General Homework Guidelines updated 8/24/11; These tips will be discussed in class.

In our classes, students will be expected to complete language and social studies homework on Monday and Wednesday nights and math and science homework on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Mrs. Puckett and I will send emails weekly or bi-weekly informing you of assignments, but remember that

STUDENTS MUST WRITE IN THE AGENDA because ASSIGNMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE based on what happens in class.

Mrs. Rector will try to post the weekly or bi-weekly emails on the TeacherWeb page. Assignments will be available through the Meigs website  

meigsmagnetms..mnps.org

Math and language homework will be a review of skills previously taught in 4th or 5th grade. Most math homework will count as two points, but some will count as 100 points. (The average for two-point homework assignments will count as approximately 10% of the six weeks’ grade.) Homework turned in up to two days late will be given half credit. Students who copy or let others copy will be given a zero on the assignment, and that assignment cannot be made up. According to Meigs policy, parents will be notified if students copy or allow others to copy assignments (or plagiarize on research), the students will receive zeroes, and the office will be notified. The principals may request a parent conference concerning students completing their own work. (This policy was addressed in Mrs. Rector's math classes Monday, Aug. 22, before the first math test.)

Spelling and vocabulary homework will be assigned Monday through Thursday nights. Spelling and vocabulary tests will be given on Fridays.

Students will have a written assignment from the science book for homework twice a week (Tue/Thurs) that will usually count as two points. They will also have a study sheet to complete for homework at least two days before a science unit test; most study sheets will be 10 point assignments. (The average for two-point homework assignments will count approximately 10% of the six weeks' grade.) Science tests will not be given weekly, and will usually be given on Wednesdays (although occasionally they will be on Friday or Monday.)

Social studies and reading homework will be assigned on Monday and Wednesday nights. Homework may include reading the text or novels, answering questions, and/or completing handouts or study sheets.

Students are expected to complete a science project and a social studies project each six to nine weeks. Students usually will be given guidelines for the projects two to three weeks before the project is due.

Expectations

Students should not need help with math/language homework. They have been told to try the problem, skip it if they are stuck, and then come back to it when the rest of the problems are finished. Parents may help (but don't have to) with a problem that the student has skipped after the student has tried it again. Remember, homework is practice, and if a student has trouble, that problem is the one that should be asked about in class the next day. Math and language charts should take no longer than 20-30 minutes to complete.

chart 20 - 30min (language on Mon/Wed; math on Tu/Th)

study nightly: vocabulary and spelling words (5-10 min)

review math notes and facts nightly (5-10 min)

read independent (library book) or essential literature book, if assigned (20 min)

work on projects (usually weekends)

STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO DO the research, writing, and visual displays for projects. Parents can help by helping plan out the time it will take to do the project, taking the child to the library, helping the child find books at the library, helping to find appropriate internet articles, proofreading papers, and planning visual displays.

If a student is absent, he/she is responsible for checking the "While You Were Out" Folder for make-up work.

Note about tests: Usually math tests will be given on Mondays, science quizzes on Wednesdays or Mondays, spelling and language tests on Fridays, and social studies tests and quizzes on Fridays. If a student talks during a test, copies answers from another student or reference material, or provides answers to another student during a test, that student will receive a zero on the test. That zero will not be made up or given as a retest.

How to study

1. Memorize math facts (go over drill sheet and learn 1-2 measurement facts from p. 650)

2. Study notes in notebook. Cover up vocabulary words and read definitions. Work the examples on worksheets and check your answer. Study science notes and study sheets.

3. Practice examples from the book on skills that will be on the test. Do not wait until the day before the test so that you can ask the teacher if you do not get the examples correct.

4. Go over problems from the homework chart or from science homework pages that have been assigned recently.

5. Make flashcards using index cards.

6. Talk about the vocabulary words; don’t just let your child give straight definitions while studying. Talk with each other about times when each word has applied in your experience.

7. Make sure your child has read the assigned chapter in essential literature by talking with him/her about the reading for that night.

More suggestions for using study sheets and questions

1. Change the question (for example, if you change a word, how would the statement change?)

2. Change false statements to true by changing the words.

3. Give more examples from the text than you are asked to list (if possible.)

4. Reread homework questions from the book that were assigned.

5. Find page numbers from the book for the questions.

6. Find 1-2 other facts related to the question.

Tips to help get better grades!

1. Study notes in notebook for 5 min every night, not just the nights that they have math chart.

2. Review math facts 5 min every night – the ones they don’t know (like measurements for most students) and the ones they do know once a week (multiplication and division facts)

3. Ask questions when they miss a question on the homework – this will help on the review part of the test!

4. Ask to stay in for math tutoring at lunch on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when they get their math tests back so they know exactly why they missed a problem. Sometimes it’s a quick question that can be answered in the morning or when the test is returned; if it’s a skill they don’t understand, they should get extra help at lunch.