Homework

Research shows no correlation between student success and the amount of homework assigned or completed.  Due to this research, Stocklmeir adopted "no homework" practices for primary grades.  

Despite the "no homework" practices, there are a couple of programs that we would like to suggest families to participate in throughout the year.  Although participation in these two programs is not mandatory, we feel that the students will benefit greatly from their involvement in them.  You can find some information about these programs down below:

STAR STUDENT:

• • • Purpose:  to build class community and practice oral speaking skills

    • Click on this link or the "Star Student" link in the menu for the schedule and more information about the details for this program

READING IS COOL PROGRAM:

• • • Purpose:  to encourage students to read more and more!

    • This is a program that not all first grade classes participate in.  It is a reading incentive program run by the San Jose Sharks

    • Our class will work together to try to read as many pages as we can each month (October through February)

    • If we read the most pages out of all the first grade classes participating in this program (across the Bay Area), we will win a visit from S.J. Sharkie, the San Jose Sharks' mascot!

    • Reading logs will be kept at school and will also be sent home each month, starting in October

    • Students should record the titles of the books they read and how many pages they read

    • If you lose the reading log and need another copy, the file is available below to download

    • At the end of the month, they will have the suggested activity of adding up their pages for the month.  You can help them with this task, and they can also use calculators to help!

    • Reminders will be sent home each month about when these reading logs will be due

In lieu of weekly homework, the first grade teachers would like to suggest that families spend more time with building life experiences and building family relationships instead of spending their time sitting with a paper and pencil.  We feel that this will benefit your child to greater degrees by allowing for more connections to everyday life, to cultural/community events, and to you and your family.  Here are some suggestions we have to help build these experiences:

• • Go to the grocery store and talk about the foods you see, how much items would cost, etc.

  • Visit local beaches, national parks, monuments, landmarks, etc.

  • Cook together

  • Eat dinner together and talk about your day

  • Play a game together

  • Play outside together

  • Go through cookbooks and plan meals together

  • Visit the local library

  • Read together and talk about the story

  • Do laundry together and talk about different ways to sort the laundry

  • Count up money in piggy banks or wallets and discuss the different types of coins/bills

  • Anything that you feel is appropriate for your child and your family!

Also, it would be a great idea to read at home with your child.  The more exposure your child has to literature, the better his/her reading, writing, and spelling skills become.  Here are some ideas of addressing reading at home with your child:

• • Have your child read silently to him/herself

  • Read aloud to your child

  • Have your child read aloud to you or someone else in the family

  • Partner read with your child, taking turns reading out loud

  • No matter how the reading is being done, always try to talk about the story.  Discuss the story elements (characters, setting, problem, solution, etc.).  Discuss what's happening in the story.  Discuss predictions and why you think those predictions make sense.  There's no script to follow....just keep having discussions about the stories!