Homework Help & Online Resources

1. Homework Help & Online Resources Presented by: Kristina Laperle, Brian Council CPF Rep. & M. Albert Etienne, Brian Staff Librarian

2. CPF - French Quiz • Which of the following organizations consider French their official language? (International Olympic Committee, The Red Cross, The UN, NATO, World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund, UNESCO, The EU, International Court of Justice, Amnesty International, Interpol) • About How many people speak French in North and South America? (a. 5 million b. 10 million c. 15 million d. 20 million) • How many countries recognize French as an official language? (a. 5 b. 8 c.20 d. 33) • After English, what is the most-taught language in the world? (a. Spanish b. French c. German d. Chinese) • About what percentage (%) of federal service jobs are bilingual?

3. French Quiz - Answers • Which of the following organizations consider French their official language? All of them!! • About How many people speak French in North and South America? About 20 billion • How many countries recognize French as an official language? 33 • After English, what is the most-taught language in the world? French • About what percentage (%) of federal service jobs are bilingual? 40%

4. TDSB Homework Policy • Available in 13 languages • Can be found under the TDSB website in the Parents’ section www.tdsb.on.ca/ • Since September 2008: “The policy balances time required to complete homework with extra curricular activities scheduled outside of the school day and activities that support personal and family wellness.”

5. Types of Homework • There are four types of commonly assigned homework, each having a different intended outcome as shown below. • Completion • Practice • Preparation • Extension

6. Homework Policy • “Homework assignments shall be clearly articulated and carefully planned…where appropriate, homework assignments shall be differentiated to reflect the unique needs of the child.” • “are designed to require no additional teaching outside the classroom and are engaging and relevant to student learning. Students understand what is expected of them before leaving school.”

7. Homework: Quantity JK-Gr.3 • JK/SK – “Homework should not be assigned to Kindergarten students…families are encouraged to engage in early learning activities such as playing, talking and reading together in English or in the family’s first language.” • Grades 1-3 – “There is a strong connection between reading to or with …children every day in English or in one’s first language and student achievement. As a result, homework assigned… shall more often take the form of reading, playing a variety of games, having discussions and interactive activities such as building and cooking with the family.”

8. Homework: Quantity Gr. 4-6 • In the late Primary and Junior grades, effective homework may begin to take the form of independent work. In both cases, homework assigned for completion, practice, preparation or extension should be clearly articulated and differentiated to reflect the unique needs of the child. • **You and your child’s teacher know your child best. If you want your child to get additional homework, ask your child’s teacher for advice.

9. School-life balance • “…homework assignments shall be assigned… using blocks of time so that families can best support homework completion by balancing the time required to complete homework with extra curricular activities…activities that support personal and family wellness.” • “Parents who have concerns with homework expectations for their child shall be encouraged to contact their child’s teacher or the school principal to discuss the situation.”

10. Roles & Responsibilities Teachers Students ensuring that he/she clearly understands the homework assigned, i.e. assignments, criteria, and timelines, and asks for clarification or assistance from the teacher when not clear regularly Completing homework in a timely manner to the best of his/her ability managing time and materials, e.g. by bringing home necessary materials. • encouraging a partnership with family and students that promotes… communication and supports families in the homework process; • assigning homework… appropriate to the student’s age, developmental level, learning style, skills and individual needs • teaching the skills necessary… to complete the homework and become successful independent learners

11. Family Responsibilities • reading in English, French (French Immersion) and/or the family’s first language throughout the elementary years of their children’s education • providing an environment, i.e. workplace, block of uninterrupted time, usually in the home or in an alternative setting…for homework to be done • providing encouragement and appropriate support without doing the homework for their child

12. Family Responsibilities (con’t..) • providing a healthy balance between homework, co-curricular activities and family commitments • stopping their child from continuing to complete homework at bedtime, even if the child is not done • contacting the classroom teacher if their child is not consistently able to do the homework by him/herself or if challenges or questions arise.

13. English Quiz - Part 1Put the sentences into ‘regular - everyday - normal’ English. • It is fruitless to become lachrymose over precipitately departed lactose fluid. • Scinntillate, scintillate asteroid minute. • Members of an avian species of identical plumage congregate. • Surveillance should precede saltation. • The temperature of aqueous content of an unremittingly ogled saucepan does not reach 212 farenheit.

14. English Quiz – Part 2 • Neophite’s serendipity. • The stylus is more potent than the claymore. • It is fruitless to attempt to indoctrinate a superannuated canine with innovative manoeuvers. • Missiles of ligneous or petrous consistency have the potential of fracturing my osseous structure, but appelations will eternally be benign. • Individuals who make their abode in vitreous edifices would be advised to refrain from catapulting petrous projectiles.

