Homework

Homework provides an opportunity for students to complete assignments and practice skills. Encouraging your child to read daily is a wonderful way to enhance learning. However, homework should take only a small part of a child's after school time. We recognize that students have outside interests, hobbies, sports, and music lessons and need 'down time' just to relax and play. Parents are encouraged to monitor the time spent on homework and to communicate with the school to keep a healthy balance. We will all work together to help students plan and organize their time to work consistently towards assignment deadlines to avoid last minute homework 'marathons'.

Homework during holidays throughout the school year

If your family is taking a vacation during regular school days, please contact your child’s teacher(s) to advise them. Teachers may not be able to provide you with the exact material to be covered during your child's absence. The teacher may suggest daily reading, or a travel log or journal.

Homework Routines

  • ORGANIZE: check the home communication book or agenda as soon as the child gets home and send the child back to school if possible to get anything that is missing
  • REGULAR QUIET PLACE for the child to do homework.... Create a quiet work area away from distractions and television....some children can work well with quiet music....classical music can be soothing. Younger children tend to prefer working near their parents e.g. at the kitchen table; older children often prefer to work privately in their own room where they should have a desk for homework; children with learning challenges need their parents close by for prompting
  • COOPERATE: encourage the whole family to cooperate in setting a quiet homework time in the home. Help the rest of the family to respect the need for quiet and concentration needed for the child who has work to do.
  • Turn off the TV and say no to phone calls during homework time
  • REGULAR TIME: same time each day if possible... it becomes a ritual......a seamless integration in the ritual of everyday life...homework fits right in there with brushing your teeth....
  • SCHEDULE the time in consultation with your child and based on your child’s rhythms........some do it right after school; others need to go out and play first; some parents have children do it at the caregiver’s
  • CONSISTENCY: help to plan a regular homework time each day showing that it is an important priority and that you value its worth.......it takes 21 times to develop a habit
  • PLAN: Help the child learn to prepare a calendar or a chart to block in a regular schedule to learn to balance homework and chores, play, family time. Mark down dates of tests and due dates of assignments and help the child to break down long term projects into smaller chunks
  • EVERY DAY: the question is not: “Do you have homework? But “What are you going to do for homework? if nothing has been assigned from school, read, practice math facts, study the atlas, read a science magazine etc. (weekends off)
  • WORK SPACE and LIGHTING: Make sure there is a large enough desk or table top to organize the books and writing materials...and good lighting
  • SCHOOL SUPPLIES such as paper, pencil, eraser, rule, computer, etc.....
  • RESOURCES: have dictionary, atlas, thesaurus etc. ready to assist with homework completion.
  • A glass of water replenishes and recharges the electrolytes... allow a bathroom or snack break but insist that the tasks get completed
  • COMMUNICATE: If the homework load seems excessive or out of balance, get in touch with your child’s teacher and let him/her know. Teachers are very receptive to positive suggestions.
  • FOCUS on the POSITIVE: be positive when you interact with your child...
  • TIME: watch the time to make sure it is appropriate or the grade level.....If too much time has been spent, write a note in the agenda and let the teacher know
  • Try using a TIMER to help the child to be conscious of time and to use time effectively and well.... don’t let 20 minutes of homework drag out to take up an hour
  • RE-PACK: once the homework is complete, have the child carefully repack the bag for school the next day and make sure that everything that is needed for the next day is back in the bag and set the bag right by the door so that it is ready to go in the morning.
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