Shandrum National School

Homework Policy

Members of Working Group

§ Carmel Walmsley and teachers of Shandrum N.S.

§ Representative from the Parents Association.

§ Representative from B.O.M.

Why give homework?

§ To re-enforce what the child learns during the day.

§ To provide a link between teacher and parent

§ To develop a child's concentration skills and develop a work ethic

§ Homework is meant to be achievable by a child, i.e. it provides an opportunity to practise work already done. It is normally prepared by the teacher in class. However, sometimes with senior classes, some homework is designed to challenge children's ability and provide opportunities for creativity. Children are expected to do their homework to the best of their individual ability—no more, no less.

How often is homework given?

§ Homework is given on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays but not on Fridays.

There are two exceptions

§ If homework has been neglected during the week

§ In senior classes some project work is undertaken at weekends

§ Sometimes at the discretion of the class teacher or the principal, children are given “homework off" as a treat or as acknowledgment of some special occasion.

What is the content of homework?

§ Ideally homework will contain a balance between reading tasks, learning tasks and written tasks.

§ This balance is not always possible and can vary from day to day. However, it should be noted that homework time devoted to reading and learning is as important as written work.

§ Homework will regularly contain reading, spellings, tables, written work, drawing/colouring, collecting information/items and finishing work started in class.

§ Parents act as partners in their child’s education by supporting their child with his/her homework. It is important that parents oversee and help with homework always.

How much (time) homework?

§ The following are guidelines for time spent at homework. Different children will complete the same homework in different lengths of time. Time spent will vary from day to day and also from the beginning to the end of the school year. It is important to remember that it is the quality and not the quantity of homework that matters. The following are general guidelines only:

Junior Infants 0 - 15 minutes

Senior Infants Up to 20 minutes

Rang 1 Up to 30 minutes

Rang 2 Up to 40 minutes

Rang 3 Up to 50 minutes

Rang 4 Up to 1 hour

Rang 5 Up to 1 hour 15 minutes

Rang 6 Up to I hour 30 minutes

Homework is given from Monday to Thursday. Normally there is no homework at weekends or on a school day just before a public holiday. However, children in middle and senior classes may sometimes be required to work independently on projects at weekends.

How much help should parents give?

§ Parents should try to help their children with homework by:

- Providing them with a suitable place and time to do their homework

- Preventing interruptions or distractions, like T.V. or other children

§ Children should do written homework themselves and parents should only help when the child has difficulty

§ If a child has difficulty with homework, the parents should help the child to overcome the difficulty with further explanation or examples, but not by actually doing the homework for the child. In this case the parent should write a note to the teacher explaining the problem.

§ Shared reading is not homework in the regular sense and it is simply meant to be an enjoyable exercise between parent and child. If it's not enjoyable, shared reading should not be done.

How often should parents monitor homework?

§ Parents should check and sign a child's homework journal every evening.

§ The pupil's journal is an important record of the child's homework. It is also a valuable means of communication between parents and teachers.

§ Ideally, all written messages to your child's teacher should be put in the homework journal (additional pages available at the end of the journal or in the infants homework folders)

§ Please check that your child records its homework neatly in the correct page and ticks each item of homework when completed.

§ Shandrum N.S. letters to parents are folded and placed in the current day of the homework journal. Letters will be placed in the homework folders of the infant children. Please check your child's journal/bag for such notes on a regular basis.

How often do teachers monitor homework?

§ Ideally teachers like to check homework on a daily basis. However with large class numbers it is not always possible to check each child's homework every day.

§ As children get older and learn to work independently, some items of homework are checked less often e.g. every second day or once per week e.g. History, Geography, Science

§ Some items of homework (and class work) may be checked by children themselves under the direction of the teacher. This can be a useful part of the learning process for children.

When should parents communicate with the teachers about homework?

§ When your child cannot do homework due to Family circumstances

§ When your child cannot do homework because she/he cannot understand some aspect.

§ If the time being spent at homework is often longer than the recommended amount of time.

When should homework be done?

§ Each family situation is different - both parents working, child minders, etc. Ideally, homework should be done before any television is watched soon after school while your child is still fresh, however, some children need a break before starting homework.

§ Homework should never be left until morning time before school.

Remember

If homework is a stressful experience between parent and child, something is wrong! This leads to poor learning and defeats the whole purpose. Should this happen on a regular basis, please contact the class teacher.

This policy was passed by the Board of Management on 06/04/2006.

This policy was reviewed in November 2012 and June 2017.

Chairperson: Fr. Gerard Coleman