Why give homework?
- To reinforce what the child learns during the day.
- To provide a link between teacher and parent/guardian.
- To develop the child’s concentration skills and to develop a work ethic.
- Homework is meant to be achievable by a child i.e.
It provides an opportunity to practice work already done. It is normally prepared by teacher in class. However, sometimes with senior classes, some homework is designed to challenge children’s ability and provide opportunity for creativity.
- Children are expected to do homework to the best of their individual ability – no more, no less.
How often is homework given?
- The policy of this school is that homework is given Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday. However, this is always at the discretion of the teacher.
In senior classes some project, comprehension or essay work may have to be
undertaken at weekends.
- Sometimes, at the discretion of the class teacher or principal, the children are given
“homework off’ as a treat or as acknowledgement of some special occasion.
- For children attending a learning support teacher homework arrangements will be
agreed between the class teacher, learning support teacher and parent/guardian.
What is the content of homework?
- Ideally homework will contain a balance between reading tasks, learning tasks and
written tasks.
- This balance is not always possible and can vary considerably. However it should be
noted that homework time devoted to reading and learning is as important as written
work.
- Homework will regularly contain reading, spellings, tables, written work, pieces to be
“learned by heart”, drawing/colouring, collecting information/items and finishing
work started in class.
- Children often feel that reading and “learning by heart” is not real homework. Parents
can play an important role in listening to reading and items to be learned ensuring this
work is done well.
How much (time) homework?
The following are guidelines for time spent at homework. Different children will complete the same homework in different lengths of time. Time spent will vary from day to day and also from the beginning to the end of the school year. It is important to remember that it is the quality and not the quantity of homework that matters. The following are general guidelines only.
| Maximum. | ||
| Rang 2 | 30 minutes | |
| Rang 3 | 30 – 45 minutes | |
| Rang 4 | 45 minutes | |
| Rang 5 | 1 hour | |
| Rang 6 | 1 hour – 1 hour 30 minutes | |
Where/How is homework written?
- Each child is required to have a homework journal into which each days homework is written.
- For 2nd, 3rd and 4th classes the journal should be checked and signed each night by parents/guardians.
- The 5th and 6thclasses are encouraged to take responsibility for their work therefore the signing of the journal is at the discretion of the class teacher.
- The option to have a homework copy or separate subject copies will be decided upon by the class teacher.
How much help should parents give?
- Parents should try to help their children with homework by
- Providing them with a suitable place and time to do their homework.
- Preventing interruptions or distractions like T.V. or from other children.
- Children should do written homework themselves and parents should only help when the child has difficulty.
- If the child has difficulty with homework, the parents should help the child to overcome the difficulty with further explanation or examples, but not by actually doing the homework for the child. In this case the parent should write a note to the teacher explaining the problem.
- Shared reading is not homework in the regular sense and it is simply meant to be an enjoyable exercise between parent/guardian and child. If it is not enjoyable, shared reading should not be done.
How often do teachers monitor homework?
- Ideally teachers like to check homework on a daily basis. However with large class numbers it is not always possible to check each child’s homework journal every day.
- As children get older and learn to work independently, some items of homework are checked less often e.g. every second day or once per week.
- Some items of homework (and class work) may be checked by children themselves under the direction of the teacher. This can be a useful part of the learning process for children.
When should parents/guardians communicate with the teachers about homework?
- When your child cannot do homework due to family circumstances
- When your child cannot do homework because she cannot understand some aspect of it.
- If the time being spent at homework is often longer than the recommended amount of time.
When should homework be done?
Each family situation is different – parents/guardians working, child minders etc. Ideally homework should be done before any television is watched, soon after school, while your child is still fresh. However some children need a break before starting homework. Homework should never be left until morning time, before school.