Homework
- Homework is a time for children to practice what they have learned in class and solidify their understanding of new concepts. I understand the need for children to also play and communicate with friends and family, so I try to keep homework to a minimum. Most nights homework will be reading, preferably the same book they are reading at school and a practice sheet with problems similar to those we worked on in math class that day.
- Please check and sign your child's homework planner each night. Children should get in the habit of writing down their homework assignments each day. Even though most days the homework will look the same, check for any additional unfinished work that needs to be finished for homework.
- If you see that your child is struggling, feel free to help them, and let me know if you see any areas of concern. Of course, the students need to do all writing, and do their own work, but you are a valuable help to your child! I would like to help you so homework time is not painful for anyone!
Assignment Planner and Reading Log
This year, students will receive a planner which is to be filled out by the student each day in class with the homework assignments and signed by the parent or guardian each evening. Monday through Thursday the students will have assignments that review concepts that we have covered in class.
Students should read silently or to a parent for 30 minutes or more, 7 days a week. Please have students bring their book back and forth to class as this will help them meet their 40 Book Challenge! In addition, once every week or two, students will be required to write about their reading in their reading journals (more info at back to school night.)
Reading
A few years ago, I read the books, The Book Whisperer and Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller, and it transformed my thinking about nightly reading logs and classroom reading. Donalyn was a middle school reading teacher, now a literary coach, who has developed the idea that in teaching children to become better readers, they should actually be reading more! Research has shown dramatic increases in reading levels occur the more a child reads. I plan to create a reading climate in our classroom in which we share books, talk about books, write about books, and of course, read many books. I think this will be an exciting year of reading!
The main idea of this program is that students are assigned a number of books in several different genres to read and occasionally respond to in a reading journal. Students have the freedom to choose which genres and books they read and when, with the goal of finishing all required genres by the end of the year.
- We will be teaching/learning ways for the students to choose books that are at their correct independent levels to guide them to choose books that are just right for them.
- I will also confer with them individually from time to time, learning about their reading styles, and helping them along the way. I will be reminding them of how to choose books on their own, offering suggestions, and helping clear away any obstacles that might keep them from being successful in their reading life.
Though this goal may seem unattainable at first, children can accomplish this goal by:
- reading the same book at school and at home.
- In order to be successful, children need to read as much as possible. Please encourage your child to read on weekends, on vacations, and every night.
- With the time we spend in class and the time they spend at home, children will begin to finish books and learn to enjoy many different types of books!
- Books need to be books that the children read this school year. (2019-2020)
- Graphic novels are acceptable. While the goal is for children to learn to read books that increase in complexity, graphic novels can be a gateway to a love for reading.
- In general, books of 85 pages or more will count as 1 book, and 275-300 pages will count as 2 books. For some genres it is difficult to find longer books such as biographies, poetry, and traditional literature.
- Please check your child’s journal every week or two, encourage them to be recording all books that they begin, and record a tally mark beside the genre chart when they complete a book.
We will celebrate all readers, reading levels, and effort! I recognize that this may feel like an overwhelming goal to some readers. Please encourage them to do their personal best. We will celebrate progress toward the goal all year!
This is the forty book requirement:
Genre
Poetry ( 3
Traditional Literature 2
Realistic Fiction 4
Historical Fiction 3
Fantasy 4
Graphic Novel (any genre) 2
Mystery 3
Informational 3
Biography/Autobiography 3
Chapter Book Free Choice 13
Homework Extension:
Do you ever feel that your child doesn’t have enough homework? Here are some ideas on how you can extend your child’s homework.
1. Write a book report on a book you have read.
2. Write an advertisement for a favorite book or make a slideshow..
3. Make a diorama of a favorite story or theme (Native Americans, early Californians) that we are studying.
4. Research: Choose a topic (alligators, dinosaurs, planets) and write a report on it from several resource books at the library or from the internet.(Can be done with google slides, as well.
5. Handwriting practice: Write the alphabet several times in cursive if you have learned all the upper and lower case letters.
6. Write addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division problems or find them online.
7. After watching a T.V. program or movie, write a summary of it.
8. Write a letter to a friend or relative.
9. Help a parent cook or bake something. Read them the recipe. Help them measure the ingredients.
10. Make a book report or any kind of report using Google slides. Add graphics, sound, insert photos and videos.
11. At the grocery store: estimate the cost of the bill, how much change you will get back, help decide which brands are better to buy, discuss the measurement amounts/metric or standard measurement?
12. Play games that teach: Yatzee, Monopoly, Boggle, Battleship, word searches, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, etc.
13. Go to museums, the library, parks, police station, fire department, zoos, mountains, etc.
14. Go on one of the websites that we use in class. Khan Academy, Arcademics, Freerice.com, Brainpop, IXL reading and math, ZEARN.org for math practice.
USE YOUR IMAGINATION and HAVE FUN!!!