Oakdale Junior School

Learning for Life

Homework Policy

Revised January 2014

Oakdale Junior School - Homework Policy

The purpose of homework:

  • To continue developing the partnership we have with parents and carers in providing high quality education for all their children
  • Consolidating and reinforcing skills and understanding in literacy and numeracy
  • Ensuring consistency of approach throughout the school
  • Ensuring progression towards independence and individual learning in different environments
  • Ensuring that parents and carers have a clear understanding about expectations
  • At Year 6 to prepare children for secondary transfer

Oakdale Junior School recommended time allocation for homework (including reading to parents/ca

ers):

Years 3 and 4 approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes per week

Years 5 and 6 approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes per week.

Homework activities:

Years 3 and 4

  • Reading – 10 minutes daily (using reading record)
  • Spelling activity– weekly
  • Maths Mission – 5 minutes daily
  • Maths Homework task - weekly
Year 5 and 6
  • Reading –10 minutes daily (including writing book reviews)
  • Spelling activity - weekly
  • Maths Mission – 5 minutes daily
  • Maths Homework task – weekly
  • Additional piece of homework linked to Literacy or Topic work (may be cross curricular)

All children will be encouraged to ‘Extend your learning’ with a task or research area which will be on the weekly Class Update.

From time to time all year groups may be given extra activity sheets to do in order to reinforce or consolidate classwork

Homework books

All children will have one book in which to complete their homework. The children write or stick in the tasks to be done and then use this to do all of their homework.

Homework Timetable

Homework will be given out each Thursday

Homework should be handed in every Wednesday

The homework tasks will be explained on the weekly Class Update, handed out each Thursday. These class updates will be published on the school blog.

Due to copyright, it is not possible to publish photocopied homework sheets from published materials.

Children who do not hand in their homework on a Wednesday will be given until Thursday morning to hand it in. If it has not been completed by Thursday morning they will be kept in at lunchtime to complete the tasks. Parents will be contacted if a child is consistently missing the homework deadline.

Reading

Children need to read on a daily basis to support the work happening in class. For children in early stages of reading they will need the support of a parent, carer or older sibling. More fluent readers will be able to read independently but it is helpful to talk with your child about their book. Sample questions (Appendix 2) that you can ask your child about their reading book are available to download on the school blog.As well as reading from the chosen reading book it is important to encourage your child to read a wide variety of text such as packaging, signs, newspapers. All reading is valuable! Don’t forget if English is not your home language and your child is able to read in another language then this should be encouraged too.

Year 3 and 4 - Children will need to bring in their reading books and reading records on a daily basis. The year group will let you know which days books are changed. There is guidance on filling in reading records in the Y3 and Y4 books. Children in Years 3 and 4 are also welcome to complete reviews of completed books.

Year 5 and 6 – Children are encouraged to read a range of books of their choice. When they have completed a book they are asked to complete a book review to be shared in the class reading area. A sample Book Review (Appendix 3) is available to download from the school blog.

Spellings

Children are taught about words that follow a spelling pattern, spelling rule or letter sound each week and the spelling homework will link to this. There are also high frequency words and topic words that children should learn. Spelling homework may include a range of activities that supportspelling strategies, not just learning a list of words, and the teacher will then be looking for evidence of correct spelling in the children’s work. If your child is given a list of words to learn, we recommend that you help them to learn the words using the LOOKSAY COVER WRITE CHECK method. So firstly they look at the word and look for any patterns. They then cover the word and try to write it and then check to see if they are right. If they are incorrect they start the process again. The homework book can be used to practise the spellings and spelling patterns.

Maths Mission

We are committed to ensuring that every child has the mathematical knowledge and understanding needed to enable them to make excellent progress and leave us with secure mathematical life skills.We focus on known facts within mental maths to ensure that all children have a rapid recall of key facts so that they can then apply them across the maths curriculum.

All children will be working to be awarded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum certificates for their ability to know, use and apply known facts. Children should know which steps they have achieved and which they are working towards.

In order to learn known facts, children will need a range of oral and practical experiences. The Maths Mission booklet (Appendix 4)is available on the school website and is useful for supporting children at home.

‘Extend your Learning’

A task or research area will be on the weekly Class Update which gives children the opportunity to extend their learning, linked to the school curriculum. This work will not be marked but will be discussed during Class Assembly time on a Tuesday morning. This is an opportunity for parents to work with their child to develop independence and a ‘love of learning’ beyond the formal homework.

Differentiation

This is achieved through:

  • Task e.g. maths groups
  • Outcome – the child’s response to the task
  • The level of parental support
Time Management

Parents/Carers will decide when children will do their homework and how often they do it, within the recommended time levels outlined earlier. For most of the homework tasks however, we recommend that the children do a few minutes each day – ‘little and often’ as this is the best way to ensure that the learning ‘sinks in’.

