HOMEWORK HIGHLIGHTS
As first grade teachers, we will send home a packet of homework each week
that has been designed to be completed with the support and help of parents
or guardians. Much of the work in these first packets is review, but there
will also be assignments that practice new concepts in language arts, math,
and our H3 program.
You will notice that returning homework timely and complete is included as
an expectation this year. Packets come home on Mondays and should be
completed and returned the following Friday. Students should do a little
bit of the packet each evening, rather than try to rush through it all in
one sitting. Work done all at once, is often done poorly, rushed, and leaves
the child unhappy, nervous, and stressed. Some assignments require more
time than others. Some need family participation. Helping students to
understand and develop a habit of studying a little every night will result
in building a routine that is comfortable and successful.
Please help your student organize a special place to do their homework,
complete with crayons, pencils, erasers, scissors, etc., so they are quickly
and easily found as needed. Each evening, check over your child’s work WITH
them, encouraging them to finish anything that is incomplete, and helping
them find and make corrections. On Thursday evening, check the front page
together and make sure all assignments are there and complete. Watch your
child pack up all homework into the folder, and the folder into the
backpack. Have a special place for the child to put the backpack each
evening, so it is easily found the next morning.
A few students will have homework that differs from the rest of the class
because of their special needs. If they are below grade level, they may
have additional and/or different homework than the standard packet. This
will allow for practice in specific areas of need. If your student is
beyond grade level expectation and has “tested out” of a chapter of
curriculum, they may have differing homework so they are continually
challenged, interested, and learning.
Homework should be turned in timely supporting our definition of a scholar,
as one being responsible for behavior and work product. In class, we
regularly respond to the question, “Who has the power?” with a strong, “We
have the power!” Students need to feel empowered, even from this young age,
if they are to understand they are ultimately responsible for doing good
work and turning it in on time. We both play an invaluable part in our
students being successful. As a teacher, I will work hard to meet your
students at a differentiated level that challenges, but doesn’t frustrate.
As a parent, we need you to help us make good choices at home about how,
where, and when to do our homework, and take an active part in proofreading
and making sure all the assigned work is completed.
Thursday folders come home on Thursday, and should be returned on Friday.
There will ALWAYS be things of importance for you to read and/or sign and
return. You will find completed school work, a newsletter from me, and a
Sunshine Gram or Whoops!notice. A Sunshine Gram will indicate our week has
gone well together, including all homework was returned complete and
timely. If your child receives a Whoops! note, it will show where we had
difficulties during the past week, including any homework that is
incomplete, late, or missing. These Whoops! notes need to be signed by the
parent or guardian and returned on Friday.
HOMEWORK PASSES
Students will receive Halloween Homework Passes as part of their "treats"
from Ms. Mac in October! The homework pass can be used on one page of any
homework EXCEPT writing assignments where students are working with
paragraphs, webs, or book reports. To use the pass, tape or glue it to the
page that you wish to use it for and turn it in with the rest of the
packet. Other homework passes will come home for Christmas and for Spring
break and Valentines Day. Save them and use on a week when you are really
busy and need a little bit of a break! Enjoy.
If you have further questions about homework at anytime during the year,
please feel free to call me at school or
email
me.
Best regards! Ms. Mac (Mrs. McLelland)
