At New Chapter we understand the importance of homework and ensure that our children:
- Take a reading book home every day. Change their library books every week and are expected to read on at least 4 occasions at home each week.
- Learn weekly spellings, timetables.
- Undertake Maths, English or topic based tasks.
Why is homework important?
Homework gives your child the opportunity to reflect and think about the learning that has taken place in school and to practise applying their new found knowledge and skills to other situations and problems.
Homework can also be used to help your child prepare for up and coming lessons; giving them the opportunity to research and find out about new topics, that they will be studying in greater detail during their lessons.
- It improves your child’s thinking and memory
- It helps your child develop positive study skills and habits that will serve him or her well throughout life
- Homework encourages your child to use time wisely
- It teaches your child to work independently
- Homework teaches your child to take responsibility for his or her work
- It allows your child to review and practice what has been covered in class
- Homework helps your child learn to use resources, such as libraries, reference materials, and computer Web sites to find information
- It encourages your child to explores subjects more fully than classroom time permits
- It allows your child to extend learning by applying skills to new situations
- It helps your child integrate learning by applying many different skills to a single task, such as book reports or science projects
- Homework helps parents learn more about what your child is learning in school
- It allows parents to communicate about what he or she is learning and encourage them to spark your child’s enthusiasm
Types of homework
Homework will take the following forms:
Completion of Work
Finish off tasks already started in class. This will vary from one student to another.
Practice and Application
Provides children with the opportunities to apply new knowledge, or review, revise and reinforce newly acquired skills.
Extension Assignments
Encourages children to pursue knowledge independently and imaginatively. To enrich their classroom experiences, to deepen understanding and to relate learning to the real world.
Preparation
Provides opportunities for children to gain background information in preparation for a future lesson(s)
When is homework set?
Homework is set once a week and should be noted in the diary. All children will have homework set by the Friday of each week but in KS2 children may have receive it earlier in the week (set when it is appropriate).
The time your child spends on homework is less important than their understanding of it.
When is homework due in?
Homework is due in on the Wednesday of the next week. The handing in of homework is monitored and parents will be contacted if homework is not completed.
How can you support your child with homework?
You can support your child with their homework by:
- checking that their homework is brought in on the correct day Wednesday;
- helping your child read the instructions and making sure they understand what to do.
- providing a reasonably quiet, suitable place where they can do their homework;
- being positive and taking an interest in what they are doing;
- showing your child you value homework and explain to them how it can help their learning;
- encouraging and praising them whilst they are doing their homework, especially when it is completed;
- stopping it from becoming a chore, making it a fun time and a special time with you;
- making sure you do not do the homework for them; supporting them through the thinking process and not just giving them the answer;
- encouraging your child to complete their homework sooner rather than later, so that if there is a problem you can let the teacher know.
What do you do if you have any worries about your child’s homework?
Teachers are very happy to speak to you about any issues your child may have with the homework set. You may also wish to write a note in the diary, so that the teacher can discuss the issue with your child before the work is due in.