Purpose
Homework is given at Scoil Naomh Fiachra to:
- reinforce what the child learns during
the day;
- provide a link between teacher and parent;
- develop a child’s concentration skills
and develop a work ethic;
- encourage children to pursue further investigation
in areas of interest to them.
Aspirations
Homework is meant to be achievable by a child,
i.e. it provides an opportunity to practise work already done. The
teacher in class normally prepares it. However, sometimes with senior
classes, some homework is designed to challenge children’s ability
and provide opportunities for creativity. Children are expected to
do their homework to the best of their individual ability – no more,
no less.
Homework is given on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Thursdays but not on Fridays with these exceptions
- If homework has been neglected during the
week.
- In senior classes some project work or
longer term assignments may involve weekend work.
- It may be necessary to give work at weekends
when approaching project deadlines, e.g. Young Scientist Exhibition,
Robo Show.
Sometimes, at the discretion of the class teacher
or the principal, children are given “homework off” as a treat or
as acknowledgment of some special occasion.
Content
Ideally homework will contain a balance between
reading tasks, learning tasks, investigation tasks and written tasks.
This balance is not always possible and can vary considerably from
day to day. However, it should be noted that homework time devoted
to reading, learning and investigation is as important as written
work.
Homework will regularly contain reading, spellings,
tables, written work, pieces to be “learned by heart”, drawing/ colouring,
collecting information/items and finishing work started in class.
Children often feel that reading and “learning by heart” is not real
homework. Parents \ Guardians can play an important role in listening
to reading and items to be learned, ensuring this work is done well.
Time Guidelines
Different children will complete the same
homework in different lengths of time. Time spent will vary from day
to day and also from the beginning to the end of the school year.
It is important to remember that it is the quality and not the quantity
of homework that matters. The following are general guidelines only:
Junior Infants 0 - 10 minutes.
Senior Infants 0 - 20 minutes.
Rang 1 - 2 Up to 30 minutes.
Rang 3 - 4 Up to 45 minutes.
Rang 5 - 6 Up to 1 hour 15 minutes.
Parental \ Guardian Involvement
Parents \ Guardians can help their children
with homework by providing them with a suitable place and time to
do their homework and by trying to prevent interruptions or distractions,
like T.V. or other children.
Children should do written homework themselves and Parents\Guardians
should only help when the child has difficulty.
If a child has difficulty with homework, the
Parents\Guardians should help the child to overcome the difficulty
with further explanation or examples, but not by actually doing the
homework for the child. In this case the parent should write a note
to the teacher, using the pupil’s journal, explaining the problem.
Parents should encourage their children to read every night. They
can read their class reader, Oxford Reading Tree book or their library
book. Indeed they could even read some of the newspaper with your
help.
Monitoring Homework at Home
Parents\Guardians should check and sign a
child’s Homework Journal (First – Sixth Class) every evening as the
pupil’s journal is an important record of the child’s homework. It
is also a valuable means of communication between Parents\Guardians
and teachers. Ideally, all written messages to your child’s teacher
should be put in the Homework Journal.
Please check that your child records homework
neatly in the correct page and ticks each item of homework when completed.
Monitoring Homework at School
Ideally teachers like to check homework on
a daily basis, however with large class numbers it is not always possible
to check each child’s Homework Journal every day. As children get
older and learn to work independently, some items of homework are
checked less often e.g. every second day or once per week. Sometimes,
under the direction of the teacher, children themselves may check
some items of homework or class work. This can be a useful part of
the learning process for children.
Communication about Homework
In the relevant section of the Homework Journal
(First – Sixth Class), please inform your child’s teacher when
- your child cannot do homework due to family
circumstances;
- your child cannot do homework due to illness;
- your child cannot do homework because she/he
cannot understand some aspect;
- the time being spent at homework is often
longer than the recommended amount of time.
Doing Homework
Each family situation is different but, ideally,
homework should be done before any television is watched and while
your child is still fresh.
Some children, however, need a break before starting homework.
Nevertheless homework should never be left until morning time before
school.
Remember, if homework is a stressful experience for both parent and
child, something is wrong! This leads to poor learning and defeats
the purpose of this policy.
If this happens on a regular basis, please contact the class teacher.
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