Homework

Homework Procedures

Mrs. Bell – Kindergarten

            This year, Kindergartners will have the opportunity to practice, review and apply what they already know through homework!   Since students only spend about 13% of their waking hours in education, homework will give your child the much needed opportunity to learn beyond the school day (Hill, 2006)! 

Since the purpose of your child’s homework is to practice or review, then it will be in small doses as “Practice is more effective when distributed in small doses over several days or weeks,” (Marzano, Pickering,& Pollock, 2001). 

Homework should take about ten minutes per night. Your kindergartner will be practicing, reviewing or applying what they already know and should be able to do their homework with little or no assistance.  They only things they should need from you, their parent or caretaker, are a quiet space, time and materials (pencils, crayons, etc.) for completing homework.

 If your child becomes frustrated or goes far beyond ten minutes please stop the homework and send me a note along with the incomplete assignment.  This could mean I need to reteach the objectives in the assignment so that it becomes review and practice! 

Please take the time to review and understand the following homework rubric.  It is designed so that your child can understand and ‘grade’ his or her own homework!  We will review this rubric in class so that your child has a clear understanding of what they are expected to do for their homework! 

	Neatness	Complete	Effort	Ease
	I took my time and my homework is neat and easy to read!	I did all my homework!	I did my best work!	My homework was easy!  I knew how to do it all without help!
	I rushed a little and so some of my homework is hard to read.	I did most of my homework!	I could have done a little better.	My homework was a little hard and I needed to ask for some help.
	I rushed and my homework is messy and hard to read.	I did not do my homework.	I didn’t try very hard.	I didn’t know how to do my homework.

In addition to nightly homework please take the time to read aloud to your child each night.  Consider the following questions as you read with your child:

Questions to ask before you read

·         Can you look at the pictures and predict what you think will happen in this book?

·         What makes you think that?

·         What characters do you think might be in our story?

·         Do you think there will be a problem in this story? Why or why not?

·         Does the topic/story relate to you or your family? How?

Questions to ask during the reading

·         What do you think will happen next?

·         What can you tell me about the story so far?

·         Can you predict how the story will end?

·         Why do you think the character did _______?

·         What would you have done if you were the character?

·         How would you have felt if you were the character? (use different characters)

·         As I read____________, it made me picture________ in my head. What pictures do you see in your head?

·         As you read, what are you wondering about?

·         Can you put what you’ve just read in your own words?

Questions to ask after reading

·         Can you remember the title?

·         In your opinion, was it a good title for this book? Why or why not?

·         Were your predictions about the story correct?

·         If there was a problem, did it get solved?

·         What happened because of the problem?

·         Why do you think the author wrote this book?

·         What is the most important point the author is trying to make in his writing?

·         What was your favorite part of the story?

·         If you could change one thing in the story, what would it be?

·         Can you retell the story in order?

·         If you were __________, how would you have felt?

·         What is the most interesting situation in the story?

·         Is there a character in the story like you? How are you alike?

·         Why did you like this book?

Feel free to pick one or two to talk with your child about.  As well, your child will need

to complete the following Reading Response for each book read aloud!  We will practice this at

school prior to sending home for your child to complete independently! 

Date	Title	My Review J   K  L	Visual Response	One Word

Thank you for your support this school year!  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

References

Hill, A.  & Flynn, K. (2006).  Classroom Instruction that works with English Language      Learners.  Alexandria, VA.  ACSD.

Marzano, R. J., Pickering, D. J., & Pollock, J. E. (2001). Classroom instruction that works:

            Research-based strategies for increasing student achievement. Alexandria,VA: ASCD.