Marking and Assessing

Year 3 and 4 reading records are a communication tool and need to be brought into school each day to assist the teacher in assessing when a book needs changing or when to move a child on. This is especially important for children who are still on early stage reading. For more fluent readers they provide an opportunity to discuss the book being read. The class teacher will inform the class which day(s) their books will be changed.

Year 5 and 6 book reviews will be added to the class reading area for others to look at.

Homework tasks are usually marked as a class with self or peer marking. The teacher ensures that homework is completed and although will look at homework, they may not formally mark it. Homework will be acknowledged with a tick, a stamper or a short comment. Rewards for excellent homework will be given at the teacher’s discretion.

Maths Mission homework will be assessed through class based activities and the child’s ability to progress to the next step.

Presentation is important and children should be encouraged to present their work legibly and neatly.

Homework support

If there are difficulties in relation to homework then in the first instance please contact the class teacher. You might also want to contact our parent support advisers who will be able to give you advice on supporting your child, establish routines, understanding what is required or any other query that you have.

Homework Club

There will be a homework club on Monday lunchtime in the ICT suite for children who do not have internet access at home. An adult will oversee this club but will not be available for 1:1 input with children.

Incomplete homework

If the child is unable to meet the deadline for the task the parent/carer should inform the class teacher. We do however expect all children to complete homework and arrangements will be made during the lunch hour for incomplete work to be finished. We set the homework and ensure that the children have understood the task, it is the parent/carer’s responsibility to ensure that their child has the opportunity to carry it out.

Websites to help with homework

Websites and APPs that can be done with children at home are signposted on the school blog.

Appendix 1

Helping with Homework

HELPING WITH HOMEWORK

When?

  • After a short break, but before your child is too tired
  • Avoid times that clash with a favourite television programme
  • Stick to a regular time if possible

Where?

  • At a table in the kitchen or dining room is ideal but not always possible
  • Aim to give your child peace and quiet whilst they are working. Let younger brothers and sisters see that this is a ‘special’ time for their older sibling so that they will come to expect it too when it is their turn
  • If the TV is in the same room then either switch it off or turn the volume down. Remember some children do need some background noise/music to do their best

Do I help?

  • Look through the work and see what equipment might be needed and help your child gather it together
  • If your child needs help, be positive, show them where to start and then let them try for themselves
  • If you don’t know how to do the work then be truthful. Remember we do many things differently (especially maths) and you might need to refer to your class update sheet for guidance. If in any doubt about methods please contact the school.
  • If neither of you can do the work then after a reasonable attempt write a note for the class teacher so that we can help
  • Above all be encouraging and interested!

Appendix 2

Reading Question Prompts for Parents

Reading with your child

It is essential to share a book with your child as often as possible, but don’t feel that you have to read a whole chapter or book all at once. Try reading a page or two together, sometimes taking turns with reading. You will often find that reading with your child leads to you discussing all sorts of things. This is fantastic, because your child will learn from you, and will enjoy the attention you give him / her.

ENJOY READING TOGETHER!

Try some of these questions:

  • How did you choose this book?
  • What do you like / dislike about the book?
  • Does it remind you of anything? – past experiences? People? Places? Objects?
  • Was there anything that puzzled you?
  • Have you found any interesting words, which you could experiment with?
  • Did you notice any patterns or connections?
  • Who is your favourite character, and why?
  • How would you describe this book to your friend?
  • Is there a narrator? If so, who was it?
  • When was this story set? – How can you learn about the past from this?
  • How do you think the character is feeling?
  • If you were this character, what would you be thinking? What would you say?
  • Do you know anything about the author? What would you like to ask him / her?
  • Why did you choose this book to read?
  • If you were asked to improve this book, what would you suggest?
  • Can you imagine what some of the characters or places in the book look like?
  • Have you read any other books like this?

Remember…reading a little and often makes a difference! ENJOY!

Appendix 3 - Book Reviews

Title:
Author:
Publisher:
Storyline / Content :
Word Difficulty (tick box):
Too easy / Just right / Too hard
OJS Book Review
What I liked best:
What I would have improved:
My favourite character / fact:
You can draw a picture and write the characteristics
Recommendation (tick box):
Highly recommended
Reasonable
Not recommended
Reviewed by:
Date:
OJS Book Review
Book Title: / Draw and label 5 things that you think represent the story
Author:
Genre:
Main story / content outline:
Explain your reasons:
2 questions you would like to ask the author about this book or the characters: /
1) / Reviewed by:
2) / Date:

Appendix 4

Maths Mission leaflet