Homework

HOMEWORK IS OPTIONAL  

Do as much or as little as keeps your child engaged, confident, and proud!  There is no homework requirement, nor homework “grades” in elementary school.  Do what works best for your family. 

The most important “homework” you can do daily with your child is to:

• Talk!  Talk, talk with them to help build up their vocabulary! 

• Read!  Look at books, read aloud, listen to reading, and model reading every day! 

• Play! Provide unstructured, tech-free time for processing information, building neural connections, developing creativity and solving problems.

• Work!  Your child needs to learn how to do everything adults do to manage a home and family.  Leave ample time in your family's schedule to work on life skills like tying shoes, doing chores, organizing activities, participating in traditions, etc. 

• Move!  Get some exercise and outdoor time after sitting in a classroom controlling your body all day.

More Details:

Packets are sent home on Fridays and due on Fridays.  Old packets can be turned in at any time for a reward.  

Homework is flexible.  Please complete packets in the way that works best for your family:  over the weekend, in short sessions daily, or not at all. 

Homework is never graded.  In elementary school, homework is never graded.  Teachers provide feedback, but homework is not considered when providing mastery grades on the Standards-Based Report Card, Progress Reports, or Progress Towards Goals Reports.  Homework is provided as extra practice and as a way for families to see what students are working on in class.  Please use homework however it works best for your family.  If you have other obligations that prevent you from doing homework, no problem!  Students who turn in homework on Fridays earn a small treat, such as a mini lollipop, bookmark, fake tatoo, or special pencil.  Students who do not turn in homework have many other ways to earn similar treats and rewards in class.

Complete homework only for the subject(s) taught by Ms. Hendricks.  You only need to complete the homework for the subject for which you come to my class; other subjects are optional (for example, only do the math section if you see me for math).  

Homework is individualized.  It is designed to be at the student's independent skill level.  If your child needs significant help (aside from reading the instructions) or if homework takes more than 20 minutes per week, please let me know so we can adjust.  

Special Education homework replaces General Education homework.  Students are not expected to do both, and should do the homework that is aligned with their classroom learning and individual skill level. 

Online Homework is an option.  An online homework option for reading and math is available via iReady My Path Learning.  The lessons provided are designed to fill learning gaps and be at the student’s individualized skill level, as determined by the iReady Diagnostic we take in the beginning, middle, and end of the year.  Each lesson is 5 to 25 minutes long and ends with a quiz. Students can compete a math and reading lesson daily, weekly, or on the weekend.  Alternatively, you can alternate a reading lesson one day with a math lesson another day.  

To Log In:

• Go to my.aps.edu on a web browser (Safari, Chrome, and Firefox work best)

• Log in with your student’s 98xxxxxxxx number & password:

• Click on the “Assessments” folder and choose “iReady”

• Select Math or Reading 

• Click the green button, or choose “Learning Games” (math only)

Important Tips:

• Please do not help your student with the quiz

o You are welcome to help with the instruction or practice (the part of the lesson is listed at the top of the screen)

o When a student passes the quiz (75% accuracy or above), they move on to more challenging lessons

o When a student does not pass the quiz (below 75% accuracy), they get additional instruction online, and I get a notification so I can work with them in person

o If you provide help with the quiz, your student will get work that is too hard to do on their own, so instead of being engaged and confident, they may get frustrated and unfocused

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns, or requests!