Homework plays three major roles in a child's education. Firstly, it is used to reinforce work that has been covered recently at school. Secondly, it encourages the child to develop positive study habits, which are vital to success in higher education. Thirdly, and arguably most important, homework provides an avenue where school and home may be linked; parents can share in work that children are experiencing at school.
Homework quantities will vary for each year level and will involve some writing, reading, skill development and for the older year levels some assignment and project work.
Parents and caregivers can help their children with homework by:
- being interested in the tasks
- providing a suitable place for the homework to be undertaken
- reading with their children
- talking with them and involving them in tasks at home including shopping, playing games and physical activities
- encouraging them to organise their time and take responsibility for their learning
- encouraging them to read and to take an interest in and discuss current local, national and international events
- helping them to balance the amount of time spent completing homework, watching television, playing computer games, playing sport and engaging in other recreational activities
- contacting the relevant teacher to discuss any issues regarding homework
Students may take responsibility for their own learning by:
- being aware of the school’s homework requirements and discussing with their parents or caregivers homework expecations
- accepting responsibility for the completion of homework tasks within set time frames
- following up on feedback from teachers to improve future homework
- negotiating with the class teacher if homework is too difficult or time constraints are too short
- organising time to ensure that all obligations – homework, family, sport, cultural and leisure – are met
Teachers may assist students establish a routine of regular independent homework by:
- setting homework on a regular basis
- clearly explaining all homework expectations
- differentiating homework to reflect individual learning needs for both the academically challenged and the academically able children
- providing feedback in a timely manner to improve the quality and understanding of all tasks
- scaffolding organisational and time-management skills to assist children deal effectively with all commitments, both school and home
- negotiating with students who experience difficulty with homework requirements
Further information may be obtained by accessing QED's website on homework.
Home Reading:
All children in Prep and Years 1, 2 and 3 will be provided with levelled home reading books. We ask that parents take the opportunity to hear their children read every day. Parents will be asked to sign and make comments on the reading that students do at home.
The class teacher will constantly assess reading and decide when a new reading level is appropriate. Home reading for years 4 – 7 will be done through normal borrowing at the Shared Learning Centre each fortnight.
Some digital resources are now available to children and parents and this information will be sent home as appropriate.