My homework philosophy is simple. If you work hard during the day during
school hours, then you should find plenty of time to enjoy your evening
hours. However, we also understand as lifelong learners that there are a
few things that we need to practice daily to maintain the new skills and
concepts that we are working on in the classroom.
I encourage you to build in ten to fifteen minutes of reading practice
each night. Practice makes progress. My hope is that reading becomes a
part of your daily schedule, just like brushing your teeth! You can read
independently, to a sibling, to an adult, or better yet . . . mix it up!
Second grade is the year that we begin to see a shift in learning to read
and reading to learn.
Students will be asked to spend time at home working on our "No Excuse!"
words. These are the words that all second graders need to know how to
spell. These words will be covered in the first semester of school and will
become part of our word wall. The second semester will be devoted to
working on word families, those words with like spellings. Some students
will find that spelling comes more naturally to them, and lots of practice
may not be needed. However, some of us may find that outside practice is
necessary.
Students will also be asked to practice basic math facts at home. While we
will spend time in class each day practicing at our own levels, it may not
be enough to solidify the facts. This job can truly be done in a matter of
minutes. You can use traditional flashcards or use the online program we use
at school, Math Facts in a Flash. Keep it short but keep it consistent.
This is the second year for our new math series, Everyday Mathematics. The
program introduces skills and concepts quickly and then spirals back to them
for mastery during the year. Your child will be bringing home a Math
Newsletter at the beginning of each unit. Use it as a resource. It is full
of ideas on how you can help support your child's learning and games that you
can play at home to practice the skills that are being taught in class. Your
child will also bring home Home Links on a regular basis. This is assigned
math homework and usually takes just a few minutes to complete. It is
important to complete these outside of class to support what is being taught
during class.
If you find your child is bringing home more work than what is outlined
above, it may because he/she is struggling to complete work during class
time. I will always keep you informed in your child's planner about
homework as it relates to the school day.