| ***TO READ,HOMEWORK POLICY AND RELATED INFORMATION, SCROLL DOWN***
HOMEWORK WEEK OF 12-1-08
STUDENT READS FOR 20 MINUTES, PARENTS SIGN READING LOG
MATH WORKSHEET- included in packet
SPELLING:
1. could __________ _____________ _____________
2. couldn’t __________ _____________ _____________
3. penny __________ _____________ _____________
4. penniless __________ _____________ _____________
5. study__________ _____________ _____________
6 studies ______________ _____________ _____________
7. thought __________ _____________ _____________
8. thoughtless ___________ _____________ _____________
9. connect __________ _____________ _____________
10. disconnect __________ _____________ _____________
11. responsible __________ _____________ _____________
12. irresponsible __________ _____________ _____________
13. think __________ _____________ _____________
14. rethink _____________ ____________ _____________
VOCABULARY: None this week
WRITING Pick Your Own Topic, 150 word minimum
GRAMMAR:
Directions: Each sentence has errors. Read it out loud so you can see the
mistakes, and then write a corrected version on the line below.
EXAMPLE "i like the beach it is good it is hot it is noyzee"
can be improved by writing
"I love the beach. The beach is wonderful. The beach is hot. The beach is
noisy.", or even better, "The beach is hot, wonderful, and noisy."
1. we are moving to walnut city california next april
2. today we will read a poem called wind wolves
3. time and steve doesn’t want to move to chicago illinois
4. She likes to run. She likes to jump. She likes to shout.
5. dad and me isn’t going to dr tompson office today
6. on april 4 2005 i will go to visit the white house
7. me and my dad is painting are house
8. randy yelled get off of the sidewalk
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
Read Log Read/Log Read/Log Read/Log
Grammar Writing Writing Spelling
Spelling Math Spelling Writing
Spelling Math Grammar
The above schedule is only a suggested guide; you can do what you want at
your own pace.
Reading Log and Sign Off Sheet
Date_______Pages Read________Title______Parent Signature ____________________
Date_______Pages Read________Title______Parent Signature ____________________
Date_______Pages Read________Title______Parent Signature ____________________
Date_______Pages Read________Title______Parent Signature ____________________
HOMEWORK POLICY AND RELATED INFORMATION
Homework is handed out the first of the week and is due at the end of
the week, right when school starts. Part of the idea of homework is to
teach responsibility, right? Well if we allow the kids to bring in their
homework late or incomplete in any way, the message we're sending the kids
is that they can cut corners and get away with it. That's not helping them,
that's teaching them poor working habits, so we don't "go there". Similarly,
allowing the kids to have their parents to bring it in later because they
left it on their desks at home will not help them either. We want to teach
responsibility and self-reliance. It's either in neat and complete when the
bell rings in the am, or it isn't. (Note- I have three daughters who are 8
and 10, as well as a 2 year old,and I practice these same things at home. In
fact if my daughters give my wife and I much grief about getting their work
done I simply email the teacher or send in a note and tell them that I would
like them to sit down during recess and do their work then.)
All homework is reviewed the day I give it out and the kids are
responsible for telling me when they have specific questions. They can't
wait until Friday morning to tell me they didn't do it because they
didn't "get it". If a child is absent they need to come to me when they get
back and ask for the homework packet; I won't track them down. If there is a
legitimate reason for the child not completing their homework neatly and
completely and on time, simply write it in a note and have them hand it in
Friday morning. That's no big deal, as long as it doesn't become a habit.If
they don't have the note with them when the bell rings I will assume they
have no valid excuse.
I look over the homework right away and check it for accuracy and
completeness. Most of it is review so I don't look it over in microscopic
detail since I know where they're at academically anyway. Basically I'm most
concerned with the effort they put into their writing assignment. They have
4 days to write it, and since 99.9% of teh students can write 75 words
when I tell them to (to varying degrees of quality of course)in less than 20
minutes, I know that they will easily be able to write 100-150 words or
more, IF THEY FOCUS. If they dilly-dally and hem and haw and procrastinate,
it can take them many hours, but that is their choice. Don't let them play
you on that.
I usually have them write something as soon as they enter my class and
I time them, so I know just how much they can write in 30 minutes. Once we
establish this, then they have no excuses, and all you have to do is tell
them that they do it regularly in class. It is not your job as a parent to
write it for them. Some clever kids will tell you they can't do it and you
break down and say, "Ok, lemme do it for you." Don't. You can give them
ideas, but let them know the effort must come from within. As for correcting
them, there is a time and a place, and that is after they are done. Let them
get all the raw material out on paper, and then help them edit it when
they've gotten it all down. If you nitpick while they are writing they will
get discouraged. Don't interrupt their momentum. You can be in the room and
glance every so often at their work while they are writing and tell them you
like what you hear. Root them on.
If your child is below grade level in an area of learning I will
contact you and we may decide, together, that it is best to modify their
homework to suit their needs. Similarly if they are above grade level I will
modify their assignments to challenge them. Homework is not a one size fits
all deal.
I make up most of my own curriculum for the class, and that includes
homework as well. It takes me a lot more time to do that, but it's worth it.
I make it interesting and relevant. I do not assign busy work. I base it on
the California State Standards. If you want to look at these standards, go
the the links section of this website and click on them. These two strands
are the nuts and bolts of what I'm required to teach, and that's what the
kids are tested on at the end of the year. (I also cover the social studies
and science standards).
Some of the materials (such as the workbooks) provided to me are
repetitive, bland, uninspiring, and condescendingly simple. You know,
the "Color in all the letters in the path that add up to 3-what animal word
does that spell? That's right kids- C-O-W!" If I find it boring, I'm sure
the kids think it is, too. I try my best to ensure your kids are getting a
custom-fit education in here. I familiarize myself with the material I am
provided with, make sure I cover everything that's in there, use the high
quality parts, and then make up the rest of the things myself. I enjoy
talking about these matters and would be delighted to talk with anyone about
this in greater detail if they would like to. I'm open to suggestions.
Finally I will need a homework volunteer to come in Monday somewhere's
around 10:00- 12:00, get the homework from me, run off copies for every
student, and collate and staple them. It's an important yet not terribly
demanding task. It's imperative that this volunteer show up at that time
every week, so if you can only do it once in awhile, you might be better off
finding another way to contribute.
| |
