2009-2010 Homework Policy

I recently read an article from Scholastic Parent & Child. There are several points worth passing on to you.

· Connect with others. More than any other single factor we can control, connection is the key to a happy childhood-and adulthood.
Connections in the form of unconditional love from an adult, helps foster self-confidence.

· Let them play, kids need time for unstructured games as well as scheduled events. Play with other children hones their imaginations, while teaching problem-solving skills and an ability to tolerate frustration.

· Encourage practice. Learning anything is painful because it involves failure and progress is frequently slow. But, with encouragement, you keep at it and finally see improvement. The reward, teaches discipline.

· Create opportunities for mastery. With mastery come leadership skills, initiative, and a desire for hard work. It transforms a child from a reluctant, fearful learner into a motivated player.

· Provide recognition. The feeling of being valued by others (friends, family, community) is key. Recognition, in turn, reinforces the sense of connection that all children need.

I hope you will join with me from home and in the classroom to promote these five essential steps. Homework from Mrs. Poe’s class will be selected with these in mind.

Everyday your child is expected to read a minimum of 20 minutes a night. That can include silent reading or reading aloud with your child. Please sign the reading time daily. Remember to encourage your child to reach their AR goal.

Everyday your child should practice math facts, addition and subtraction facts up to 20 are a must. Fractions, geometric shapes, time of the day, and reading information from food containers can be fun and a learning moment. What is the weight? What is the size? How does this food help my body grow? This is especially helpful when you take an interest in their learning. Make it a game! Remember, we want to encourage practice, create opportunities for mastery, and provide recognition.