Homework

Remember to do your weekly Mathletics tasks 

and learn your spellings.

2015 Term 4 Reading Homework -

How many questions can you answer?

As all of the children are competent readers, our focus is on understanding the text.  At the bottom of the reading page on this blog are over 70 questions that can be answered and discussed. (You may recognise them as they were given out in term 1). The reading challenge this term is to see how many questions you can answer before the end of term!

Evidence is required.  So each time you finish reading a book, or during the book, say at the end of a chapter, pick some questions to answer.  

Still keep a reading log in your homework book as normal - write the date, name of the book, pages read and signed but on another page also write the name of the book and author, the question(s) and then your answers.

Remember to check if your book is fiction or non fiction.

End of term prizes are available for those who have answered the most questions in their homework book by the end of term!  Good luck and happy reading.

Extra Homework challenge - term 4

BOYS
Find a way to give something back to your community, either at home or at school. This could be giving your time to someone else by visiting them, making your own lunch, making your bed every day, teaching younger children how to play a game, etc. Photo evidence or some sort of evidence is required. A presentation at the end of term will be given to the class to say what you have done. This can just be a short talk with some evidence.

GIRLS
You are awesome! The boys showed how good they were at many different things in term 3. Now it's your turn to tell us what you are good at. You will need to give a presentation by the end of term to the class. This can be a talk with something to show, a Google Presentation, a Powerpoint, a poster, a diorama, whatever you choose. I can't wait to see them!

Term 3
Here are the children who completed the Reading Bingo Challenge - well done!!

HOMEWORK BOOKS ARE NEEDED AT SCHOOL ON A MONDAY AND A FRIDAY.

Please see the READING BINGO homework on the reading page or the sheet stuck in the homework book.  Children are expected to read Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, record that reading in their homework book and bring that homework book to school on Fridays for checking. Children who don't read and record will be asked to stay in on a Friday lunchtime to catch up.  The majority of children who don't read at home on a regular basis, fall behind, whatever their reading age. Reading homework is expected all term.

Mathletics homework will continue to be set each and every week of the term. Tasks should relate to what we have been learning in class. Children who do not have access to a computer at home can use a chrome book before school.  Sometimes we have time in class to catch up on Mathletics tasks - but this cannot be relied upon.  Mathletics is meant to be done at home.  If your child has done all their tasks, they can go on Rainforest Maths, Skoolbo or Sumdog.  Children who don't complete their tasks will be asked to stay in on a Friday lunchtime to catch up.

Spellings will be sent home every week except the last week of term. Spelling rules being learnt can be found on the spelling page of this blog.  Two copies of spellings are given to children every Monday. One set is stuck in their homework book to go home and practice, one set is stuck in their spelling book for practice every day at school.

If you have any questions about homework, please email m.fearon@waikanae.school.nz


Term 2
Please see READING GENRE homework on reading page or the sheet stuck in the homework book.  

Mathletics homework will continue to be set each week. Tasks should relate to what we have been learning in class.

Spellings will be sent home every week except the last week of term.




Dear Parent/Caregiver                                                                       February 2015

Homework expectations – Te Aramoana

This year, each of the children in Te Aramoana are lucky to have book bags donated by Gus Evans, the local garden centre. These book bags are on loan to your child for the year and should be returned to the class teacher at the end of 2015 for use next year. Please do not write on or spoil the bags if possible.  It is expected that children use these bags, as in 2014 it alleviated a number of problems with spoilt books, lost books and lost letters home. 

In Te Aramoana, all children are expected to practice reading, spelling and maths at home every night (Monday to Thursday).  We appreciate that children are busy with clubs and other activities but request that ideally, approximately 30 minutes per day is spent on set homework (or the equivalent time spread over the week).

We ask for your support in this but it is your child’s responsibility to ensure that they have the correct books at home and at school on the required days. Managing themselves independently is a key competency focus this term.

A breakdown of homework may be: reading – 15 minutes, spelling 5-10minutes, maths 5-10 minutes. Little and often is better than all at once.  Hopefully, the children will find the activities set, fun and interesting. Practice will definitely help with classwork.

Different teachers may have slightly different expectations or ways they request homework to be done but in room 19, the following is required:

Reading

·         The children have been asked to record their reading in the front of their 1I5 exercise book marked homework every night and return it to school each day. Some children’s books are checked daily, some I check once a week, dependent on ability. This is so I can check that children are reading and what type of books or stories they choose. Reading mileage is important for all reading abilities as it aids comprehension and fluency. Some children’s ability drops if they do not read regularly.  Children who continue to fail to bring their log into school with proof of reading will be asked to stay in at a lunch-time to read.

·         Could you please initial any reading you hear and you are welcome to comment if you wish.

·         Some children may be given school journals to read from and record daily. They are supposed to last just one week then be returned to school to be exchanged. Children may not read every article but choose from them and read and record daily.  I am reluctant to issue further school journals until some are returned so we don’t lose books but would encourage regular swapping so the children don’t get bored with the texts.

·         Children will visit the school library once a week (Wednesday) and be allowed to take out two books. One must stay at school to be read during class time, one may go home.  If your child forgets their book, they may read a book from home, the newspaper, a magazine, a recipe, game instructions, whatever they are interested in. Please still record it.

·         A key part of reading now for your child, particularly as they are probably decoding words fairly well, is to read fluently and comprehend.  To help your child with this, I enclose a sheet detailing what a fluent reader does and some typical comprehension questions that you could discuss. Once assessments have been done, your child will be given some ‘Next steps’ to focus on in reading and these will change over the year as your child progresses.

Spelling

·         At the back of your child’s homework book should be a list of words for the week that follow the spelling rule we are learning. Children will be allocated spelling groups dependent on their ability so not everyone in class will have the same words. Words will be put in books on Mondays usually, ready for a test on Friday.

·         Some children will still be working on the essential word list/trigger words too and a copy will be sent home if it is needed.  These are the most popular words using in writing and should be mastered as soon as possible.

·         Attached are a number of fun spelling activities your child can take part in to help them remember their words.  It is important to note though, that children are expected to learn the spelling rules so can spell any word that follows that rule, not just the set words given out.

·         Details of spelling rules to be learnt this term (ability dependent) is attached.

·         www.spellingcity.com  is a fun website with games to practise spelling.

·         Again, the homework book should be taken home and returned to school daily.

·         Additional worksheets and information may be sent home from time to time.

Mathletics

·         Children are expected to use the Mathletics computer program for 5-10 minutes each night.

·         Each child will all be allocated a password and hopefully your child will already be familiar with Mathletics and the learning opportunities it offers.  If it is new to them, they will be shown how to use it in class.  If your child does not have access to a computer at home, Mathletics homework may be done on class computers before school, so is still a homework requirement.

·         Mathletics tasks will usually be set according to what is being taught in their maths class that week. If all tasks are done, children may explore the website or play ‘live mathletics’. A tab called ‘Rainforest Maths’, found along the top of Mathletics home page, is another excellent resource. Further details of Skoolbo – another good website will be sent home too.

I realise this is a long note! Thank you for reading it and your support with homework over the coming year.  If you have any questions, please go and see your child’s class teacher or myself, Syndicate Leader.

Regards

Michelle Fearon (Syndicate Leader) and team