What does homework look like?
Nightly Reading: Each week, students will bring home their homework bag with a selection of reading materials. They are only expected to read one passage/book per night. Please have them record the name of the book they read in their homework log and the adult who listened to them can initial and leave a small comment. Homework book bags and logs should be packed in their school bags each evening and brought to school each day.
It is early in the school year and I am just getting to know your children as readers. Therefore, I am taking their grade one information and my own observations so far as I select reading material. Their homework reading may be too easy or too hard, but we will get them figured out with help from your comments and as I get a chance to read with them more. Their homework books are different from the books they will be reading in class and are intended to be read quite fluently with limited solving.
We are making the transition to using decodable books more often in grade 2. Decodable books are texts that use specific phonics skills students are learning to allow practice looking through words and blending the letter sounds and word chunks. Grade 2 currently has a more limited selection of decodable books available for students to take home, so you may see books or decodable stories on paper as well. These will be sent home intermingled with traditional leveled texts and library books. Students will practice choosing “good fit” or “just right books”, an important skill we learn in grade 2. It can take some time to build independence in this area and they will continue to receive support as needed.
Practice trick words: Trick words are a part of our Fundations units. They are words that don't follow the spelling rules - or those words for which we have not yet learned the spelling rule. There is a spot in the homework logs for students to practice writing these words each evening. They can be practiced in other ways as well.
Math: I will share the concept or strategy we are working on in class on my site each week. Please spend some time reviewing these at home as math fact mastery provides an important foundation for later math learning. Practising math facts and strategies at home will help support your child mastering them. Home practice is intended to be fun and can be done on paper, whiteboard (My own kids loved using whiteboard markers on our patio doors.), with sidewalk chalk, chanting, singing, matching games and with quick questions in the car, while you pass in the hall or in response to a question – “Could you please pass the potatoes?” … “Sure. What is 6+6?” 🙂
*A note on homework: Homework should only take about 20 minutes. If it takes longer or becomes challenging, please let me know and we can work together to find a way to make things smoother.