Homework

READING MASTERY: (include these minutes on their reading calendar)
Stories are to be preread each night for homework.  Refer to your 
group's page for stories/dates.
         
MATH:
Your child will have 1-2 pages of math homework Monday thru Thursday nights.  
Quite a bit of assessing will be going on at the beginning of the year.  Math 
facts are the foundation of first grade math.  Your child should begin 
working with flash cards as soon as possible, and they should become part of 
their daily homework routine throughout the year. Facts to 20 should be 
memorized by the end of the year.

SPELLING:
***Please go over your child's spelling book each day.***  
The homework to be done in the spelling book is listed in the front 
of the book by night.  The homework is to be done in the back half of 
the book.  Please make sure that your child keeps up with each 
assingment nightly.  When they are writing the sentences, EACH 
SENTENCE MUST CONTAIN AT LEAST ONE SPELLING WORD!  Please have your 
child underline the spelling word in each sentence.  To view the 
spelling lists for the week, please click on the "spelling lists" 
link.
**SPELLING TESTS ARE GIVEN ON FRIDAY**

FIX ITS:  
Worksheets that do not have an "OK" or "Keep Home" should be corrected and 
returned as soon as possible.

HANDWRITING:
The spelling books hold your child accountable for handwriting as 
well.  Sloppy work will be redone or copied onto another sheet of 
paper.

TAKE HOMES:
When your child brings home a Take Home worksheet, please check to 
see that it is starred on each side.  If it says "OK" or "Keep Home" on the 
front, no corrections need to be made.  If there are check marks (circles) 
by any questions, those need to be corrected for homework and 
returned the next day.  If you child is not sure what the correct 
answer might be, please help them look for it in the story.  The 
story number is at the top of every take home.

READING:
Record the number of minutes that your child reads (and/or that you 
read to him or her) on their monthly reading calendar (one will be sent home 
for each month).  Each calendar will state the minimum number of reading 
minutes for that month. That goal must be met to fulfill this element of 
homework and to receive a pizza certificate.  Turn in the calendar at the 
beginning of the following month.

SECRET SHARE:
Your child will have a specific share day each week.  That day will remain 
constant throughout the year.  He/she is to write (and then read) 3 clues 
that describe their object.  Please see the Secret Share page for 
sounds/dates.  Keep in mind that some weeks are skipped due to holidays or 
conferences.


Homework SHOULD NEVER be a battle.  Just explain to them that it is 
THEIR RESPONSIBILITY and if they "choose" not to do it then they have 
to explain to me why it wasn't done.  Generally I require them to 
make it up during recess, lunch, or free choice (Fun Friday) time.  

This is a very foundational year.  Establishing good study habits now 
will pay off in the future.  Please help your child establish a 
schedule for doing homework. Help you child become a responsible planner.