Homework

1. Homework How Parents Can Help

2. Why Have Homework? • To help develop positive study skills and habits • To encourage your child to work independently and to take responsibility for his or her work • To review and practice what has been covered in class • To help your child to prepare for the next day’s class • To help your child learn to use resources, reference materials, and computer Web sites to find information • It encourages your child to explore subjects more fully than classroom time permits and to extend learning by applying skills to new situations • It helps your child integrate learning by applying many different skills to a single task, such as book reports or science projects • Homework may help parents learn more about what your child is learning in school

3. Types of Homework • Reading and making notes (preparation) • Completion of a worksheet or booklet (practice and consolidation) • Written accounts or essays • Research • Preparing a presentation • Making a plan for a practical activity (which may include bringing resources or ingredients) • Creating a design, a piece of art, a graph or a diagram • Revision for a test • Learning new vocabulary (common in MFL) • Practising a musical instrument, drama role or a sporting skill • A longer term project (often the most demanding for younger students)

4. Organising Homework • Know the expectations of the school (time, regularity, standards) • Check the planner weekly • Help your son/daughter decide when homework will be done each evening – this may vary according to other commitments • Help your child plan so that homework does not build up and require huge commitment at the weekend

5. Organising Homework • Try to provide a quiet working space with no distractions such as TV, mobiles, social networking sites. For some students you may need to check that they remain focussed • Ensure that equipment, paper, glue etc. are readily available for homework assignments

6. Helping with Homework Homework is designed to help students further their understanding and develop strong independent study skills. It is important that homework is done by the student themselves. Teachers may use homework as part of the assessment process and it is vital that they know the genuine strengths and weaknesses of each student As your child moves through the school and encounters controlled assessments (coursework) that contribute to GCSE or A Level results, it is vital to understand how much help is permitted. The student and teacher will each have to sign a declaration confirming that the work is their own and that no ‘undue help’ has been given. Please offer help, guidance, support and encouragement but resist the urge to give answers or to over-correct written work.

7. Helping with Homework The most helpful things parents can do to support this process: • Talk about lessons; you can show an interest, ask them to explain, discuss and debate points of view, share their learning. • Find out which subjects and activities they enjoy most – it might give you valuable insight as to HOW they learn most effectively. • Encourage your child to read widely and talk to them about what they have read. • Encourage your child to watch news and documentary programmes, to read a newspaper or listen to the radio news. • Confirm that homework is valuable and encourage your son/daughter to do it well.

8. Practical Tips • Check your child’s written work for them – suggest possible improvements but do not write on their work. • Encourage use of a dictionary, ask them to explain their methods and see if they can spot their own mistakes, encouraging reading out loud to check grammar, use a calculator to check numerical answers. It is important that you insist on independence and resilience. • Test your son/daughter on recall or vocabulary (far more difficult to a child to do alone) • Carry out research with your child – work from the books or the internet together but encourage your child to write the notes in their own words.

9. Practical Tips • Act as an audience for presentations, drama, sport etc.. • When you are both stuck ‘Google’ together. Keep a list of the most useful websites – it will save hours of searching later on. • Check the VLE for help and resources. • With longer term projects you can actively help with choosing a topic, working out the structure (chapter headings), helping with research and by checking progress regularly. • Help your child identify their own LEARNING STYLE in order to make homework more enjoyable and effective.

10. When Problems Arise • Try to keep a balance between subjects as spending too much time on one homework can actually add significantly to stress levels. • Reassure your child and try not to let them become too frustrated or anxious. • Write a note to the subject teacher in the planner explaining any problem and requesting some help for the child. • It is sensible to stop your child working on a task once they have put reasonable effort and time into it – a note in the planner supports the child’s assertion that they have tried. • If you have concerns regarding the amount of homework being set, please contact the subject teacher in the first instance. ( via the planner or email)

11. Practical Tips for Coursework • Is your child clear what they have to do? • What guidance (lists, advice, exemplars, marking criteria) has the school provided? • When is the deadline? • How much help is permitted? • Help your son/daughter to make a sensible plan • Check their progress regularly

13. Practical Tips for Exams • Try to avoid planning long holidays just before key examinations. Students need time to revise and that is almost always most effectively done at home or school. • Ensure you have a copy of your child’s personalised exam timetable. • You can really help with preparing a sensible revision plan and in keeping it on track. Keep a balance between subjects. • When revising, encourage them to write as they read (past papers, revision materials, mind maps, note taking) Summarising and condensing can be very effective. • Encourage students to start with the bits they find MOST difficult as this is where most improvement will be made and also allows more opportunities for seeking help.

14. Practical Tips for Exams • Encourage short but intensive bursts rather than hours of unproductive staring at books. • Help by testing students on vocabulary and facts. • Let them practice their orals with you • Check the VLE for helpful materials for revision. • Take some of the worry away by checking dates, times, equipment for your child • Offer lots of encouragement, reassurance and treats