Homework is given in Sacred Heart N.S. (SHNS) to:
& reinforce what the child learns during the day.
& provide a link between teacher and parent.
&
develop a child’s concentration skills and develop a work ethic.
Homework is meant to be
achievable by a child, i.e. it provides an opportunity to practice work already
done. The teacher in class normally
prepares it. However, sometimes with
senior classes, some homework is designed to challenge children’s ability and
provide opportunities for creativity.
Children are expected to do
their homework to the best of their individual ability – no more, no less.
Homework is given on Mondays, Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays but not on Fridays with three exceptions:
L If homework has been neglected during the week
L In senior classes some project work is undertaken at weekends
L Extra homework may be sometime be given during the week or at the
weekend if a child has not done homework, made a suitable effort or presented
untidy work.
J Sometimes at the discretion of the class teacher or the principal, children are given “homework off” as a treat or as acknowledgment of some special occasion.
J A child can use a “homework token” earned as part of SHNS “Positive
Conduct Policy.”
Ideally homework will contain a balance between reading tasks, learning tasks and written tasks. This balance is not always possible and can vary considerably from day to day. However, it should be noted that homework time devoted to reading and learning is as important as written work.
Homework will regularly contain reading, spellings, tables, written work, pieces to be “learned by heart”, drawing/ colouring, collecting information/items and finishing work started in class.
Children often
feel that reading and “learning by heart” is not real homework. Parents \ Guardians can play an important
role in listening to reading and items to be learned ensuring this work is done
well.
Different children will complete the same homework in different lengths of time. Time spent will vary from day to day and also from the beginning to the end of the school year. It is important to remember that it is the quality and not the quantity of homework that matters. The following are general guidelines only.
|
Junior Infants 0
- 10 minutes |
Rang 3 Up to 30 minutes |
|
Senior Infants Up
to 20 minutes |
Rang 4 Up to 40 minutes |
|
Rang 1 Up
to 20 minutes |
Rang 5 Up
to 1 hour |
|
Rang 2 Up to 30 minutes |
Rang 6 Up to 1 hour |
Parents \ Guardians can help
their children with homework by providing them with a suitable place and time
to do their homework and by trying to prevent interruptions or distractions,
like T.V. or other children.
Children should do written
homework themselves and Parents \ Guardians should only help when the child has
difficulty.
If a child has difficulty
with homework, the Parents \ Guardians should help the child to overcome the
difficulty with further explanation or examples, but not by actually doing the
homework for the child. In this case the parent should write a note to the
teacher explaining the problem.
“Library reading” is not
homework in the regular sense and it is simply meant to be an enjoyable
exercise for the child or between an adult and the child. If it’s not enjoyable, “library reading”
should not be done.
Parents \ Guardians should
check and sign a child’s Homework Journal every evening as the pupil’s journal
is an important record of the child’s homework. It is also a valuable means of communication between Parents \
Guardians and teachers.
Ideally, all written
messages to your child’s teacher should be put in the Homework Journal in the
“Friday” or “Comment” sections of a particular week. Additional pages are also
available at the end of the journal.
Please check that your child
records homework neatly in the correct page and ticks each item of homework
when completed.
SHNS. notices and
other letters to Parents \ Guardians are folded and placed in the current day
of the Homework Journal. Please check your child’s journal for such notes on a
regular basis
Ideally teachers like to
check homework on a daily basis, however with large class numbers it is not
always possible to check each child’s Homework Journal every day.
As children get older and
learn to work independently, some items of homework are checked less often e.g.
every second day or once per week.
Sometimes, under the
direction of the teacher, children themselves may check some items
of homework or class work. This can be
a useful part of the learning process for children.
In the relevant section of the Homework Journal, please inform your child’s teacher when:
¨
your child cannot do homework due to family circumstances
¨
your child cannot do homework because she/he cannot understand some
aspect.
¨
the time being spent at homework is often longer than the
recommended amount of time.
Each family situation is different but, ideally, homework should be
done before any television is watched soon after school while your child is
still fresh. Some children, however, need a break before starting homework.
Remember, if homework
is a stressful experience between parent and child, something is wrong! This leads to poor learning and defeats the
purpose of this policy. Should this happen on a regular basis, please contact
the class teacher, by making an appointment
( 051-428416.