Despite the affirmative response to our question about homework expectations, we know from experience that this is a question for which there is a wide variety of opinions.  Some are firm believers that students work hard during school and after school hours should be for rest and play. Others argue that homework should be assigned every day and that students should continue doing schoolwork at home as an extension of classroom learning.  Let’s look at what the research says about homework for elementary students and how we view homework at ICS.

John Hattie, a leading educational researcher, has studied multiple instructional practices to evaluate their effectiveness on student learning. Hattie’s meta-analysis of the research has concluded that homework has almost no effect on student learning among elementary students. This does not mean that homework is a bad thing or that it should be eliminated altogether.  He suggests that schools provide quality opportunities to students to practice or reinforce what they have learned in school. 

At ICS, we have used this guiding principle to inform our homework expectations for students. Carefully selected, short homework assignments are chosen to help students develop strong study habits, promote communication of student learning between school and home, and to provide extra practice of skills taught in class. 

Hattie also tells us that 5-10 minutes of homework is as effective as longer durations at this age. The school provides guidelines on the amount of time students may spend on homework, which are also based on children's developmental needs. 

Grade P1: 10 minutes per night (mostly Chinese)

        + Independent reading or reading with parents

Grades 1-2: 20 minutes of personal reading per night

         20-35 minutes per night, covering all subjects

Grades 3-5: 20-30 minutes of personal reading per night

                                30-45 minutes per night, covering all subjects plus 10 min instrumental practice

Feedback on homework is usually given in the context of classroom learning rather than in a formal written or graded format.  Homework is not something that Elementary School teachers will use to inform a student’s grade.   If there is any reason that your child is unable to complete their homework, please email your child’s teacher to let them know.  Your teacher would rather that your child comes to school well rested with some homework done than coming to school staying up too late to complete all of the homework.  

Hattie, J. (2014, August 20). John Hattie on BBC Radio 4: “Homework in primary school has an effect of zero”. Retrieved from https://visible-learning.org/2014/09/john-hattie-interview-bbc-radio-4/

Hattie, J. (2012). Visible learning for teachers: Maximizing impact on learning. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. 

A Reminder on School Outerwear

With the temperature fluctuating, we all want to make sure that our children are sufficiently warm.  Please be reminded that students must wear school uniform outerwear (sweatshirts, hoodies, fleece vests/jackets & and shells) at school.  This does not include the Please see the diagram below.  

Please also be sure that your child’s name is written on their uniform outerwear so that it can be returned to them if left behind.

The Elementary School has a provision in the handbook for cold-weather days (12 degrees or below) where students may wear their cold-weather parkas from home.  In the classroom, however, students must wear the uniform and uniform outerwear.