Homework Policies
In accordance with the St. Mary handbook, students in first grade will have approximately 30 minutes of homework per night. This time includes spelling word practice, flashcard practice, reading minutes, skills worksheets and occasional special projects (which students will have greater than one week to work on). Most of these activities do not need to be addressed every day. If your student is spending significantly more time than an average of 30 minutes per day on homework, please contact me. **Please note that this time requirement does not include any classroom work that may come home to be completed if a student does not stay on-task during the day.**
Homework Packs - On Thursdays, students will be given "homework packs" that will contain their regular homework for the week. These are due back the following Thursday. Included in these packs will be skills worksheets that reinforce what we are covering in class and flashcard/reading minute sheets (more information below). Giving homework in this fashion will allow you the flexibility to work around any special events or activities that busy families often have.
If there are extreme circumstances that prevent the completion of work in the 7 days allowed, please send or email me a written note of explanation prior to Thursday. 2 or more late homework packs per quarter will result in lower marks on Report Cards. Late homework packs will not be accepted after the Friday following the due date, and zeros will be given for work, except in cases in which arrangements have been made with me because of extreme circumstances.
Reading/Flashcard Minutes Sheet - This will be included in the homework pack. Students will need to read at home for 30 minutes total each week with an adult and practice math facts for ten minutes, 3 times a week (minimum - you are encouraged to practice more than that if time allows). 2 of the 3 math facts sessions should be with traditional flashcards. The third practice session can be student choice, using games such as addition war with playing cards, dice adding, or games found on the internet, software, or apps. The Reading/Flashcard Minutes Sheet must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned with the homework packs on Thursday. It is considered incomplete if not signed.
Special Projects - There will usually be one or more special projects for the students to complete at home each quarter. These will extend our studies in the classroom, and may include the following: math projects, book reports, dioramas, creative writing, grade appropriate "reports", etc. Because these special projects are more involved and often require the family to be involved, students will have longer time frames to complete them. Directions for these projects will come home separately from the homework packs.
Make-up Work - When a student is absent, I will fill out a form listing all the work that needs to be made up and when it is due. Typically, the same number of days the student was absent are given to make up the work. Because much of our classroom work in first grade is completed together as a whole group and includes hands-on learning experiences, students may not be able to make this up. Any quizzes or tests will be made up at school during recess time. In light of this, please keep absences at a minimum!
Note: Per the St. Mary Handbook, I will not be preparing work ahead of time for students who have planned, non-medical absences (i.e. vacations). In order to make up work, an Extended Absence form must be filled out through the school office.
Homework Packs - On Thursdays, students will be given "homework packs" that will contain their regular homework for the week. These are due back the following Thursday. Included in these packs will be skills worksheets that reinforce what we are covering in class and flashcard/reading minute sheets (more information below). Giving homework in this fashion will allow you the flexibility to work around any special events or activities that busy families often have.
If there are extreme circumstances that prevent the completion of work in the 7 days allowed, please send or email me a written note of explanation prior to Thursday. 2 or more late homework packs per quarter will result in lower marks on Report Cards. Late homework packs will not be accepted after the Friday following the due date, and zeros will be given for work, except in cases in which arrangements have been made with me because of extreme circumstances.
Reading/Flashcard Minutes Sheet - This will be included in the homework pack. Students will need to read at home for 30 minutes total each week with an adult and practice math facts for ten minutes, 3 times a week (minimum - you are encouraged to practice more than that if time allows). 2 of the 3 math facts sessions should be with traditional flashcards. The third practice session can be student choice, using games such as addition war with playing cards, dice adding, or games found on the internet, software, or apps. The Reading/Flashcard Minutes Sheet must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned with the homework packs on Thursday. It is considered incomplete if not signed.
Special Projects - There will usually be one or more special projects for the students to complete at home each quarter. These will extend our studies in the classroom, and may include the following: math projects, book reports, dioramas, creative writing, grade appropriate "reports", etc. Because these special projects are more involved and often require the family to be involved, students will have longer time frames to complete them. Directions for these projects will come home separately from the homework packs.
Make-up Work - When a student is absent, I will fill out a form listing all the work that needs to be made up and when it is due. Typically, the same number of days the student was absent are given to make up the work. Because much of our classroom work in first grade is completed together as a whole group and includes hands-on learning experiences, students may not be able to make this up. Any quizzes or tests will be made up at school during recess time. In light of this, please keep absences at a minimum!
Note: Per the St. Mary Handbook, I will not be preparing work ahead of time for students who have planned, non-medical absences (i.e. vacations). In order to make up work, an Extended Absence form must be filled out through the school office.