A QUICK GUIDE TO HOMEWORK
HOMEWORK- from the Spofford Student
Handbook
Grade 3:
September – June: Approximately 30 minutes, Monday –
Thursday
Daily reading for 20 minutes minimum in addition to the
assigned homework. Continuous review of basic math facts is required.
MY PHILOSOPHY:
Homework can help children:
¨ Review
and practice what they’ve learned
¨ Get
ready for the next day’s class
¨ Explore
subjects more fully than time permits in the classroom
¨ Develop
good habits and attitudes about responsibility and accomplishment
¨ Learn
time management and meeting deadlines
¨ Do
better academically
How to Help: Help Your Child Get Organized
¨ Set
up a homework schedule
After school? Before dinner? After dinner? After outside
activities?
Once you decide (based on your child’s learning style),
you should STICK WITH THE SCHEDULE as realistically as possible.
HOMEWORK MUST BE A HIGH PRIORITY.
¨ A
preset routine should also include a specified amount of time that must be
devoted to school work.
¨ Too
long or too short amount of time spent on homework are behavior patterns that
you should discuss with me. Write me a note, use the Agenda Mate, or e-mail or
call me with your concerns.
Schedule Breaks in the Study Routine
¨ Break
up the homework routine with short breaks for snacks or quick exercise. Set a
time limit for the breaks.
Pick a Study Place
¨ Desk?
Kitchen table? Each place should have light and be fairly quiet.
Remove Distractions
¨ No
television, telephone, or computer time during homework time.
Provide Supplies
¨ Pencils,
pens, writing paper, dictionary, computer, ruler, etc. should be near the
homework area.
How to Help: Provide Guidance
¨ Talk
About the Assignments- Do you have everything you need? Do you understand what
you’re supposed to do? Did you do
this in class? Do you need help (examples) of how to do this work? Do you need
help in understanding how to do your work? What do you need to finish the
assignment?
Order the Assignments- Which Comes First?
¨ Help
your child prioritize which to do first. Sometimes, doing the easiest ones
first leaves more time for the more difficult/time consuming tasks
Look Over Completed Assignments
¨ Check
to see that assignments are started and finished on time. Ask to see the
homework when it’s completed.
Give Praise!
¨ Students
value the opinions of their parents. “Great job” is OK to say! Of course, if
you don’t believe your child has turned in their best work, then you can
encourage them to look it over and praise the improved work.
How To Help: Monitor Homework Sessions
¨ Be
Available-Let your child know that you will be around when they begin and end
homework,
Allow For Some Personal Space During the Homework
Session
¨ Keep
some kind of distance between yourself and your child. You don’t want to foster
“dependency” and undivided attention. This is not what happens in school so why
should it happen at home?
¨ Be
“available” but let your child work things out, too.
Never Let Homework Drag On All Night
¨ Little
is accomplished by allowing your child to linger on hour after hour with very
little performance. You don’t always know how well your child listened in class
to instructions. Try to determine the reason why your child is having
difficulties and write a note to me explaining the circumstances.
Avoid Doing or Finishing Assignments For Your Child
¨ The
more ownership and responsibility students take for their learning the better
off they will be. Children feel inadequate when parents “do” their homework.
Finally- Accept the Challenge and Opportunity to
Problem Solve?
¨ In
sports, we accept struggle as part practice or a hard game and we usually say
“Good Job.” We seldom respond similarly to an academic challenge. Let your
child know that a struggle can be an opportunity
To meet the challenge of an
assignment.
LH
2011