Homework
Homework aims to involve parents in a collaborative effort with the school to help each child to consolidate previous learning, develop independent work, study and research skills.
Aims:
- To extend, consolidate, reinforce and enrich each child's learning experience.
- To develop study and research skills.
- To develop good work habits and a self-motivating, positive attitude to study.
- To develop independence and individual responsibility
- To develop organisational and time management skills.
- To provide opportunities for parents, children and the school to work in partnership.
- To ensure that parents / carers are well informed about what their children are expected to learn and of their role in supporting them (See Parents’ Guidelines).
All homework will be:
- Educationally appropriate.
- Interesting and where appropriate, open ended.
- Balanced, purposeful and relevant to the curriculum.
Homework Guidelines for Parents
Learning is a part of everyday life and it is important to take every opportunity to learn together. Parents should feel free to extend their child’s interests in any number of ways - having books and magazines around the house, encouraging the watching of suitable television programs and using the internet.
Going out together e.g. to a library, museum, shopping or walking to school are all valuable learning experiences. Children's language development is key to a child’s development in all areas. Children need lots of opportunities to listen, talk and ask questions.
Play is integral to the learning process. It is important for children to have time to play with friends and on their own. Children learn to make sense of the world and develop their social skills and language through play.
Tips for good homework habits:
- Do find a quiet place at home to use as a homework area. It needs a flat surface, a good light source and the right equipment eg pens, pencils, ruler, scissors, glue.
- Do be aware of modern teaching methods, eg in long division.
- Do plan a homework timetable and agree on when your child will do their homework.
- Do allow your child to have something nutritional to eat before starting on homework.
- Do discuss any homework tasks with your child and how it connects with what they are studying at school.
- Do turn off the TV - but you could have music on if they find it helpful.
- Do not give your child the answer in order to get a task finished. Instead, explain how to look up information or find a word in a dictionary.
- Do not teach your child methods you used at school. It could confuse them.
- Do not let homework become a chore. Keep it fun and make it a special time that you both look forward to.
Useful Downloads
Always muddling up your verbs and your adverbs? Want to distinguish your adjectives from your pronouns? Then this download could be perfect for you. Just download it, pop it on a notice board and use it as a reference.
English GlossaryThis appendix sets out some examples of formal written maths methods for all four operations to illustrate the range of methods that could be taught. We hope it is useful!
