September

10, 2012 Hello Room 15 Parents! Nightly homework begins this week in Room 15. This letter briefly explains the scope of the homework you will be seeing, in addition to outlining my general policy regarding homework.

WHAT TYPE OF HOMEWORK CAN YOU EXPECT TO SEE EACH WEEK?

1. Weekly Literacy Packet. Every Monday (or Tuesday, if there is no school on a Monday), your child will bring home a Weekly Literacy Packet. The Packet is given out on Monday afternoon and is due on Friday morning. The expectation is that students will work on the packet for about 30 minutes each night, Monday through Thursday, returning the completed packet on Friday. The Packet will consist of the following homework each week: 6 Traits (Writing Convention) practice worksheets 4 pages, one for each day of homework. Reading comprehension practice worksheets 4 pages, one for each day of homework. Language review worksheets 4 half-pages, one for each day of homework. Creativity-oriented worksheets 3 pages, to be done anytime during the week. Vocabulary review 1 page that reviews the new vocabulary words that we will be learning that week. The vocabulary review sheet is best done on Thursday night, after weve reviewed all four words in class.

If your child spends approximately 30 minutes each night working through the Literacy Packet, there should be little trouble completing the packet by the end of the week. If, however, your child leaves the packet untouched until Thursday, it will probably cause unnecessary strife. Please support your child in completing a portion of the Literacy Packet every night. 2. Math Links. On most days, there will also be math homework, usually a page from the Everyday Math Study Links workbook. This homework will be assigned on a daily basis, based on what math lesson has been completed that day. 3. Writing Assignments. On some days, there will be brief writing assignments for homework. When writing homework is assigned, an explanatory note will be sent home as well. 4. Other Homework. Periodically, the Science and Music teachers may request short homework assignments as well.

HOW LONG SHOULD HOMEWORK TAKE EVERY NIGHT?

A common homework guideline (supported by the NEA and the PTA) is the 10- minute rule, which recommends that the amount of nightly homework not exceed 10 minutes per grade level per night. For 4th grade, that translates to 40 minutes per night. So, I expect each student to spend about 40 minutes each night on homework. I believe that every student, working diligently for 40 minutes should be able to complete that nights portion of the literacy packet, plus any math and other homework that has been assigned. In addition to these 40 minutes, students are expected to spend at least 20 minutes reading at their independent reading level. In total, the amount of time spent on homework assignments and independent reading should be approximately 60 minutes each night. As with all things, this homework policy is subject to change. It will probably evolve over time. If you have any questions or concerns about the way homework is currently structured, please dont hesitate to contact me. Thank you! Sincerely, Teacher BE billedison@berkeley.net