HOMEWORK
I do not believe in assigning traditional homework packets. That being said, unfortunately we only have so many hours in our school day, and there may come times when work needs to be finished at home in order to stay current with due dates. Students may bring home writing projects that need extra attention, or work that they do not finish during the day. Please help your child to be independent in completing these tasks!
As far as nightly homework, students will choose something each night that they need to practice. This could be math facts, a lesson they’ve received, or in-class work that they need to complete. If students do not have any school work they need to bring home, they may choose to play with neighbors outside, participate in a team sport, or any other of a number of collaborative activities. If you have concerns about what your child is choosing for homework, please talk with your child about what they are accomplishing through this task. If you are still concerned, please don't hesitate to reach out. Other homework ideas can be found in this article.
Students will record this work in their assignment notebook. This is also where students can write me notes if they are struggling with a particular homework, or if you have notes you’d like me to read.
Students should also be reading each night. This could include reading to a younger sibling or individual reading time. I encourage parents to ensure that your students are reading grade-level appropriate chapter books. Our class will take bi-monthly trips to the library, which is a great opportunity for your child to check out appropriate books for reading at school and at home.
If your child does require extra practice in a specific subject, please contact me and we can come up with activities that will target these areas.
SUPPLIES
With a larger class this year, it is important that only required materials be brought to school. Students know that large art kits, coloring and activity books, and toys (like fidget spinners and trading cards) should stay at home. Students do not need extra colored pens or markers besides what they brought at the beginning of the year.
At the end of each week, students will clean and organize their cubbies to bring home items that do not belong at school. If a student continues to bring the item to school after being asked to keep it at home, I will keep the item until it can be picked up by a parent. I ask that all students have an extra pair of “indoor” shoes that they keep at school. This is especially important in the winter months! Please ensure that the shoes have a rubber sole (no slippers or socks) so that the students can walk around the school as needed.
COMPUTER ACCESS
Students have access to a Chromebook to use for research, typing writing assignments, and other projects that require computer access. Students have also been assigned accounts on the following platforms: Google Classroom (with a school Gmail account), IXL, and Typing.com. These programs are available to access at school and at home for practice and review. IXL and Typing.com are also options for homework if students are interested in doing this at home instead of at school.
DUE DATES
As children move from lower elementary into upper elementary, one of the most important tasks they will learn is time management. In order to assist children in developing this important life skill, most work assigned will have a due date. These due dates help children to manage their own time, both in class and out of school, so that they can be successful.
As this is a skill that upper elementary students are still learning, late work will not negatively impact report cards, attendance to specials or field trips, or recess. Instead, it is a point of discussion about responsibility, as well as a way to monitor if a student needs additional support in completing an assignment.
Finally, due dates are also heavily enforced and do negatively impact a student’s grade when they reach the adolescent level. Learning to prioritize and make time for all work is one of the most important upper elementary tasks.
If you ever have any concerns about your child's work completion, please don't hesitate to contact me. I am happy to meet with parents and students to discuss concerns and create a plan that works for everyone.
RESUBMIT POLICY
For any assignment with a rubric, students may choose to re-do the work for a better grade. Students have one week from the day it is handed back to turn this back into me for a higher score.
