to enrich or consolidate the child's educational program
to establish a regular routine for revision, practice and reinforcement of knowledge and skills taught at school
to build positive attitudes and a purposeful approach to set tasks and their completion
to give the child the opportunity to discuss and share school work with parents, and to benefit from their insights and encouragement. For parents, homework gives opportunity
to experience the child's attitudes and abilities as they relate to set work
to be actively aware of the child's schooling - topics covered, concepts developed etc
to establish an environment conducive to effective work
to communicate with the teacher via book or letter, perceptions about the child's effective learning, or level of the work set and the clarity of instructions
to listen and share in the child's learning and social experiences in ways that should enhance the good relationships within the home.
A quiet time, free from distractions such as siblings, radio, stereo, television noise and to provide the space and equipment necessary to complete the task
For the teacher, homework
is a way of reinforcing concepts, skills, knowledge and processes
is a form of good training for time management
is a form of assessment. It demonstrates how well children can apply classroom learning in another setting
is a means of communicating with parents, allowing them to share in the learning experience taking place at school
may include reading, word study (spelling/grammar), math exercises and games, research, experiment and observation, projects.
homework should ensure quality of effort as a main focus
teachers should detail the format and time requirements at the beginning of the year
homework is the child's responsibility, but parental support is to be encouraged
If the child does not understand the work set, or is unable to complete it, parents should not do the work for them, but should sign the work and if necessary, write a note
children in conjunction with their families, should determine the most appropriate time of day/week to complete set homework or projects
in some cases, children may be required to complete unfinished class work at home.
homework should be a rewarding activity, to be achievable within the time-frame agreed upon, so that the child can get prompt feedback on the work completed.
Plan of Program Implementation
Prep, grades 1 & 2 - Regular nightly shared reading with the parent and other tasks as required.
Grades 3 & 4 - Up to 2 hours per week including reading, set tasks and project work.
Grades 5 & 6 - Up to 4 hours per week including reading, set tasks and project work.
Specialists may set homework in addition to the above, but should liaise with teachers to ensure that children are not over-burdened.
