Homework Policy

Why give homework:

• To reinforce what the child learns during the day and to encourage children to work independently.
• 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 practice work already done. It is normally prepared by the class 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 ability - no more, no less

How often is Homework given?

• Homework is given Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays but not Fridays. There are exceptions to this which would include if homework had been neglected during the week or perhaps in Senior classes some project work may be undertaken at weekends.
• Sometimes at the discretion of the class teacher or the Principal, children are given 'homework off' as a treat or as acknowledgement of some special occasion.
• Please note extra homework may be sometimes given during the week or weekend if a child has not done homework, make a suitable effort or presented untidy work.
• Failure to do homework will be recorded and brought to the attention of parents and is regarded as a breach of school rules.

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 considerably 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, pieces to be 'learned by heart', drawing/colouring, collecting information / items and finishing work started in class. Children often feel that reading and 'learning by heart' is not real homework. Parents can play an important role in listening to reading and items to be learned ensuring this work is done well.

How much (time) homework?
The following are guidelines as to how much time the average child should spend at his / her 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. It is assumed that the time spent will be free from television and other distractions. We advise that parents spend an extra 10 minutes at an alternative time each day revising reading, phonics and other subjects with Junior and Senior Infants. A tick (/) is placed on the top of the page of homework to be done in Junior and Senior Infants.

Junior Infants 10 - 15 minutes
Senior Infants 15 - 20 minutes
1st Class 20 - 30 minutes
2nd Class 30 - 40 minutes
3rd Class 30 - 40 minutes
4th Class 40 - 50 minutes
5th Class 50 - 60 minutes
6th Class 50 - 60 minutes

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 the 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 parents 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 are asked to 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.
• Please check that your child records his/her home-work neatly in the correct page and ticks each item of homework when completed.
• Scoil Naomh Sheosaimh's newsletters and other letters to parents are folded and placed in the homework journal. Please check your child's journal for such notes on a regular basis.
• Children will be expected to present a standard of written work on par with their ability. Neatness is to be encouraged from the beginning.

How often do teachers monitor homework?

• Ideally teachers like to check homework on a daily bases. However, with large class numbers it is not always possible to check each child's homework journal 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. Some items of homework (and classwork) 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.
• We would suggest that children would begin with their Mathematics homework, then written work, then reading and finally work that needs to be learned off (memorised) e.g. Spellings, Tables and Poetry.
• There are many other activities which you can do with your child for example, read a story, provide paint or crayons etc. The above guidelines should not limit you in any way.

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.