Rationale
Good homework and study are the foundation of teaching and learning.
Homework well done and purposeful study help students to consolidate and to gain a better understanding of skills and information they learn in class.
Homework and study enable the student to take responsibility for his/her own learning in an experiential way. They promote student independence and initiative.
Homework and study facilitate the evaluation of teaching and learning for the teacher as well as for the pupil.
A policy will lead to higher standards of learning and increase the number of students who achieve their full academic potential.
Goals
• To enable both students and teachers to gain more satisfaction from work done in an organised and orderly fashion.
• To foster a consistent, whole-school approach to the completion of homework and study and to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning.
• To encourage parents and guardians to play an active role in monitoring homework and study.
Why do homework?
• To practice what has been taught in class.
• To check and improve one’s own understanding of the work done in class.
• To know what questions to ask next day.
• To prepare for exams.
• To get used to working on one’s own.
Assigning homework
Task should be linked to the work done in class.
Assign written work and ‘learning’ work where appropriate.
Allow time for the following:
• time to assign homework.
• time for clarifying tasks
• time to write it into journal
• time to begin homework where appropriate.
Monitoring Homework
Check homework every day. It can be done quickly e.g.
Quick spelling / vocabulary / key facts test.
A few people read out written work.
Spot checks – call up 3 or 4 at random.
Assign task (leave 2-3 questions for this purpose) and have a quick look around.
Learning work may be best done during the week rather than at weekend.
Study and Revision
Build revision and study into teaching time. Class groups would have worked with mind maps and flash cards. Other groups have worked on summarising.
Show students how to organise your subject for exams including:
• note making
• chapter summaries
• extracting main points from text
By end of each unit, material is organised for end of year revision.
Weaker students in particular need to know exactly what to do.
Assessment
Regular short class tests focussed on specific parts of the course.
Learners know exactly what will be tested.
Learners know the style of question to be asked.
Learners know the exact questions (may have helped formulate these in class).
Feedback is more encouraging than critical.
Identify strengths and areas for development.