15. English Quiz - Answers • No use crying over spilled milk. • Twinkle, twinkle little star. • Birds of a feather, flock together. • Look before you leap. • A watched pot never boils. • Ignorance is bliss. • The pen is mightier than the sword. • You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. • Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me. • People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

16. The Secret = Prior Knowledge • The English Quiz was difficult if you tried to translate every word. • Once you realized that all the sentences were proverbs, the task was much easier to complete because you could rely on your prior knowledge of proverbs to help you understand. • By helping your children build knowledge in each subject area (math, science, social studies, etc…), they will understand and learn better because this will reinforce what they learned in class.

17. Academic Support & Curriculum Knowledge • Visit TDSB website for Curriculum documents and sample activities www.tdsb.on.ca • Look for “Overall Expectations” and “Specific Expectations” • Buy workbooks appropriate to your child’s grade level – available at Scholastic, Indigo, Sonsuh • Websites with graded activities (see links under “Elementary Subjects” on the TDSB library website) • Make it FUN by adding experiential learning activities at Toronto’s many attractions

18. School Library Website • www.tdsb.on.ca/libraries - The following links on the TDSB Library website are particularly useful for Elementary School students. See your “The Inquiry Journey” bookmark for Logins and Passwords where necessary. • E-BOOKS > Bookflix • ELEMENTARY SUBJECTS • Language > Storyvalues • Mathematics > Coolmath4kids • Mathematics > Math Homework Help • ONLINE DATABASES > OERB (Ontario Educational Resource Bank) • IMAGES & MEDIA > Learn360

19. OERB Ontario Educational Resource Bank • Access through the TDSB Libraries website or directly through https://resources.elearningontario.ca/ • More than 27000 resources & interactive activities in English and French, many created by teachers! • Organized by topic, grade, curriculum expectations, learning style, etc… • Search tips: • Use “Browse by Curriculum”, select “grade” and “subject”. • Do NOT select by “strand” or “French language”. This greatly limits options • Kids love “Interactive Learning” under “Resource Filter Types” on the left side panel.

20. Learn360 – Great videos! Access through the TDSB Libraries website or directly through www.learn360.com • BROWSE BY: “Subject Area”, “Grade Level”, and/or “Media Format” • Search tips: • Choose your preferred subject area and grade level • Kids love “Full Videos” • Video length listed below the video thumbnail

21. CPF Online Resources Specifically for homework in FRENCH: • Canadian Parents for French Ontario • www.cpfont.on.ca -Contains many helpful links, especially Homework Toolbox & “Yes, you can help!” (listed below) • Homework Toolbox • www.fslhomeworktoolbox.ca • “Yes, you can help!” by the Government of Alberta, Ministry of Education • education.alberta.ca/parents/resources/youcanhelp.aspx

22. Practice what you want to perfect… • TDSB has moved to a more balanced curriculum • Multiple intelligences • Meet the needs of the whole child – language, art, math, science, physical education, etc… • What kinds of activities does your child do regularly outside of class? Do you want to spend extra-curricular time on sports? Arts? Academics? • Support your child at home where you feel it’s most necessary by adding your own “curriculum enrichment” using the TDSB resources

23. The “Plan” for Curriculum Enrichment at home • Plan your extra-curricular support time, just like you would any other activity and put it in your calendar, ie. 1 hr./day, or Sunday afternoons, or Monday evenings • Academic Enrichment takes time, like any other extra-curricular activity • Change your subject of focus daily / weekly / monthly • Let your child choose • Reward with field trips or educational games

24. Make it FUN in English or French! • Go to the library for books, books with CD, or videos • Play educational games • Look for themed books, TV shows, movies or Youtube videos • Go on family field trips – see examples below • NATIVE LIFE & EARLY SETTLERS • Crawford Lake & Conservation Area, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Royal Ontario Museum, Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, etc… • Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas, etc…(Check the library)

25. Additional Help… • At Brian PS – Mini workshops & discussions: • Feb. 9: “Pronunciation for Parents & Camps” • Mar. 25: “Listening & Speaking” • Apr. 26: “Online Fun in French” • May 16: “French in the Summer” • Questions can also be e-mailed in advance to: CPFatBrianPS@gmail.com •  Adult French Classes – several locations • At Fairview Library – French Storytime • Blessed Kateri French Activities – Thursdays • FOR MORE INFO: http://brianpsparentcouncil.webs.com

26. Thank you!Merci! We hope to see you at our Mini-Workshops for more “parent learning opportunities”