Homework is an area which many students dislike, but it is a very helpful time to reinforce the skills taught in class. Students at 5th grade should NOT be working more than one hour on homework each night. Our classroom has a Homework Board on the side blackboard, and assignments are posted each day. Before the students leave for the day they copy their assignments into their agendas, which I check daily. During Block time students can ask for some extra help.
FOLDERS- EACH SUBJECT HAS A COLOR-CODED FOLDER WHERE STUDENTS PLACE THEIR PAPERS FOR EACH CONTENT AREA. THESE PAPERS SHOULD REMAIN IN THESES FOLDERS UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE HOME AND TAKE OUT. WHEN POSSIBLE I WILL COLOR-CODE THE SHEETS THAT ARE TO REMAIN IN THEIR FOLDER.
READING/LANGUAGE ARTS homework always includes at least 30 minutes of reading a book club book or a book of his/her choice. This should be a book that students really want to read. Students should be filling out his/her reading log each night. Sometimes there will be a written assignment which reinforces the reading skill we are working on in class.
MATH- There will be a practice page which reinforces the skills we learned in class that day. Homework should include a daily practice of basic math facts. At 5th grade, it is so important that students have a mastery of all 4 operations since we will be working on math skills which assume that these are known.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We do not use the book as our main resource but use a variety of sources from which we learn. Students usually will have homework one or two times a week, along with long term projects. Projects are assigned well in advance and due dates will be posted on the calendar link on this site. They will be quizzed frequently on the covered material, which will be assigned well in advance of the quiz date.
SCIENCE- This year our units are: How Can We Predict a Change in the Ecosystem? How Can We Use the Sky to NAvigate? How Can WE Provide Fresh Water to Those in Need? How Can We Identify Materials Based on Their Properties? D.A.R.E. is also a part of the science curriculum. We do not use a book as our main resource but use a variety of other sources from which we learn. Taking good notes and keeping these papers in order is a MUST for good organization. Anything that is to remain in your child's science folder will be copied on blue paper. We will have long term projects which I will inform you about well in advance and will be posted on the calendar link on this site.
GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING GOOD STUDY SKILLS
Students should be sure to copy assignments in their agendas daily. As they prepare to move to middle school, they need to have this study skill in place.
A quiet place should be provided to work on assignments. A desk or a table with minimal distractions is helpful.
A time built into students' busy schedules is also helpful. Some students like to do homework as soon as they come home from school. Others need time to get some exercise and relax for a bit before they begin homework. Find out what works for you.
It helps to begin with the assignment which is the most difficult first. Students should estimate how long it will take to complete this assignment and try to focus on only this.
Depending on each student's study habits, some children will benefit from help from parents. Checking off assignments in agendas as they are completed and getting some clarification from parents can be beneficial.
Parents should be sure to contact me with any questions or concerns about homework. I would be happy to talk to you!
