Homework
Dear parents and students:
You can expect homework most every night. I might skip a day or two
for special occasions but not very often. I believe there is a direct link
between the students who do their homework and the students who have good
grades and are improving. I also believe homework teaches good work habits,
reinforces writing and math skills, and involves the students in language
every day.
Each day the homework is written on the board. I read the homework
to the students while they copy the assignments into their agendas. The
students repeat the homework one more time and then we pass out papers.
Students who have trouble usually don’t write the homework in their agenda
neatly or accurately.
Here is my current system:
The students are given a choice of nine activities to complete each
night.(See the list below.) Each activity cannot be done twice, and vocabulary
definitions must be completed one of the nights. So, really they have free
choice three of the four nights. The students are also required to copy
their four dictation sentences two times each night for a total of eight times
each by Friday or the fifth day.
All four activities and the dictation sentences are due and collected
on Friday morning. The students are given a point for each complete assignment
and one for neatness for a total of nine points. Students who receive nine
points get a prize and a good homework grade.
Spelling Assignments
Using the words on this week’s spelling list, complete one spelling
activity each night. Idea #9 must be complete each week. I will not collect
the four activities until Friday morning.
Idea 1: Put your words in ABC order.
Idea 2: Write each spelling word in a sentence. Each sentence must be at
least seven words long.
Idea 3: Fold your paper in half and write each spelling word with your right
hand and then with your left.
Idea 4: Take a practice spelling test. Write each missed word three times
each. A parent must sign the test.
Idea 5: Fold your paper into two columns. In the left column write all of the
spelling words. In the right hand column, write a word that rhymes with the
spelling word.
Idea 6: Write a paragraph which contains 8 of your spelling words.
Idea 7: Fold your paper in half. Print each spelling word and then write each
word in cursive.
Idea 8: Using different color pens or markers, write each spelling word as a
complete word, but write each syllable in a different color. For example, the
word careless might have care written in red and less written in blue.
Idea 9: Using your five vocabulary words, break the words into syllables,
write their part of speech, and then write their definition.
