Homework! Homework can be scary stuff for your child but my homework policy gives them a little freedom and choice to reinforce what they learn in class. Homework is given to the children as reinforcement. Never will I give them homework as busy work because I know many of our students here at our schools are very busy with extra curricular activities and hobbies that are just as important as school work. I believe that the children need to have a sense of responsibility for their own work. They can learn this by working through homework and taking charge in their own learning. Reading Minutes- I think that the only way students get better at reading is by reading! So students should be reading at least 30 minutes a day (30 minutes for 6 days out of the week) 180 minutes. I give the children choice in this. They can read the 180 minutes any way they like every week but on Monday they should have a signed paper that they read 180minutes. My recommendation is that they read 30 minutes for every 6 days of the week but they are able to pick their own schedules. I will also implement book clubs and lit circles at the end of the year and students will be assigned page numbers so that they can participate in the discussions. Other Homework- There will be times where I give children time to do a homework packet. This packet is not busy work. This packet is created for children to do activities to learn about a new science or social studies topic. They can explore at their own rates and they can learn to do some research on topics. Late policy- I firmly believe that homework helps reinforce a lesson taught in class and it will foster a good work ethic and critical thinking in our children. Students will get points for their homework and if homework is handed 1 day late they will get half credit. If students are absent they will have 1 extra day after they return to complete the homework given. Homework is an essential part of the classroom it keeps children thinking not just in the classroom but at home, and it allows me to see what they need help with so that I can alter my instruction to their needs.
Assessments are the big topic now in school and yes they are very important but they are not the bulk of what we do in the classroom. I believe that assessments are created and given out to help with the instruction of my classroom. I will not know how my students are doing in the class and what they are understanding or grasping without some sort of assessment. That is why I will give out all types of assessments from projects, to presentations to formal tests. Sometimes I even assess the students work right after a lesson by having them show me what they learned (these assessments are not graded). Formal tests. projects or presentations will be given out after every unit but students will be well prepared before this. I would have already assessed the students in small ways and on the different components of the unit. This test will just allow students to really show me what they know and what they have grasped so that I can understand how to move onto the next unit. Questions can be referred to me by email or during meetings.