As an educator, policies and plans are always being evaluated in terms of their usefulness and effectiveness. As I think about our current homework plan, I have decided to make some changes and return to the plan I've used so many times in the past. This system works better for the children and I hope it will for you, too.
Beginning this week {January 13th}, your child will receive a monthly homework calendar with attached assignments. Please put it in a memorable spot where you and your child will remember to look at it daily. {If you lose it, you can come here to the blog and read the homework activity.} I have assigned an activity each school day, Monday - Thursday. Your child needs to complete the assignment for that day and return it the next morning. This means, that I'll be collecting homework every morning, except Monday mornings because there is no homework on the weekends. Your child may work ahead, if it works better for your family's schedule, but returning homework late is reflected on the report card in the "Responsible Learner" category. Anything suggested on the weekend is just for fun and there is no need to return weekend activities.
In addition to the homework listed on the homework calendar, please also make sure your child is reading "just right" books each night. This, without a doubt, is a proven way to strengthen early readers. If we want to learn to swim, we swim. If we want to learn to ride without training wheels, we ride without training wheels. And if we want to learn how to read, we read. :)
Let's Learn to Tie Our Shoelaces
At this time of year, we have a lot of little ones who are ready to learn how to tie their own shoelaces. This is important, especially to facilitate safe play during recess and even when just walking down the hallway. So... here's a bit of extra "home" work. Let's all learn how to tie our own shoes!!
If your child already knows how to tie his or her own shoes, yay! If not, it's time. The following link will take you to a short "how-to" video done by a child. Children typically enjoy learning from other children, so it's usually a hit... and successful. My goal: Every child will be able to tie his or her own shoes when we return from the Christmas holidays. Let's give it a shot!
I believe homework should be an extension of the instruction taking place in the classroom. For that reason, I will never send home an activity or assignment that hasn't already been introduced in class.
I also believe children should play and have "down time" after school so they can recharge and engage in other areas of interest. This is an important part of becoming a well-rounded, and well-rested, individual. For that reason, homework will rarely exceed 10-20 minutes daily, depending on your child's focus, stamina, and independence.
The first homework packet will be sent home at the beginning of September and will be in a journal format. Directions will be located inside the journal cover and you can decide how to pace the assignments to accommodate your family's schedule. Homework Journals should be returned to school each Friday. I'll review your child's work at that time and return it to you each Monday for the next week.
Using an open-ended journal format for homework allows each child to respond at his or her own skill level. Monitor your child's journal responses and support where needed. If you know your child is capable of deeper, more meaningful responses, prompt and encourage, challenging your child to think and elaborate a little more.
Dear Parents,
Some of you have asked to see what a sample written response to reading might look like so you can help support your child's efforts at home. Please know, we'll talk in more detail at our upcoming FAMILY CURRICULUM NIGHT on October 16th, but for now, I've included photos of my own reading journal that I use when modeling in front of the children during class. Obviously, my spelling reflects the fact that I'm an adult writer, but the content of each entry is within reach for most first graders. We talk often about, "If you can think it, you can say it. And if you can say, you can write it."
It isn't the expectation that your child spell accurately at this stage, but their writing should contain enough letter sounds to be easily understood without the need for a translation. More importantly, your child's written response should reflect logical and complete thoughts. The children are only required to write two journal entries per week. Sit and help your child think through the prompt and decide what the prompt is really asking. Encourage your child to "rehearse" their answer orally before writing it down. (We do that often in class and it's very helpful.) Then, support your child by helping them stretch out the words they want to spell so their writing is easy for others to read. When your child is finished, ask him or her to reread it out loud and think together, "Was the question completely answered? Is there anything else you could add to make your answer stronger?"
{Asking and Answering Questions}
{A Character Map with Justification}
{Sharing an Opinion with Explanation}
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