Homework

Please make sure your child is completing their homework daily.  Also, their 
goal is to read 100 minutes each week for a weekly reading grade.

It is important to me that your student to try to solve word problems "their 
own way."  However, these are the steps that they can use to lead them to 
their solution.

Problem Solving Steps:
1.  What do we want to find out?  (What is the question we are trying to 
answer?)
2.  What do we know? (List the facts.)
3.  Strategy:
    (What are we doing to solve the problem)
4.  Solve the Problem.  (Show ALL Work!)
5.  Answer the question in number one using a complete sentence.


HOMEWORK SCHEDULE:

Monday:
     Students:
   -ICE with spelling words, or words 3 times each
   -Top Section of Homework page
   -Read For at Least 20 Minutes
   -Moon Watch (beginning in October)
     Parents:
   -Read and Sign Planner
   -Sign Reading Log
   -Empty and Sign Take Home Folder
   -Sign Newsletter

Tuesday:
     Students:
   -Problem Solving (use class example to help)
   -Read For at Least 20 Minutes
     Parents:
   -Read and Sign Planner
   -Sign Reading Log

Wednesday:
     Students:
   -Write Sentences Using Half of Spelling Words (6 or 7 sentences)
   -Read For at Least 20 Minutes
     Parents:
   -Read and Sign Planner
   -Sign Reading Log

Thursday:
     Students:
   -Exploring Our Language
   -Science/Social Studies (may not know the answers, feel free to help)
   -Take Practice Spelling Test
   -Read For at Least 20 Minutes
     Parents:
   -Give Practice Spelling Test
   -Read and Sign Planner
   -Sign Reading Log

Weekend:
     Students:
   -Read For at Least 20 Minutes
     Parents:
   -Sign Daily Dialogue
   -Read and Sign Planner
   -Sign Reading Log	

HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS:
     Students will be expected to "set up" each paper correctly, use their 
best handwriting, and use proper punctuation and spelling of spelling 
words, high frequency words, and any words on an assignment paper.  Not 
following these expectations will result in the student completing homework 
again.

MATH FACTS TESTS:
     Students will take a basic math facts test at the beginning of 
each math class Monday through Thursday.  They will be timed on how long it 
takes for them to complete 20 problems, each day trying to beat their time 
while answering the problems correctly.  Their goal is to complete 20 
problems in 2 minutes.  On Friday, students will take a basic math 
facts test that will be graded.  Their goal is to complete 30 problems in 3 
minutes.  They will try to beat their time every Friday while answering the 
problems correctly.

PROBLEM SOLVING:
     Students will receive problem solving instruction every Tuesday and 
will be given reviews throughout the week.  Tuesday's instruction will be 
needed to complete the problem solving homework.  They will take a problem 
solving assessment on Friday.  Students will be responsible for spelling 
every word correctly that is on their problem solving paper.  This will 
factor into their final grade.

SPELLING:
     Students will receive spelling instruction on Monday and will then take 
a pre-spelling test to determine their weekly spelling list.  Every student 
will have their own individual spelling list.  They will take a spelling 
test on Friday.  Spelling is 20% of their Language Arts grade.