1) Why give homework?
To re-inforce what the child learns during the day.
To provide a link between teacher and parent.
To develop child’s concentration and to develop a work ethic.
2) How often is homework given?
Homework is given on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays but not on Fridays.
Please note homework may be sometimes given during the week or at the weekend if a child has (a) project work, (b) not done homework or (c) not made a suitable effort or presented untidy work.
Sometimes at the discretion of the class teacher or principal children are given no homework as a treat or as an acknowledgement of some special occasion.
3) What is the content of homework?
Homework is meant to be achievable by a child i.e. provides an opportunity to practice work already done. It is normally prepared by teacher in class. However, some homework is designed to challenge children’s ability and provide an opportunity for creativity
Children are expected to do their homework to the best of their individual ability.
Ideally homework will contain a balance between reading tasks, learning tasks and written tasks.
This balance is not always possible and can vary considerably from day to day. However it should be noted that homework time devoted to reading and learning is as important as written work.
Homework will regularly contain reading, spellings, tables, written work, pieces to be learned “by heart”, drawing, / colouring, collecting items/ information and finishing work started in class.
Children often feel that reading and “learning by heart” is not real homework. Parents can play an important role in listening to reading and items to be learned, thus ensuring that work is done.
4) How much (time) homework?
The following are general guidelines as different children will complete the same work in different lengths of time:
Junior Infants 0-10 minutes
Senior Infants Up to 20 minutes
First Class Up to 30 minutes
Second Class Up to 40 minutes
Third Class Up to 50 minutes
Fourth Class Up to 1hour
Fifth Class Up to 1 hour 15 mins.
Sixth Class Up to 1 hour 30 mins.
5) How much help should parents give?
Parents should try to help their children by:
Providing them with a suitable place to do their homework and preventing interruptions or distractions, like t.v., mobile phones or other children.
Children should do their homework themselves and parents should only help when child has difficulty.
If a child has difficulty with homework the parent should help the child to overcome the difficulty with further explanation or examples but not actually doing the homework for the child. In this case the parent should write a note to the teacher explaining the problem.
l Shared reading is not homework in the regular sense, it is simply meant to be an enjoyable exercise between parent and the child.
How often should parents monitor homework?
Parents should check child’s homework each night and sign as requested.
From second class upwards children should record their homework neatly in the correct page of the homework journal and tick each item of homework when completed.
Letters to parents are folded and placed in current day of the homework journal or in folder. Please check child’s journal / folder for such notes on a daily basis.
7) How often do teachers monitor homework?
Ideally teachers like to check homework on a daily basis. However, with large class numbers it is not always possible to check each child’s homework everyday.
Some items of homework (and classwork) may be checked by children themselves under the direction of the teacher. This can be a useful part of the learning process for children.
8) When should parents communicate with the teacher about homework?
When the child cannot do homework due to family circumstances.
When the child cannot do homework because she / he cannot understand some aspect.
l If the time spent at homework is often longer than the recommended amount of time.
9) When should homework be done?
Ideally, homework should be done before any T.V. is watched and soon after school while your child is still fresh. However some children need a break before starting homework. Homework should never be left until morning time before school.
10) Children with special needs.
Homework for children with special needs will be at the discretion of the teacher as needs vary considerably.
