Homework is often a contentious issue in schools and it is one of those things that never pleases everybody. Some parents want no homework and others would like us to give more homework. Our belief is that a small amount of homework on key learning at home helps reinforce what is being taught at school. It also allows you to see the kind of things your child is learning and how well they are doing. Each year level has slightly different homework expectations. Here are the expectations for year 3 students.
While homework is given each week and the children are expected to become self motivated to complete the requirements, we realise we cannot be responsible for what happens at home. The teachers will monitor who has handed their homework in and check it; however, we will not be spending time keeping children in at lunchtime to finish it or handing out consequences.
Spelling
Our spelling programme is changing! We will send home more information as soon as possible!
Reading
The research shows that children’s reading progresses considerably when they are responsible for selecting the reading material. They need to read for AT LEAST 15 MINUTES daily, to make a difference to their reading ability. It is great to read a variety of material and to record what they have read in their reading logs.
Some children will have instructional texts to reread and others will select books from the browser boxes in the classroom or continue to read their library novels. It is important that children reread texts and have the opportunity to enjoy reading easier material as well. Developing reading mileage with easy texts is another important aspect of improving a child’s reading level.
Children need to select books they find interesting as research shows this where children’s reading makes the biggest improvement.
Our library is open ever lunchtime and each class has a weekly library time, so please encourage your child to have a book they are interested in.
To help get the book at the correct level children can use the 5 finger rule. They read a page and every time they come to a word that is too difficult they put out a finger. If by the end of the page they have 5 fingers out then the text is too complicated for them.
Math
We provide basic facts sheets for the children to learn. We have found that children often have difficulty in retaining basic facts and memorising tables, so it is essential they have repeated practice at these. The weekly list will be tested in class. Our focus here is on speed and accuracy. These tests will not be timed as it is more important at this stage that the children recall and understand the basic facts.
If you want to do some extra math with your children then using two digit number and adding them together is a great way of practicing what is happening in class. Ask your children to show you a strategy of how they work it out.
Extra activity
There is evidence to suggest that children should be taking some responsibility for the running of the home. Completing a simple task such as keeping their rooms tidy or helping to prepare a meal are all important skills and have long term benefits. In order to encourage this we have a blank square in our homework grid that will allow you and your child to negotiate what needs to be done around the home. This space may also be used for physical activity, such as sports practices, as we are all aware of the value of this both for physical fitness and co-ordination and social development. They can also be used to focus on areas the children need to work on, such as telling the time, extra reading if necessary, finishing off the activities from an old spelling book etc. In some cases the teachers will identify an area children need to work on. A list of possible activities will be glued into their homework books to assist with the selection.
We thank you for your support with the children’s homework. Please let us know if you have any problems at all.
Spelling
Our spelling programme is changing! We will send home more information as soon as possible!
Reading
The research shows that children’s reading progresses considerably when they are responsible for selecting the reading material. They need to read for AT LEAST 15 MINUTES daily, to make a difference to their reading ability. It is great to read a variety of material and to record what they have read in their reading logs.
Some children will have instructional texts to reread and others will select books from the browser boxes in the classroom or continue to read their library novels. It is important that children reread texts and have the opportunity to enjoy reading easier material as well. Developing reading mileage with easy texts is another important aspect of improving a child’s reading level.
Children need to select books they find interesting as research shows this where children’s reading makes the biggest improvement.
Our library is open ever lunchtime and each class has a weekly library time, so please encourage your child to have a book they are interested in.
To help get the book at the correct level children can use the 5 finger rule. They read a page and every time they come to a word that is too difficult they put out a finger. If by the end of the page they have 5 fingers out then the text is too complicated for them.
Math
We provide basic facts sheets for the children to learn. We have found that children often have difficulty in retaining basic facts and memorising tables, so it is essential they have repeated practice at these. The weekly list will be tested in class. Our focus here is on speed and accuracy. These tests will not be timed as it is more important at this stage that the children recall and understand the basic facts.
If you want to do some extra math with your children then using two digit number and adding them together is a great way of practicing what is happening in class. Ask your children to show you a strategy of how they work it out.
Extra activity
There is evidence to suggest that children should be taking some responsibility for the running of the home. Completing a simple task such as keeping their rooms tidy or helping to prepare a meal are all important skills and have long term benefits. In order to encourage this we have a blank square in our homework grid that will allow you and your child to negotiate what needs to be done around the home. This space may also be used for physical activity, such as sports practices, as we are all aware of the value of this both for physical fitness and co-ordination and social development. They can also be used to focus on areas the children need to work on, such as telling the time, extra reading if necessary, finishing off the activities from an old spelling book etc. In some cases the teachers will identify an area children need to work on. A list of possible activities will be glued into their homework books to assist with the selection.
We thank you for your support with the children’s homework. Please let us know if you have any problems at all.