Homework consists of 3 parts: a daily home reading envelope, a daily math facts envelope, and a
weekly homework packet.
Daily Home Reading Envelope:
It is very important to have your child practice reading on a nightly basis. Please have your child
practice the new minibook several times until he/she can read it fluently (like talking) and accurately.
If your child requires less practice, you can supplement with reading at your child's independent
reading level using the five finger rule. Please initial and date the reading envelope and return it to
school daily with the current mini-book(s) inside.
Your child will read the mini-book to a teacher or other adult at school. If he/she is able to read the
book accurately and fluently, it will be stamped "I can read it myself." Books with this stamp that are
returned home may be kept at home in a special book box for review. Reading and rereading text is
the best way to increase fluency and automaticity. Books that do not bear this stamp require
additional work and should be kept in the reading envelope and included in the nightly practice.
Daily Math Facts Envelope:
Please also make sure your child practices his/her math flashcards nightly. Focus should be on
memorizing the new facts (usually 3-4 facts a night) with a small amount of time spent on reviewing
older facts. When your child "passes" a math race level, he/she will color in a new box on his/her
math envelope and receive new flashcards to cut out, write his/her name on, and practice that night.
Please initial and date the envelope to show that your child completed his/her nightly practice and
return the envelope containing all flashcards to school daily.
Weekly Homework Packets:
Homework packets will be sent on Friday and will be due back the following Thursday.
They will include nightly spelling word practice and additional practice and review of concepts I
have already taught in class. Please help your child get into a routine of completing a small
portion of the packet each night rather than trying to finish the packet in one sitting. Thank you for
checking your child's work each night, so he/she gets timely feedback at home.
The spelling words are the most frequently used words in the English language. Many of
these can not be sounded out. For example, your child may try to spell "was" w-u-z if he/she is
sounding out. Please remind your child that these words must be memorized and encourage them
to make up fun chants, songs, and tricks to remember the correct spellings as well as practicing
writing them correctly at least twice every night (8-14 times per week minimum). If your child
already knows how to spell all of the words, you can substitute writing sentences or stories using the
spelling words.
While your child is reading decodable stories, it is important for you to read books above your child's
reading level to your child to build a love of good literature. Please be sure to record these titles on
the reading log in the weekly homework packet.
Thank you for all you do. Your partnership and support at home makes a world of difference in your
child's learning.
