Homework

Students at Marist Catholic College North Shore may be expected to do homework. Homework is important because it:

• reinforces learning that occurs in the classroom

• provides practice opportunities for skills learnt in class

• increases the amount of time available for learning

• encourages students to develop independent study/work habits

Homework may be set by the teacher at the end of a lesson. Students must record their homework in the diary, and work systematically to complete each task by the date required. If a student does not receive a specific homework task it is an expectation that they will continue work on their assessment tasks or engage in study.

It is important for a student to get into a homework routine. One method is to have a short break on arrival home from school, then to begin homework before getting too tired. The TV or computer games should not be available until the evening's homework is complete.

The time spent each evening on school work will vary according to the number of specific homework tasks set, the number of assignments or assessment tasks the student has and the stage that has been reached in the study of particular units of work. The amount of school work done at home will increase as the student moves on through the school. The following is offered as a guide to the minimum time commitment a student should make each evening:

Year 7 - 1 hour

Year 8 - 1½ hours

Year 9 - 2 hours

Year 10 - 2 hours

Year 11 - 3 hours

Year 12 - 4 hours

If a student fails to do or complete their homework, they are expected to present a note of explanation from a parent to the teacher. They are also expected to catch up on homework they have not done. C

If a student does not complete an assigned task on time, without adequate reason, or if a student submits work that is sub-standard, then the teacher will notify parents through the student’s College Diary. Parents are asked to cooperate with the teacher by signing the comment in the Diary. There will always be occasions when a student is justifiably unable to do his homework - we ask parents to write a brief note in the student’s diary to explain the situation.

At Marist Catholic College North Shore parents are encouraged to:

• Check their child's diary

• Discuss their homework with them

• Help them prioritise their tasks,

• Assist them in time management and

• Advise them on possible ways of approaching a particular issue or problem.

The work presented, however, should always be the student's own. If a student has a tutor for a particular subject, the same guidelines apply. A student gains no educational benefit and does not mature as an independent learner, if the work is completed by someone else.

Assignment work is an important part of secondary school education, as it will be later on in tertiary study. It is essential that students approach assignments properly. Do not leave them until just before they are due. Start work on them promptly, and set goals for themselves for when certain stages have to be met. If research is involved then organise books or other resources. If it is a written assignment, then students should make sure they prepare a draft before submitting a final copy. Many students make effective use of computers in completing their assignments.

STEP ONE: Read through the task as soon as the teacher has given it to you and write the due date into your Diary.

STEP TWO: Highlight or underline key words in the instructions

STEP THREE: Highlight or underline key words (descriptors) in the marking criteria. What do you need to do in order to achieve an A Grade result?

STEP FOUR: Write down the task instructions in your own words and then ask your teacher to clarify anything you don’t understand.

STEP FIVE: Prioritise the work you will do in order to complete the task on time. You can write this in a list form.

STEP SIX: Create a study/homework timetable for home where you factor in how much time you will spend on this assessment task at home.

STEP SEVEN: Begin following your plan and aim to have your final draft completed at least two nights before the due date to allow you to proofread and edit your work in time for the final hand in.