Homework (Learning at home)
The purposes of homework are:
- To communicate with parents about what their child is doing in the classroom and to encourage parents/carers to interact and talk with their child about their school work in a positive manner.
- To practise the many skills learned in class, to reinforce work learned in class and to revise content covered in class.
- To develop time and resource management skills in the students and to develop a disciplined and responsible attitude towards learning.
Research indicates that those who do homework are greater achievers. (Time on tasks produces results.) It is important, however, to note that primary school children need plenty of leisure time and homework should never be seen as a form of punishment. We appreciate that our boys are very busy after school and the completion of set homework on a given evening may not always be possible. We encourage parents to use their best judgement on what can be reasonably completed. For this reason, we operate a Learning at Home Grid. The grid includes activities boys are engaged in such as, sports training, instrument practice and the arts. It also encourages social time with siblings, parents and friends. We believe all of these activities are valuable and contributes to a boy’s learning.
The Junior School does set specific work to be competed over a seven-or-fourteen-day period. Reading daily for a recommended period of 20 minutes of independent reading, the learning of number facts and multiplication tables through card and dice games is encouraged and weekly spelling words and the learning of high frequency words is required. Research work will be limited, and teachers are prepared to provide materials to ensure all children have equal access to resources. Internet research should be restricted unless very clear guidelines are provided.
The maximum suggested time allocations for each year level (not including reading):
- Years 1–2: 10 minutes per night, plus reading
- Years 3–5: 10 to 20 minutes per night, plus reading
If you and/or your child is struggling with or struggling to complete homework tasks, please make a time to discuss this with your classroom teacher to work together to put a plan in place.