1. Homework Policy Intermediate Multiage Dr. Gail Davis

2. Why Homework? Homework should be a continuance of what students have already covered in the classroom. It is the Independent Practice part of a good, educational study wheel.

3. As Madeline Hunter explains and I see it… Learning is about the acquisition of new concepts and skills! Introduction of new skills Guided Practice Independent Practice Formative Assessment Re-teach, as needed Enrichment Summative Assessment Move on or move back

4. Homework becomes Independent Practice. Students may have to keep on trying until the Formative Assessment indicates they are ready to move on!

5. Therefore… Students should plan on Reading twenty (20, XX, veinte) minutes daily. They may read silently or aloud to you or a sibling, Students should read in a car, on a star, in a boat or on a goat…it really does not matter! However, students should read on their Independent Reading Level.

6. Independent Reading Level How can you tell if a book is a student’s Independent Reading Level? If your child can read a paragraph with almost no hesitation or having to stop and sound out too many words, or can retell accurately the main ideas of what he or she just read, that is probably the Independent Reading Level.

7. Same old books… Children benefit from reading the same book as many times as they wish. Remember reading Goodnight Moon (insert your child’s favorite book here) a gazillion times? Now your child is doing the same thing, only for him or herself.

8. Reading Speed… It’s really fabulous! Reading familiar text increases reading fluency, reading with expression, noticing forms and features of text (such as punctuation), feelings of confidence, autonomy and self control. What’s not to like?

9. Mathematics Students should plan on memorizing addition, subtraction, multiplication and fraction facts to automaticity. That means more Independent Practice. Plan on doing about ten (10, X, diez) minutes of math. That is one word problem a night.

10. Viva la difference! Some students will have addition fact sheets and some will have algebra homework. Independent Practice is individualized.

11. Other Assignments I like to involve the family in most homework assignments other than reading and math. I ask the students for ideas, and I generate some myself. I hope you all have fun with homework!

12. Other Assignments Additionally, your child may receive other homework assignments as needed or wanted. There may be unfinished class work, research, or independent projects that require occasional homework time. So, how much homework is reasonable?

13. I thought you’d never ask… Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6 Read 20 minutes, plus ten minutes of math five times a week. Read 30 minutes plus ten or more minutes of math five times a week. 30 minutes, plus ten or more minutes of math five times a week. 20 + 10 X 5 nights a week 30 + 10 or more X 5 nights a week

14. Preparation for …(fill in the blank) Parents sometimes worry that their children are doing less homework than children in (Other Teacher’s) class. I would assure you that it all averages out! Furthermore, we do not ask our eleven- year-olds to drive because some time in the future they will be required to drive. The same fits with homework.

15. Because a high school child might complete two hours of homework daily, does not mean that a 4-5-6th grader should. I will prepare your children for their present grade, and I will expect that in the future, their teachers will do the same!

16. That’s It! Homework has some variables, but generally is consistent. Closer to spring and MSP, things change (more on that in the spring). Independent Practice means that your child should be able to complete the assignment independently.

17. If at any time you have concerns regarding homework, please feel free to contact me at: Gdavis@nkschools.org I will do my best to get back to you within two working days. 2 * 24 = 48 hours, Dr. D.