Supporting Your Child's Learning

Agenda

The Agenda is a basic organization tool in which students record both daily and long-term assignments. In addition to recording assignments, the planner can be used to help parents monitor their child's work and communicate with teachers. There are two different calendars in the Agenda, the monthly calendar and the weekly calendar.

• To keep track of long term assignments

• To record when tests or quizzes are scheduled

Have your agenda with you during every class. Every time your teacher tells you about a long-term assignment, test, or quiz, jot it down in your monthly calendar. Use the stickers on the last page to help you remember important dates.

• To record daily homework assignments and any special instructions the teachers give you

• Write down what supplies you will need to complete the assignment

• Prioritize your assignments

  • Put a (1) next to the most important assignment, a (2) next to the second most important assignment, and so on

• Check off assignments as they are completed

• Use the "after school" section to schedule time for homework and studying

In the weekly calendar, take advantage of the amount of space each subject gives you. Write down exact page numbers of a book, which math problems you are supposed to do, etc.

If there is no homework in a particular subject (not even studying for an upcoming quiz/test), put none in that subject area)

Keep track of all your graded work. This will help you know what grade you have throughout the quarter so that when the quarter ends, there are no surprises for you or your parents.

Lastly, it is important to try to schedule one day per week to reorganize your backpack and locker or to sort papers in your notebooks.

Establishing a study time and place

• is a quiet place, free of distractions (exception: some kids like having quiet music playing in the background)

• has good lighting

• includes a chair, requiring the student to sit up straight, and a table or desk

• should be used each time the student studies

• parents should be available if their child needs help

• discuss and establish with your child the time of day that will be set aside for homework. Late afternoon and early evening are the best times. It is important to consider whether your child needs "down" time when they get home from school before starting their homework or if your child would do better starting immediately.

• discuss with your child the length of time that is to be set aside for

homework.

A 6th grade student at Bass Middle may have approximately 20 to 30 minutes of homework per subject per night. This, of course, is an estimate and your child needs to understand that the actual time to complete assignments will vary each day based on assignments and scheduled tests.

Plan for study breaks. Some students are able to concentrate for long periods of time while others need to break every 20 minutes. Your child's age and individual needs will help you to determine how long they can concentrate before needing a rest. Using a kitchen timer to signal break time and back to work time is helpful (suggested break time is 5 minutes).