École Charleswood School Grade 5/6 Homework Guidelines

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Thomasine Norris
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École Charleswood School Grade 5/6 Homework Guidelines Increased homework expectations can be a challenging aspect of middle years learning for many students.

Homework helps you develop independence, time-management and organizational skills, the ability to make choices and solve problems and ultimately, to take

1 École Charleswood School Grade 5/6 Homework Guidelines Increased homework expectations can be a challenging aspect of middle years learning for many students. While managing homework can be challenging, it can help you become a stronger learner. Homework helps you develop independence, time-management and organizational skills, the ability to make choices and solve problems and ultimately, to take responsibility for your own learning. The following information will help you manage your time and workload in grade 5 and 6 and develop your independent work habits. When homework is managed effectively, it is not only much less stressful, it can be rewarding!

2 Frequently Asked Homework Questions How much homework should I have in grade 5/6? Students in grades 5 and 6 can expect an average of minutes of homework each day. You should set aside a one hour block of homework for each school night (M-Th) and one or two hour blocks on the weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun). This time may include routine tasks like home reading and practicing math facts. What are the expectations with my homework? Work completed at home is expected to be completed by the due date and to be of the same quality as if it was being done at school. Incomplete homework will be expected to be completed during recess and/or study hall. I m doing more than an hour of homework each day and I m feeling stressed. What should I do? If you are using your time wisely in class and still consistently spending more than 60 minutes per day on homework, then let your teacher know. If you are struggling to manage your workload and need help, we will establish a plan to help you manage your workload more successfully. Why do we have due dates? Completing homework by the due date allows the class to work together and allows us to follow the plans that have been made for the class. When your assignments are late or incomplete, you may miss out on essential learning or next steps with that assignment and fall behind. I always make an effort to do my homework. What if I don t get it done one day? Everyone makes mistakes. Mistakes help us learn how to do things differently in the future. Forgetting something at school or running out of time will happen on occasion. At times, you might not complete homework due to reasons that are beyond your control. In these cases, be honest and tell your teacher you didn t complete your homework, get it done as soon as possible and show them when it is complete. If you are consistently not completing your homework, leaving it to the last minute, or are being dishonest about unfinished homework, you are not learning from your mistakes. This is a problem that needs to be addressed or it will continue to reoccur and poor work habits will be developed. I am really busy some nights and don t have time to do homework. What should I do? If you lack time at home or prefer to complete work at school, you have the option of using the Resource Room (8:25-8:40 and 11:35-12:35) or attending Grade 5/6 Study Hall in the computer lab (open 12:05-12:35). Attending Study Hall alone may not provide enough time to complete all homework assignments and should be used to complete work before it is due, instead of after the due date. What should I do if I don t understand my homework? If you need help with your homework, please ask. Asking for help is part of being independent. Always try to ask necessary questions of your homework buddy or teacher before going home so you are prepared to complete your work, as your parents may not be aware of what you are expected to do. If you have questions about homework, missed class or need extra assistance beyond what is given in class, speak to your teacher.

3 1) Use Your Agenda Six Tips for Homework Success Homework begins at school. Listen to instructions when the agenda is being discussed. If anything is unclear, ask questions. Remember to write all necessary notes and to put all necessary work and supplies in your agenda immediately after writing in it. When you arrive home, always place your agenda in the same spot. Remember to open it to the correct page and remove notes and assignments from your agenda and place them on top so they are visible for you and your parents to see. 2) Create a Workspace Whether it's a desk in your room, the kitchen table or in the family room, having a designated spot for your work makes it easier to focus. This workspace should be free from clutter and distractions (TV, video games, tablets and cell phones) and have necessary supplies such as pencils, a pencil sharpener, loose leaf paper and ideally, a computer for research and reference purposes. 3) Establish a Routine Ideally, homework can be done the same time each day, because it becomes routine. Routine makes homework much easier to manage. Many people prefer to complete their homework immediately after school, so they can relax afterwards without thinking about it. Leaving fun activities until after homework is complete give us motivation to get our homework done. Some people choose to do their homework after a break or dinner. Whatever works for you, try to establish a routine and stick to it. On days when you do not have any homework due the following day, work ahead, work on an academic goal (ie. Reading, writing, multiplication facts etc.) in order to maintain routine. 4) Plan Ahead and Prioritize Work first on those assignments that are due soon and then complete the tasks that are due later. Work on bigger assignments a bit at a time, so they are not left until the last minute. Use nights free of activities or the weekend to get ahead on bigger assignments. Procrastinating and completing assignments at the last minute can be very stressful and often results in poor quality work. 5) Plan Breaks and Incentives Before beginning your homework, assess your workload and decide on how long you need to work for. It might motivate you to decide on an incentive: a fun activity that you will do once your work is complete. If you need to work for more than 45 minutes or so, allow for a brief break (2-5 minutes) midway through your work period. Use this break to use the washroom, get some fresh air or talk with a family member. Video games, TV, cellphone or ipods are not recommended during breaks as they will make it harder to get back to work. When you complete your work period, reward yourself! 6) Return Homework to School Once your homework is done, place it immediately in your agenda and then back in your school bag to ensure that you bring it to school the next day.

