St. Peter’s Primary School
Information for Parents
Homework
Introduction
In Saint Peter’s Primary School, homework is at the heart of promoting independent learning in our children. Homework is only given when it is purposeful and useful in relation to class work. Teachers ensure that tasks are varied and related to the abilities and needs of individual pupils. All homework tasks are explained clearly so that pupils know what is required and when it is expected to be completed. Through Homework Planners, parents are clear about tasks and are encouraged to use these as a means of communication between home and school.
Homework plays a positive role in raising a child’s level of attainment. In St Peter’s Primary we acknowledge the important role of free play and free time in a child’s growth and development. While homework is important, it should not prevent children from taking part in the wide range of out-of-school clubs and organisations that play a vital part in the lives of many children. We are well aware that children spend more time at home than at school, and we believe that they develop their skills, interests and talents to the full only when parents encourage them to make maximum use of the experiences and opportunities that are available outside of school.
Aims and Objectives
Through planned, purposeful homework, we aim:
· To promote self reliance, self discipline and self confidence.
· To encourage independent learning.
· To strengthen liaison between home and school, and involve parents in their child’s learning.
· To introduce pupils to alternative to television or computer games while recognising that both can be used meaningfully in the homework process.
· To develop good study habits, especially in senior pupils.
The Role of Parents
Parents are encouraged to be partners in their child’s learning and as such are responsible for promoting good homework habits in their children. They have a vital roll to play in their child’s education, and homework is an important part of this process. We ask parents to encourage their child to complete the homework tasks that are set. We invite them to help their child as they feel necessary and provide them with the sort of environment that allows children to do their best. Parents can support their child by providing a good working space at home, by enabling their child to visit the library regularly, and by discussing the work that their child is doing.
Parents can support Homework Tasks by:
· Getting to know school policy and expectations of the teacher.
· Taking an interest, helping their child but not doing all the work.
· Helping the child to find solutions, getting the child back on track.
· Reviewing their work when it is completed, showing interest and support.
· Getting to know the local resources that can support their child’s learning, such as the library, museum.
· Ensuring a quiet study time in which their child can concentrate.
· Getting in touch with the teacher if there appears to be a problem or communicating with the teacher through the Homework Planner.
· Reviewing the work after it has been marked, discussing the good points and also any mistakes.
In particular, parents of children in the Early Stages can become actively involved in homework by:
· Reading to children and encouraging them to talk about what they have heard.
· Listening to and assisting in Reading.
· Playing Language and Mathematics games.
Homework Planner
All pupils are issued with a Homework Planner which is used to convey his/ her homework which can be of written, oral or research nature. The interest and support of parents in checking the Planner each night and doing homework with the children, but not for them is appreciated. The Diary is also a means of communication between home and school, and parents are encouraged to write any messages that they may wish to convey to the class teacher.
Abbreviations may be used when writing tasks in the Homework Diary.
E.g. n = nightly, w = weekly.
We ask parents to check the homework nightly and to sign the Planner weekly.
Homework Tasks
The following Homework tasks can be used at all stages so long as they meet the children’s abilities and needs. Those tasks in bold would be particularly appropriate for parents to set or involve their children in:
· Library Visits & reviewing novels.
· Reading for information and for pleasure.
· Religious Education- Bible Stories, Learning Prayers of the Church.
· Sacramental Preparation-Family Workbooks, Church Visits.
· Redrafting and summarising.
· Raising awareness of technology by designing and making models
· Collecting items of interest for use in school.
· Developing information handling skills.
· Developing hobbies.
· Investigations and Problem solving activities.
· Studying/Analysing home appliances for class discussion on energy.
· Studying the local area in relation to Environmental Studies.
· Developing reference skills.
· Interviewing for information.
· Redrafting written work.
· Positive Behaviour practice.
· Preparation of a talk/ data for presentation to others, e.g. favourite toy.
· Anagrams e.g. MOREWOHK = HOMEWORK
· Prepared talk on a given subject.
· Research for a Class Topic or Personal Topic at home or local library.
· Spelling practice followed by a crossword or word search
· How many little words from big words?
· Interviews with people using a cassette recorder.
· Try out a simple uncooked recipe.
· Design a topic poster.
· Summarise a news report from TV or newspaper.
· Timetable a child’s day, week.
· Make up a game and teach it to others.
· Write an invitation to a party.
· Design a ticket for a concert.
· Make up a job application.
· Write a poem.
· Describe/ Draw your hero.
· Draw a plan of your bedroom.
· Design a book cover, school uniform etc.
· Write out a book report.
· Number work practice / Problem Solving
· List items you would buy if given £5, £1, 50p, 20p etc.
· Timetable for favourite TV programmes.
· Paired Reading, reading alone, visiting the library.
· Write out a selection of the alphabet and find a toy, football team, place etc, for each letter.
Amount of homework
Pupils are given Homework on 3/4 nights per week- Monday through Thursday, with approximate time spent as follows;
Infants Primary 1-3 10 to 20 minutes
Juniors Primary 4/5 15 to 25 minutes
Seniors Primary 6/7 20 to 40 minutes
In Infants : Mainly the practice of reading, shared reading, language development through talk, word and sound recognition, number activity and simple research i.e. looking for objects, pictures etc. relevant class work.
In Juniors: Mathematics, times tables, practice of reading, spelling, handwriting, story writing, mapping skills, simple research tasks involving books, magazines, newspapers, TV etc.
In Seniors Mathematics, independent reading practice, book reviews, computation, handwriting, research and investigative skills, personal research topics, story writing, redrafting, language activities, mapping skills etc.
On occasions, additional research work is issued over the weekend or a longer period. For older pupils specific homework tasks can be set over a period of time, e.g. a week, a month, a term.
Additional Considerations
In Saint Peter’s primary school we recognise that homework is not compulsory, although we ask parents to put it in writing when they are withdrawing a child from homework tasks. To overcome problems which can arise from homework not being done, teachers avoid, when practicable, setting tasks which will disrupt the following day’s work if some children fail to complete them. Where possible peer marking takes place, overseen by the class teacher.
Parents and Teachers working in partnership can help all our children reach their full potential.
Elizabeth McGlynn
Head Teacher