Do You Have Any of These Homework Questions?

Does my child have to do all the homework items listed on the homework log every
night?
No, they shouldnt and are not expected to. Schedule a couple of items a day. The homework log
can look overwhelming if you think that all the items have to be done every day! But remember,
they do not. The only thing that needs to be done every day is the fluency, which takes a minute.
Other things should be staggered throughout the week.

How long should my child be spending on homework?
For my subjects, no more than 30 minutes total. If a math game gets too long, just end it faster.
You dont need to go through the whole deck of cards if you or your child is getting tired! The point
is to just practice the concept in a different way than workbook pages and gain practice with the
skill.

How often should my child do a writing prompt in their homework notebook?
I encourage the minimum of once a week. I tell students to show me their notebooks on Friday and
even if they wrote once, I comment, add a sticker to their writing, and give them a little treat as an
incentive to keep on going. Already, I see improvement in writing from those kids who are doing
this on a weekly basis. Some kids write every day on their own. Some kids will only be able to do it
once a week based on their stamina. Also, the writing prompt menu I sent home is a SUGGESTED
list of things to write about in case your child has trouble coming up with what to write. But if they
have their own topic, feel free to let them write about it. Please remember to have them write a title
on the top of each story. You are also encouraged to go through sentence structure and spelling
with them.

How often should we play the math games?
I expect you to play once or twice a week. The games are on the ring so that they are always
there. These are perfect for reviewing old concepts. They correlate directly with the topics being
taught in class. I know this requires your time and help, and I am sure your child appreciates the
time being spent playing, with you.

What about the math workbook pages?
I staple these at the beginning of the chapter and attach a tentative schedule of what lessons will
be covered week by week. You can go the traditional route of having your child do each page
every night to correspond with our classroom lessons. Or they can do a few pages every couple of
nights, wait till the weekend, or use them as review before a test. But they SHOULD be done
before a test. I dont check or collect these, but if they have trouble with something, you can send it
in and I will go over it individually with your child. Please remember, I still review the previous days
math concepts in class before the start of the next lesson, even if I am not going over the workbook
pages. There is plenty of practice time in class. Even better, if your child does these pages instead
of the math game on a night, you can still check mark the math game box, since they are at least
practicing math skills!

What are the sight words for on the side of the homework log?
These words correspond with our weekly story. I put them there so students can just practice
saying them and orally spelling them. I dont expect them to be practiced the way the spelling
words are practiced, but they should still be familiar with them. It is an easy check mark on the
homework log..

How often should my child practice spelling?
This is up to how well your child can remember the spelling words and pattern rule. It is up to them
and you to decide how to practice the spelling and how many times a week. You dont have to use
any of the activities mentioned on the spelling menu. You can make up your own and just orally
test them as well.

How about the reading log?
Reading should be encouraged, not forced. Therefore, there is no minimum or maximum time or
minute students should read a week. However, the general recommended time for 2
nd
graders is
15-20 minutes a night. This is what usually gets assigned in other academic settings/classrooms.
Get them books they enjoy, and reading will become more natural and organic. Allow them to read
however many times a week they want, but encourage them as well without forcing. The amount of
reading is directly related to vocabulary and fluency growth. You WILL see a difference in your
childs reading fluency, comprehension, and writing, the more they read at home. Students are
rewarded in class for every ten books they read with a bead that goes on a necklace. The beads
will add up throughout the year and 100 books read equals a bigger reward!

What's the point of the mandatory fluency reading?
Since students are reading the same passage 4 times in a week, that makes them used to seeing
different sentences and vocabulary that many times a week. For struggling readers, reading
something over and over builds their reading skills and level. Readers who are fluent and are able
to finish the reading in a minute, should start practicing reading with more expression. But reading
must accompany comprehension. When they answer the questions on the back of the sheet, have
them go back into the story and find their answer, underline it, and then circle the correct answer
on the back. If this assignment is not handed in completed on Friday, homework points are lost.

What should an expected outline of homework look like?
I would suggest making a schedule of what types of homework assignments your child should do
each day so that the assignments are staggered throughout the week. For example, you can set
a weekly schedule that looks like this:
Monday 1 minute fluency, writing prompt, math practice, sight word practice
Tuesday- 1 minute fluency, spelling words practice, math practice
Wednesday- 1 minute fluency, writing prompt, reading log
Thursday- 1 minute fluency, spelling practice, math practice, reading log

If your child is happily doing all the things on the log each day, then allow them. If they need to do only one
thing one day and can do a few things another day, that is okay as well. Homework should not be a
struggle, but it should be done enough times a week to gain the necessary skills for learning and
assessments.

***You also have the option of doing writing prompts, reading log, and math practice (either games or
workbook pages) on the weekend when no homework is assigned. You can just indicate that on the new
weeks homework log so I can count it as a check mark.

Dont worry about me tallying up the check marks on the homework logs for a whole group incentive on
Friday. We have 19 students. If each student minimally checks off 5 or 6 things a week total, we will have
enough check marks (usually there are at least 4 items that can be check marked each day, so 5 a week is
nothing!). Most of the time, the students are doing much more than this on their own, so the total is easily
passed! But remember, a parent signature is required for the check marks to count for the class prize total.


An important note:
There have been one or two cases of students putting check marks on their logs for assignments they did
not complete. For example, I saw someone check marking the writing prompt every day, but they had
nothing written in their notebooks. Please go through the log with your child and make sure that whatever
they check mark, they actually did. The homework log is used as an overall homework effort grade, but if I
know that students are making up assignments they did, that will backfire!

Finally, please fill out the bottom of this paper regarding Social Studies and Science textbooks. I know that
the textbook can get heavy in the backpack when I send it home the day before the test. If you think your
child does not need the textbook sent home due to weight, and that the study guide I send home at the
beginning of the chapter, plus their notebook, is enough for them to study, then indicate that below and I
wont have them bring their textbook. If you still want them to bring their textbook, even though they have
the study guide and their notebook, then please indicate that as well. Thank you. *** Only return the bottom
portion. Keep the top portion for your notes.***



Science and Social Studies Textbooks

o Yes, my child should bring home the Science and Social Studies textbooks the day before
the test so they can study using it.
o No, the backpack gets too heavy. The study guide and notebook will be enough for my
child to study for the test. Please leave the textbook in school. If in the future, I change my
mind, I will let you know.

Childs Name: Parent Signature: