for homework

 

Short homework exercises may be set in Kindergarten to Year 2. However, the school's clear requirements commence at Year 3.

All students will have homework set for completion From Monday to Friday. Set work will be noted in the student’s exercise books.

Allocated timeframes include time to be spent working on assessments and assignments. The following timeframes are outlined

 

Parents can expect that their child/ren will have set homework however, parents should not think about homework being the same as they may have experienced at school. Homework takes many forms and there will be a great deal of variety. The important thing about homework is not that it takes up a lot of time, but that what the child does is a worthwhile activity.

 

Homework for K-Year 2: Home reading is a daily homework activity for all children in these grades. It is expected that parents will spend 10 to 15 minutes reading to and with their child. Practicing letters and sounds and most used words can also be done daily. At other times around 15-20 minutes children may be asked to complete specific tasks as directed by their teacher.

It is expected that Kindergarten and Year 1 students should spend 25 minutes and Year 2 students should spend 30 minutes on homework every school day.

Homework for Year 3-4: Teachers will set daily/weekly homework tasks. This homework is an extension of classroom learning. It is expected that students should spend 40 minutes on homework every school day. If there is a problem with the set work, please speak to child’s teacher.

Year 5-6: No more than 1 hour of written homework including 20 minute of Reading and or Research per weeknight.

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The Twelve Steps to Success with Homework A Guide for Students (this is more relevant for upper primary and secondary students as the school grows)

 

1. Use your exercise books in class to enter all work to be completed each day.

2. Develop a Time Management Plan (in diary) at the start of each term.

3. Write your name on everything.

4. File all loose sheets in your folder in their subject sections.

5. Check your exercise books and assessment calendar regularly, to ensure that you have covered all work which has been set by your teachers.

6. Pack your school-bag carefully.

7. Decide which tasks are most urgent/prioritise.

8. Complete set homework tasks.

9. Work on long-term projects and assignments.

10. Revise for tests and other assessments.

11. Read all your handouts.

12. Edit your written work.

 

If you encounter difficulties, please seek assistance from your Class Teacher, senior staff or Coordinators or the staff member in charge of Teaching and Learning.Head

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HINTS ON HOW TO STUDY