The purpose of homework is to review or provide practice in certain
skill areas, follow-up on a classroom activity, and to challenge children.
The amount of homework sent home in the beginning will be small and will
gradually increase as the year progresses.
The most important homework is reading. All second graders should
read 15 minutes each night. This may take the form of independent reading,
children reading orally to a family member,
listening to an adult read, or a combination of all of these. In addition to
reading each child will be expected to keep track of their reading in a
nightly reading log.
If you ever have any questions, please let me know. Thank you for
your help and support with homework.
Tips for developing good homework habits:
In your home, foster a positive attitude towards learning and the role
homework plays in your child's
academic life.
Ask questions about units of study and encourage your child's intellectual
curiosity by visiting the
library to learn more about a topic.
Determine the best time for your child to do homework. Is your child a morning
person or a night
owl? Does your child need a break after school or should homework be done
immediately? Should
assignments be completed in one session, or divided into more manageable chunks?
Establish a homework area away from electronic distractions. It should be
stocked with sharpened
pencils, paper, erasers, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, and a children's
dictionary.
Check your child's assignment sheet. Make a plan for completing all assigned
tasks.
Determine that your child understands the assignment. Ask your child to read
the directions and
explain to you what needs to be done. Avoid the "I don't know what to do"
pleas which sometimes
mean, "I want you to tell me so I won't have to read the directions and think
about what they
mean..."!
Expect your child to work alone for a few minutes before checking in with you
if there is a problem.
You want to foster independence but you also want to avoid the frustration of
completing an entire
assignment incorrectly. If you find your child needs a lot of help on a
specific homework assignment PLEASE write a small note or your initials at the
top of the homework so that we can follow up with your child in school.
Praise often and meaningfully. Avoid praising work that does not reflect good
effort.
Help a child proofread and improve his/her own work by asking appropriate
questions which will
lead to the child making the corrections.
Allow your child to take responsibility for placing completed assignments in
his/her Homework.
folder. Then he/she should get into the habit of immediately placing the
folder in the backpack.
Most importantly, remember to say: I am so proud of you! You are learning how
to learn.