It is my
belief that homework helps to build skills and provides students
with a chance to practice skills from school at home. I also
think that homework can provide students with opportunities to build
responsibility and good future work skills. For these reasons,
and others, I do assign homework. However, I feel that weekends are
family time and I will do everything in my power not to invade on
that time with your child.
Most students will have some form of homework each night.
Homework will usually consist of math, spelling practice, and
reading. Students’ math assignments come directly from the
skill we are studying at school. I will work with the class to
complete several of the problems, then have them work independently,
while I check their answers to ensure accuracy. Students will
be asked to finish this work at home each night. The
spelling homework will consist of studying the spelling words for
the weekly spelling test that will be given on Friday. The
reading log will also be assigned and can be completed in any
combination of nights during the week. More information can be
found about this in the "Reading Log" section of this page.
Any other work that students bring home is unfinished class work.
I give students ample time and opportunity to complete most of their
work here at school, if excessive incomplete class work becomes a
problem, it is usually for one of these reasons:
* Your child is not using his/her time wisely at school.
* Your child may need to have some adjustments made to his/her
seating in the classroom, so as to limit distractions.
* Your child may be struggling with the content that is
presented in
the lessons.
If you are concerned about the amount of work your child is bringing
home nightly, please contact me and we can discuss what to do about
the situation.
Mrs. Smith's Classroom Homework Policy
Homework will be assigned by
Mrs. Smith on a weekly basis. It is the student’s
responsibility to complete, and return this work in a timely manner.
Assignments are due to be turned in each Friday
prior to the ringing of the bell, unless you were/are absent, or
Mrs. Smith tells you otherwise. When homework is assigned, it should
be placed in your homework folder. Homework and classroom
assignments will be checked
off daily, to ensure student completion. Rewards and
consequences will be as follows:
**Rewards for turning in all work on time: Daily: Students will receive a sticker on the sticker chart. Weekly: Students with all stickers for the week, will
play “Homeworkopoly” to win classroom prizes &
tickets or receive other prizes as deemed appropriate. Monthly: Special surprises will be awarded to
students that turn in all work for a month! I will announce these prizes as we reach the end of each month! Yearly: Students will see an improvement in their
self-esteem, not to mention their grades!
**Consequences for not returning work: Daily: Students will not receive a sticker, they will
lose a portion of their recess for the day, and a note WILL be sent home to parents regarding the missing work. The note
will be expected at
school the next day, signed by a parent. Other: If a student is missing several assignments, I will
contact his/her parents, and Mr. Durham and conferences will be held to determine
why the work isn’t being returned. Other punishments
will be used at my discretion.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT STUDENT GRADES WILL SUFFER IF WORK IS NOT
RETURNED!
LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED WITH A DEDUCTION OF 10 POINTS. PAPERS
WITH NO NAMES WILL RECEIVE A DEDUCTION OF 5 POINTS FOR EACH OFFENSE.
MAKE-UP WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE RETURNED IN A TIMELY MANNER. IT WILL
BE COUNTED AS ZEROS IF IT IS NOT COMPLETED AND HANDED IN.
More Information Regarding Reading Logs
Reading is a key skill for
students of all ages. If a student cannot read well, it impacts
his/her ability to achieve in other areas as well. For these
reasons, I feel that reading is a very important skill for students
to focus on. One way that I have found to be effective for
reading, is to complete a nightly reading log.
I expect for students to read for 80 minutes each week.
This can be broken up in any way you deem appropriate and is
feasible for the child. Some suggestions may be to read for 20
minutes 4 nights a week, or to read for 10 minutes each school
night, and 30 minutes on one weekend day. I do not expect for
the reading log to be filled in every single night, I just expect it
to total 80 minutes by the next Monday. I also expect that
students fill out the summary for their book, as well as the other
information. I simply ask that parents initial, or sign,
saying that your child read for the amount of time claimed on the
form.
The reading log will count for a grade with your child’s other
reading assignments. Each weekly reading log will be worth 100
points. Failure to complete the log will result in a grade of 0.
Any other fraction of 80 minutes that is completed will be
calculated to receive a percentage score.
I have included some book lists, suggested word lists, and a
“Ready for Reading” Book Log. Students should write the name of each
book that they read, the number of pages, date finished, and check
an evaluation for it as they finish. It is suggested that 4th
grade students read 40 books for the school year, averaging around
100 pages per book. This log will help us gauge how many books
your child has read this year, and will help your child remember
what books to take AR tests on to earn points.
