Homework Policy
Rational
This policy was reviewed and updaed by the staff of Loughquittane NS, following a review of current practice. The purpose of this policy is to provide practical guidance for teachers and parents.
Why give homework?
- To re-inforce what the child learns during the day
- To provide a link between home and school, enabling parents/guardians to become actively involved in the child’s formal education, observe the child’s progress and identify any problems that the child may have
- To support the work of the School Improvement Plan
- To develop a child’s concentration skills and develop a work ethic
- Homework is meant to be achievable by a child, i.e. it provides an opportunity to practise work already done. It is normally prepared by the teacher in class. Sometimes with senior classes, some homework is designed to challenge children’s ability and provide opportunities for creativity
- Children are expected to do their homework to the best of their individual ability.
How often is homework given?
- Homework is given on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays but not on Fridays.
- Sometimes at the discretion of the class teacher or the principal, children are given “Homework off” as a treat or as acknowledgment of some special occasion.
- Please note extra homework may occasionally be given during the week if a child has not done homework, made a suitable effort or presented untidy work.
- Where children are expected to be absent from school for an extended period of time homework / project work may be set.
What is the content of homework?
- Ideally homework will contain a balance between reading tasks, learning tasks and written tasks.
- This balance is not always possible and can vary considerably from day to day. However, it should be noted that homework time devoted to reading and learning is as important as written work.
- Homework will regularly contain reading, spellings, tables, written work, pieces to be “learned by heart”, drawing/colouring, collecting information/items and finishing work started in class.
- Homework may include oral activities or research.
- Children often feel that reading and “learning by heart” is not real homework. Reading Aloud is an important part of homework which develops reading fluency and intonation. Parents can play an important role in listening to reading and items to be learned ensuring this work is done well.
- The content of the homework set may be adapted to suit different abilities and learning styles of individual children.
- Where children are receiving additional teaching support, some or all homework may be set by this teacher, in consultation with the class teacher. This will not be additional homework
How much time for homework?
The following are guidelines for time spent at homework. Different children will complete the same homework in different lengths of time. Time spent will vary from day to day and also from the beginning to the end of the school year. It is important to remember that it is the quality and not the quantity of homework that matters. The following are general guidelines only. If homework is persistently taking longer stop the child and sigh the journal, stating the time spent.
Junior & Senior Infants 10-15 minutes
Ranganna 1 & 2 30 – 40 minutes
Ranganna 3 & 4 45 – 50 minutes
Ranganna 5 & 6 Up to 1 hour
Homework is given from Monday to Thursday. Normally there is no homework at weekends or on a school day just before a public holiday. However, children in middle and senior classes may sometimes be required to work independently on projects at weekends.
How much help should parents give?
- Parents should try to help their children with homework by developing a good routine:
- Provide them with a suitable quiet place at a table
- Establish a time to do homework, and where possible keep to that time
- Prevent interruptions or distractions, like T.V. or younger children
- Children should do written homework themselves and parents should only help when the child has difficulty.
- If a child has difficulty with homework, the parents should help the child to overcome the difficulty with further explanation or examples, but not by actually doing the homework for the child. In this case the parent should write a note to the teacher explaining the problem
- Shared reading and “child and parent reading together” is not homework in the regular sense and it is simply meant to be an enjoyable exercise between parent and child.
How often should parents monitor homework?
- Parents should check the homework and sign a child’s homework journal every evening.
- From first to sixth classes, the pupil’s journal is an important record of the child’s homework. It is also a valuable means of communication between parents and teachers
- Ideally, all written messages to your child’s teacher should be put in the homework journal (additional pages available at the end of the journal).
- Please check that your child records his/her homework neatly in the correct page and ticks each item of homework when completed.
- Please check your child’s journal for notes on a regular basis.
How often do teachers monitor homework?
- Ideally teachers like to check homework on a daily basis. However, it is not always possible to check each child’s homework journal every day.
- As children get older and learn to work independently, some items of homework are checked less often e.g. every second day or once per week.
- Some items of homework (and classwork) may be checked by children themselves under the direction of the teacher. This can be a useful part of the learning process for children.
When should parents communicate with the teachers about homework?
- When your child cannot do homework due to family circumstances
- When your child cannot do homework because she/he cannot understand some aspect
- If the time being spent at homework is often longer than the recommended amount of time.
When should homework be done?
- Each family situation is different – parent(s) working, child minders, etc. Ideally, homework should be done before any television is watched, soon after school and a snack, while your child is still fresh. However, some children need a break before starting homework
- Although some children like to “go over” tables and/or spellings in the morning, homework should never be left until morning time before school.
Remember
If homework is a stressful experience between parent and child, something is wrong! This leads to poor learning and defeats the whole purpose. Should this happen on a regular basis, please contact the class teacher.
Ratification
This policy was ratified by the Board of Management of Loughquittane N.S. on
09/04/19.
Chairperson: Lily Cronin Principal: Alison Coffey