4 A Three Point Approach to Homework Success Student Teacher Parents 1) Review and sign agenda every morning and at the end of every day to ensure prioritization. 1) Write assignments clearly in agenda in order of priority. Ask necessary questions to understand what is expected for assignments. 1) Review and sign the agenda each day and discuss what homework needs to be completed. 2) Listen to/read and follow assignment instructions given in class. 3) Be aware of class time and use it wisely. 4) Follow homework routine and stay on task during homework periods. 5) If work is incomplete or not understood, take initiative to ask for help. Complete it at school during recess or study hall or on the weekend. 6) Celebrate success 2) Provide clear assignment instructions in class and give the opportunity for student questions 3) Give adequate class time to complete assignments and assign minutes of homework per day. 4) Help with developing a homework routine, and with suggestions on how to work independently at home. 5) Provide study hall or homework help during lunch hour when requested. 6) Celebrate success 2) Ask student to explain assignment instructions to them. 3) Provide quiet place to work and tools (pencils, erasers, looseleaf, computer when necessary) 4) Provide time for a consistent homework routine 5 days per week, with a 6 th flex day on the weekend. 5) Provide reminders when time to work and when work period is nearing completion. Assist with small tasks upon request: spelling, acting as audience etc. 6) Celebrate success

5 My Weekly Schedule In Grade 5 and 6 we begin to learn the importance of being responsible for our own learning, prioritizing activities and developing organizational and time management skills. In order to develop these habits and skills, you are asked to create a weekly schedule for yourself, which includes predictable activities and responsibilities. Why should I make a schedule? Making a weekly schedule will help you take ownership and accountability for your own learning and make it easier for you to manage your time and commitments. What should I include on my schedule? Your schedule should be fairly detailed, but not too much so, as this will not be possible to maintain. You should include all regular activities (ex: weekly music lessons, team practices, rehearsals etc., after school clubs.) and responsibilities (ie. household chores and homework time). Be reasonable with the time you allot for various activities, keeping in mind travel time, breaks and meals. It is generally better to overestimate how long things will take than to underestimate and run out of time. How much homework time should I include in my schedule? Since you can expect to receive an average of minutes of homework per day, you should include a one hour block of homework (includes time for a short break) for each school night (M-Th) an hour-long block on one of the three weekend days (Fri, Sat, Sun), and one additional flex day on the weekend (if workload is heavy or you need to catch up), with one day free. What should I do if my activities change throughout the year? Schedules will inevitably change throughout the year as activities change, so this schedule will need to be re-visited and updated regularly. Copies of the schedule can be printed from our class webpage for future use. What happens if I don t know when some of my activities will occur? If you don t know when an activity will occur (ie. hockey games), you cannot add it to your weekly schedule. If your activity times vary considerably from week to week, you may find that creating a new weekly schedule each Sunday for the week ahead will help you better manage your time. Plan predictable activities and responsibilities (ie. homework, weekly lessons) during times of the day that you are usually free, and go from there. What if I don t have any time at all to do homework on some nights? If you are very busy any particular evening, the resource room is open each morning at 8:25 and over the lunch hour (11:35-12:35) and Grade 5/6 study hall is offered in the computer lab between 12:05-12:35. You are reminded to plan ahead and try to use the resource room and study hall preemptively in order to complete homework before it is due, rather than waiting until the day it is due and completing your work late.

6 Sample Weekly Schedule Updated: Oct 5, 2015 Day Activities Monday Homework 4pm-5pm Video Games/iPad/TV 5pm-5:30pm Tuesday Homework 4pm-5pm Video Games/iPad/TV 5pm-5:30pm Hockey Practice 7pm-8pm Wednesday Homework 4pm-5pm Video Games/iPad/TV 5pm-5:30pm Thursday Study Hall 12:15-12:45pm Guitar 4pm-4:30pm Homework 5pm-5:30pm Hockey Practice 7pm-8pm Friday Saturday Family night! Bedtime 10pm Chores 10am-11am Homework 11am-12pm Video Games/iPad/TV 1:00pm-1:30pm Friends 2pm-4pm Bedtime 10pm Sunday Church 9am-10am Flex Homework 11am-12pm Video Games/iPad/TV 1:00pm-1:30pm Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa s 6pm

7 My Weekly Schedule Updated: Day Activities Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday My child and I have created this homework schedule together and we believe that it is realistic and manageable for our family. We will review and update this schedule throughout the year as needed. Child Signature Parent Signature

San Marino Unified School District Homework Policy

San Marino Unified School District Homework Policy Philosophy The San Marino Unified School District through established policy recognizes that purposeful homework is an important part of the instructional