Homework this year in fifth grade at Eagle Crest.  

Here’s what to expect -

It's basically a question of BALANCE.

 

 

• A big part of homework for me is an opportunity for students to practice independence and responsibility.     

• While we will have homework, I am deeply aware, and respect that children need time to enjoy their own life, have free time, get enough sleep and participate in family obligations.  

• I try to explain the purpose of every assignment and why it’s important to complete it.  Generally homework is assigned to practice and reinforce skills we have learned in class.

• I try to acknowledge the children’s efforts in completing homework and encourage all parents to do the same. I encourage parents to create an atmosphere conducive to homework (the sofa in front of the TV watching “American Idol” is probably not the best location.)

• I try to give feedback in a timely manner on all homework but not necessarily "grade" all of it.  Just as a soccer coach doesn’t grade every session, remember that homework is intended to be practice, not a test.

• I try to collect, check, and discuss homework to show that I value children’s efforts and show them that it is worth their while to complete assignments.

• I try to assign homework that enriches students’ experiences and allows them to express their individuality and creativity, as well as take into account different learning styles and intelligences.

• I try to allow for differentiation in homework so that kids that need challenge can use skills to work up to their ability.

• We will spend time talking a lot about time managment so kids can develop organizational skills. I try to consistently use our homework planners so that students will remember to do their homework  and organize their assignments.  These planners give students and parents a complete and accurate listing of all assignments. 

 

 

 

 

What homework is not . . .

 

1.  A task just for students who are having difficulty.

2.  Busywork.

3.  Punishment.

4.  A way to have students teach themselves.

 

 

Here are some questions that students in my class often have . . .

 

Q. How hard will the homework be?

 

A. These homework problems are set up to make you think and practice what we’ve talked about and learned in class. Learning to do some good work at home and bringing it back to school is something you’ll be doing more of when you go off to middle school, and later high school.

This work is not real hard, it’s not designed to be really hard.  It’s designed to help you get better at what we do in class everyday. You should be able to do these without your parents or friend’s help.  Sometimes the problems you’ll see will make you really work. If you worked hard on a problem for say 10 minutes or more and still have a question, circle it and see Mr. Blaser before Friday.

I can help you.

 

Q. Well, a lot of homework I had before was either too easy or too hard. Will this be the same kind of . . . ?

 

A. We’ve talked a lot in class about how we all have different abilities and talents,  so some of the week’s exercises are set up to be differentiated.

This means we’re trying to set up work geared to your ability level.  

(If you’re an ok swimmer but want to get better, we wouldn’t put you in the “Splashing for Tots Class” on the one hand or “Advanced Scuba Diving in Shark Infested Waters,” on the other, now would we?)

 

Q. How much time should you be spending each night?

 

A. It will vary for everyone.  On the average you should probably be spending around 30 minutes per night, M-TH.  (This does not include your weekly reading which should average around 20 minutes.)  So, 30 + 20 = 50, you should be doing somewhere around 50 minutes of homework M-TH.

Remember, you are to do a good job on this.  Quality work is something we will be talking about all year long.  A lot of times teachers get work from students that is done; but not done well.  

 

(Sometimes I can flip through the newspaper and “read” it in 10 minutes, but I probably don’t have a great understanding about what I read.)

 

We want you to do a good job.

 

Q. Will I get a grade for my homework?

 

A. Remember, this is practice, so we’ll be giving you feedback on how you did. How you do on homework definitely affects your grade this year; but it isn’t graded in the usual sense of A, B, C, etc.

We will follow the rubric we talk about at the beginning of the year and is shown at the bottom of this document. 

 

 

Q. So I can expect this every week for the rest of the year?

 

A. You won’t be having this weekly homework every single week; some weeks we might skip this (if there is a long term assignment we’d like you to concentrate on,  if it’s a short week before a vacation, etc.)

We also might add some additional things throughout the week as needed, but generally you can count on this weekly format each Monday.

 

Q. So we have homework every night?

 

A. Pretty much. (One thing we teachers in 5th grade have a pet peeve about is getting asked if there’s homework every night. The answer is pretty much always “yes.”)

 

Q. What happens if I don't complete homework?

 

A. I like to have reasonable consequences, but they're pretty firm.

Putting kids on a bench or humilating them defeats the purpose of the assignment.

Generally, if you don't complete an assignment it's reasonable to expect that you might get a lower grade. I also try to help kids by letting them come in earlier in the morning or staying after school.   Often kids who don't get their work done during the week may have to go to a study hall time on Friday so that they can finish. 

This is not punishment, it is simply the natural consequence of not finishing.

 

Q. Can we ask you anyway?

 

A. I suppose. But you’ll get a karate chop.

Seriously, we know you can do well on this.  Good luck.

 

 

 

 

Reading Guidelines for HW

 

Kids, we know that sometimes your school week

can get really busy.  We want you to learn and do

well at school, but still do all the other things kids

like to do:  play soccer, practice the piano, swim,

feed your pet monkey . . . whatever it is you need

to do to be a kid  . . . so,

we’re setting up your reading homework this year to allow you to work at your own pace, on your own time.  

 

What do you mean “our own pace?”

 

Well, since your reading assignment is always to read 150 or more per week/ answer some reading response questions so you can budget your time and fit in the extra things that you need to do during the week.

(If you have soccer practice, have house chores and your favorite TV show is all on Wednesday, maybe you want to read more on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.)  You get to choose when you read.

Because you plan your own schedule, everything will be due on Friday, no exceptions.