Homework Policies

Why I Give Homework

First Grade has many "firsts" to be experienced by your child. One of those firsts is to have consistent and required homework every day. This is designed to instill good habits establishes now that will most likely carry throughout their academic career. Therefore, homework in first grade has two purposes:

1. It provides an opportunity to establish good practices and it reinforces skills taught in class. Homework should take your first grader approximately 15-20 minutes each night to complete. Your child should be fairly independent in completing their homework, as I go over what is expected at the end of each day.
2. Also, because it will always be a review of the skills and concepts learned at school, your child should be equipped with the information needed to complete the homework. If your child is confused, or is taking longer than 20 minutes to complete the assignment, please write me a note and attach it to the homework. Draw a line to show me what your child accomplished in 20 minutes. Try to keep homework time as positive and stress-free as possible.

Along with the assignments, your first grader should be engaged in 15 minutes of pleasurable reading each day. This includes your child reading to you, you reading to your child and/or shared reading. Again, this time should be positive and stress-free.

Ways to Help Your Child With Homework

1. Help your child find a quiet, well-lit area to work. The same place every day is usually best.

2. Keep supplies handy: sharpened pencils, erasers, markers, crayons scissors, glue, ruler, etc.

3. Pick a homework time and be consistent.

4. Let your child do his/her own homework; it can be checked to see that it's finished, but refrain from having them change answers to make them all correct. If your child is having a lot of trouble with the homework assignment, please write me a note to that effect.

5. Make homework a priority. It needs to be more important than TV, playdates, sports, etc.

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