Homework+Help

Homework Folders  Your child will bring home their homework binder each night. In this binder will be the papers needed for the night as well as any important notes, forms, or handouts from myself and the school. Please check these each and every night.



A Note About Homework...

Homework is assigned four times per week. Students will be given a homework packet at the start of each week. Parents are encouraged to discuss homework assignments with their children as this will foster a deeper understanding of the material. However, a student’s mistakes alert me that your child may need further instruction in that area.

 Time spent on homework will vary according to the student. I expect that students in fourth grade will spend approximately 30 to 40 minutes a night on homework for all subject areas.

 If a student does not have his or her homework in class on the due date, a "late homework” slip will be sent home to be signed; the work must be returned the next day. If homework is more than one day late, students will be required to stay in for recess to complete the assignment. (See form below)



Parents often ask how they can help their children with their homework. Here are some tips:
 * Have a weekly meeting with your child (preferably Sunday). Use a family calendar and the child's planner to set a schedule for the week. Include upcoming test/quizzes/projects, and events such as practices and appointments.
 * Set a timer for your child; have him/her estimate how long each assignment will take and set the timer for that amount of time. Timing each assignment helps to keep the child on task.
 * Review your child's planner EVERY night; only sign the planner once you have seen the assignment(s).
 * If homework is taking more than 1 hour per night, it could be because he/she's not finishing work in school, finds the concepts too difficult, has difficulty concentrating, or is disorganized. Try to figure out what exactly is the problem and let me know of these issues.
 * The primary role of a fourth grade parent is to: make sure the child understands the directions, be available if he/she needs help, check the work, and encourage him/her as he/she works.

·Absences: When students are absent, they are responsible for making up the work. Students have the same number of days they were gone, for example, if John misses 2 days of school, he would have 2 days after he returned to school to make up the work. Much of our classroom activities cannot be done at home (e.g., group work, experiments, in-class games, buddy class activities), so regular attendance is encouraged.

Missing Homework Slip:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Last Night’s Homework! ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Name: ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Date: ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Assignment(s): ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Other Comments: ||