Homework

It’s the Easter holidays…

…so we have no set homework or spellings, in line with our Homework Policy.

That doesn’t mean we expect your child not to be developing their skills in reading, writing and maths!

Your child should be reading daily – this could be fiction, factual books, a comic or newspaper, and could include being read to at bedtime, too.

It would be good to practise basic skills in writing by writing a letter or email to a relative, perhaps recounting a day-trip or reviewing a film your child watched.

We’re finding quite a few children are ‘squashing their sentences’ such as I went to Leeds City Museum it was really interesting which is wrong.  It would be much better with punctuation to separate or a word to join:

• I went to Leeds City Museum. It was really interesting. (A comma isn’t strong enough to separate two sentences.)
• I went to Leeds City Museum – it was really interesting.
• I went to Leeds City Museum; it was really interesting.
• I went to Leeds City Museum and it was really interesting.
• I went to Leeds City Museum which was really interesting.

Finally, to improve calculation skills, please keep practising mental number facts which your child must know:

• number bonds (two numbers which add up to 10, 20 and 100 eg 3+7, 13+7, 30+70) – these facts should be known by children in Y1 – Y2
• times tables (up to 12×12) and the division facts with your child – children in Y2 should have rapid recall of x2, x 5 and x 10 at least

We know we mention these ‘basics’ a lot, but that’s because they involve practice, practice and more practice – we practise a lot at school, but your child will need to practise at home, too, if they are to truly succeed.

Learn more about current expectations for reading, writing and maths.  However, do be aware that a new National Curriculum comes into effect from September, meaning these expectations have been raised and so many aspects of learning now feature in younger age groups.

28 March 2014

This week’s homework is creative.

I can show that I am working towards my maths target.

All of the children have written their new maths target in their homework book this week. In as creative a way as they can think of, they need to show that they have started to work towards that target in this week’s homework. We discussed this together and lots of brilliant ideas were suggested for a range of targets:

• Making a shop at home to become more confident with money.
• Designing a picture with lines of given lengths to practise using a ruler accurately.
• Gathering data and creating a graph.
• Doing some baking to practise using scales.

These were just some of the ideas – I wonder what else the children will come up with…

Looking forward to seeing what you do, especially after the high quality of homework last week.

28 March 2014

This week’s homework is talk time and is due in on Wednesday 02 April 2014.

I can recognise my own talents.

The SEAL theme at the moment is “Good To Be Me”.   We all have different talents and it is important that we recognise this.  Talk to your child about things you are good at and ask them to think about their own talents.  Do you have the same talents or are they different?

28 March 2014

The homework this week is talk time and is due in on Wednesday 02 April.

I can talk about my talents.

The SEAL theme at the moment is Good to be me. Everyone has different talents and things that they are good at. Talk to your child about the different talents that you have in your family. Do you share any of the same talents? Are they totally different?

21 March 2014

This week’s homework is creative.  Now the Big Topic is finished, we would like to see what your child has learnt and what they have enjoyed the most.

I can show what I have learnt about heroes.

This can be presented in any way that you like.  Here are some ideas:

• a mindmap
• dress up as a hero – take a photo and write lots of facts
• what does hero mean?
• collage showing lots of different types of heroes

Looking forward to seeing all sorts of interesting homework.  It’s due to be handed in on Thursday 27 March as school will be closed on Wednesday 26 March.

14 March 2014

This week’s homework is talk time and is due in on Wednesday 19 March.

Are all “heroes” paid fairly?

There are heroes in all walks of life but are they all paid appropriately? 

Is it fair that a sporting hero earns a lot of money in comparison to a police officer or fire fighter?  Does it mean that if you are paid more then you are more of a hero?

These are questions that would be interesting to discuss with your child.  We look forward to hearing about your discussions on Wednesday in our homework time.

14 March 2014

The homework this week is practice makes perfect and is due in on Wednesday 19 March.

I can find fractions.

We’ve been learning about fractions this week so this homework is an extension of that learning. All children have a worksheet in their books which they have to complete and hand in. Ask your children what methods they have been using to find the answers to similar problems this week.

Please come and see me if you have any questions.

07 March 2014

For all children in Year 1 – Year 6, the homework this week is creative and is due in on Wednesday 12 March.

 I can respond to my reading.

This homework follows the wonderful costumes and learning inspired by World Book Day.

As always, some ways that your children can respond are listed below:

• Write a letter to a character or author.
• Interview a character or author.
• Annotate a page of a novel with words/phrases/sentences/ descriptions that you like and why (top tip: get a photocopy of the page, don’t annotate your actual book!)
• Create a book review.
• Create a comic strip which summarises the story.

28 February 2014

This week’s homework is practice makes perfect.

In maths this week, there have been lots of addition and thinking about mental strategies.  The children have been encouraged to look for patterns and number bonds to help solve different calculations.  This week’s homework is consolidating this learning.

It’s half-term…

It’s the half-term, so in line with our current homework policy, there are no homework tasks or spellings to learn.

However, please make sure you’re reading lots with your child – we’re finding children are reading less than they need to if they are to gain fluency and understanding.  You could take your child to a local library, hunt down an old favourite to re-visit, plan a story book for each bedtime over the holiday, read more about a favourite subject on the internet, buy a comic or magazine… And, so they have good role models, make sure your child sees you read, too!

Our current homework policy will be reviewed soon.  A small number of you have told us you’re not entirely happy with it – it would be really helpful if you tell us more about what you’d like.  Send us an email or speak with Mrs Weekes or me about this.  Thank you.