Homework

Homework Planners will be used for 
assignments, homework, and special notes 
each day. Notes of positive and negative behavior will also be noted in 
students' homework planners.

SPELLING - Students receive a list of the 20 words along with a spelling 
packet for practice each Mon. First page of the packet is due on Tues. 
Second page is due on Wed. The third page is due on Thurs. Fifth grade 
students take their spelling test on Friday. Study! Study! Study!

READING - Read your AR book every day for at least 30 minutes.

NOVELS - Students will be responsible for reading literature as a class. 

VOCABULARY - On Mondays, students receive vocabulary words with definitions 
that are included in the textbook reading story for the week. Words, 
definitions, sentences, synonyms, antonyms, and pictures provide in class 
review of new vocabulary. Vocabulary assessments are on Fridays.

ENGLISH/WRITING - Homework occasionally

SOCIAL STUDIES - Homework occasionally

Math & Science homework to be assigned by Mrs. Neal, Mrs. Kalich's fifth-grade
teaching partner.

LONG-TERM ASSIGNMENTS - See link for the Shiner & TEXAS Scavenger Hunt and 
for Accelerated Reader (AR)

[See homework chart at the bottom of this page]




GENERAL HOMEWORK TIPS FOR PARENTS

✪ Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework. 
Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with 
other distractions, such as people coming and going.

✪ Make sure the materials your child needs, such as paper, pencils and 
a dictionary, are available. Ask your child if special materials will be 
needed for some projects and get them in advance.

✪ Help your child with time management. Establish a set time each day 
for doing homework. Don‘t let your child leave homework until just before 
bedtime. Think about using a weekend morning or afternoon for working on big 
projects, especially if the project involves getting together with 
classmates.

✪ Be positive about homework. Tell your child how important school is. 
The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child 
acquires.

✪ When your child does homework, you do homework. Show your child that 
the skills they are learning are related to things you do as an adult. If 
your child is reading, you read too. If your child is doing math, balance 
your checkbook.

✪ When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers. Giving 
answers means your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches 
your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him 
or her.

✪ When the teacher asks that you play a role in homework, do it. 
Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are 
a team. Follow the directions given by the teacher.

✪ If homework is meant to be done by your child alone, stay away. Too 
much parent involvement can prevent homework from having some positive 
effects. Homework is a great way for kids to develop independent, lifelong 
learning skills.

✪ Stay informed. Talk with your child‘s teacher. Make sure you know 
the purpose of homework and what your child‘s class rules are.

✪ Help your child figure out what is hard homework and what is easy 
homework. Have your child do the hard work first. This will mean he will be 
most alert when facing the biggest challenges. Easy material will seem to go 
fast when fatigue begins to set in.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Intergovernmental and 
Interagency Affairs, Educational Partnerships and Family Involvement Unit, 
Homework Tips for Parents, Washington, D.C., 2003.

THE CARDINAL RULE FOR HELPING:
Never Work Harder Than Your Child.