***TO READ,HOMEWORK POLICY AND RELATED INFORMATION, SCROLL DOWN***
HOMEWORK WEEK OF 11-9-09
STUDENT READS FOR 20 MINUTES, PARENTS SIGN READING LOG
MATH WORKSHEETS- included in packet
SPELLING
1 Tuesday __________ _____________ _____________
2. Wednesday __________ _____________ _____________
3. Thursday __________ _____________ _____________
4. January __________ _____________ ____________
5. February ______________ _____________ _____________
6. August _______________ ____________ ________________
7. because ____________ _____________ _____________
8. example ___________ _____________ _____________
9. noisy ____________ _____________ _____________
10. noisier _____________ _____________ _____________
11. noisiest _____________ _____________ _____________
12. memory _____________ _____________ _____________
13. memories______________ _____________ _____________
14. memorable _____________ ____________ _____________
15. mention ______________ ______________ _______________
MATH: Have the kids memorize these:
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30
4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40
6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70
if they already know these have them memorize the 9's and 11's.
WRITING Write a story about a journey you will take, or have taken.
GRAMMAR
To celebrate Mr. Schwartz's 12th wedding anniversary there will be no grammar
this week.
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. get out of my house he screamed
________________________________________________________________
2. sandras hat is colorful sandras hat is large
_______________________________________________________________
3. i just wrote a book called how to do your homework
__________________________________________________________________
4. mr and mrs purty live in flagstaff Arizona
_________________________________________________________________
5. me and mrs tally are the most bestest frends
_________________________________________________________________
6. school begins on august 26 2004
________________________________________________________________
7. i went to my friends house on 123 gilly road oceanside california
____________________________________________________________________
8. sally went home and watched tv and she brushed her teeth
_______________________________________________________________
VOCABULARY
1. locate- to find where something is
“Can you help me locate my car keys?”
2. value– how much something is worth
When something like a car or a painting is special, it’s value will go up.
3. increase- to make more of, to make the number of go higher
My doctor said I need to increase the amount of exercise I am getting and
decrease the amount of pizza I eat.
4. necessary- needed
When you go to Pine Island it is necessary to stay on the grass so you won’t
get hit by a car.
5. comprehend- to understand
I cannot comprehend why you didn’t hand in your homework if you worked so
hard on it and it was in your backpack..
The schedule below is only a suggested guide; you can do what you want at
your own pace as long as the entire homework packet is neat and complete and
handed in on time.
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
Read Log Read/Log Read/Log Read/Log
Grammar Writing Writing Spelling
Spelling Math Spelling Writing
Spelling Math Grammar
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 11, as well as a 3 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 the 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 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 some where’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.
