Homework

Cactus Ranch has established homework policies for each grade level.  Throughout the year in second grade your child will bring home three things each week:  a homework agenda for reading homework, a spelling paragraph, and a math review sheet.  All homework assignments will be sent home on Fridays and should be returned the following Thursday.  There will be positive rewards for homework turned in on time and a day of grace given to turn in late assignments with no penalty.  However, if homework is not completed or turned in by Friday, students will miss recess that day and attend Study Hall instead.
 
1. Reading Homework:
Students will be required to read four evenings a week for a minimum of 20 minutes each time.  The purpose of the homework agenda is for the student to record daily reading assignments by writing down the title, author, and amount of time read in a certain book.  For example…
 
Monday, August, 17
Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel for 20 minutes
 

Tuesday, August, 18
Romona Forever by Beverly Cleary for 30 minutes


Please sign or initial next to the book title.  This is to ensure that your child is reading texts on their level.  Agendas will be checked for reading signatures on Thursday mornings.  If 4 nights of reading are not completed, your child will attend Study Hall on Thursday to make up reading time.
 
2. Spelling Homework:
Spelling this year will be taught in the form of a paragraph.  Each Friday a new paragraph of three to five sentences will be passed out to the students.  On Friday, as a class, the students will read the paragraph and pick out words that they feel may be difficult or tricky.  These words will be circled in the paragraph, recorded into their student agendas, and given extra practice and attention throughout the week.  Although these tricky or difficult words are picked out and recorded in a special spot, the student is responsible for learning all of the words and punctuation of the paragraph for the test the following Thursday.
 
To help practice and prepare the students for the test they will be given three homework assignments each week to go along with the in-class activities.  These three assignments will need to be turned in and attached to the math homework sheet on Thursday of each week to receive credit.  The test will be taken on Thursday and a new paragraph passed out on Friday to repeat the process.   It is the responsibility of the student to ask for another paragraph if theirs is lost. 

Spelling Homework: (on notebook paper from home - I like the students to turn in 3 separate sheets, one for each assignment)

1. Monday-Write paragraph once

2. Tuesday-Write tricky words 4 times each

3. Wednesday-Write paragraph once


The paragraph will be taken from a reading selection studied and discussed previously in the week.  The children will recognize and connect the paragraph to a previous learning experience. This allows for a more whole language approach and also teaches spelling words in their context.  By using the same paragraph we will also be able to teach many grammar points, spelling patterns, science and social studies vocabulary as well as enhance creative writing and improve students’ penmanship.  Students may find this process challenging at first, but please encourage your student.  The rewards of this system are great!
 
3. Math Homework:
Math homework will be a one page sheet sent home every Friday.  The sheet with have 20 boxes printed on the front and back.  Each box with contain a review math problem.  Students are responsible for completing all of the math problems using a separate sheet of paper to show work if necessary.  Math homework should be turned in attached to the three spelling assignments every Thursday.
 

It is crucial your child complete their homework as well as read on a weekly basis, as this will allow for practice and extension of what your 2nd grader is learning in class.  Homework for other subjects will be given as a review of what we have already learned in class or it will be given as practice when needed.  More specific information about our curriculum will be discussed at the second grade parent night on September 3rd at 6:00pm in my classroom.

 
Last Modified: Friday, Aug. 28, 2009
 
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