Homework Guidelines
Summary of Homework Guidelines
Homework is a long recognized thread in the fabric of Catholic Education. The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board believes that homework represents a tradition of partnership between home and school. It represents an opportunity for a cooperative effort between home and school, involving parents, teachers and students.
definition of homework
The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board recognizes that homework is teacher assigned and monitored learning experiences that take place outside the classroom in a variety of settings. Homework is a planned part of the education process designed to enhance student learning, and is directly connected to the Ontario Curriculum Learning Expectations, Learning Skills, and Ministry of Education Reporting Guidelines. Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board believes that homework is an aid in developing life-long learning skills such as self-discipline, commitment, time management, responsibility, independence, initiative, and problem solving.
Time Guidelines
GRADE AMOUNTS OF TIME
- Grades 1 - 8 - 5 to 10 minutes per grade most nights
(plus read aloud or independent reading) - Grade 1- 5 to 10 minutes
- Grade 2 - 10 to 20 minutes
- Grade 3 - 15 to 20 minutes
- Grade 4 - 20 to 40 minutes
- Grade 5 - 25 to 50 minutes
- Grade 6 - 30 to 60 minutes
- Grade 7 - 35 to 70 minutes
- Grade 8 - 40 to 80 minutes
- Grades 9&10 - 6 to 10 hours per week (depending on type of assignments, course, or program; some students, including those with special needs, may have more of an in-class focus for their learning)
- Grades 11&12 - an average of 10 to 20 hours per week (depending on grade and courses)
Type of Homework
Homework offers a variety of experiences, using a variety of mediums, that encourage and support children in relation to their in-school experiences. There are four main types of homework:
| TYPE | REASON | EXAMPLES |
| Completion | Anything not completed in class To keep up-to-date with classroom work |
Completing classroom assignments, including reading responses, notes, exercises, pieces of writing |
| Preparation | Home preparation for the next day’s class work | Collecting information, reading background materials, or studying for quizzes, tests and exams. Completing tasks associated with sacramental preparation. Using planners to establish regular study and review time |
| Practice and Application | To develop, er view, and reinforce specific skills presented in class. To transfer skills or concepts into new situations. |
Completing extra questions in a textbook if an assessment item demonstrates that the students has not mastered a skill. Writing a letter after being taught the components of a business letter. Reviewing and drilling of numbers, operations, and troublesome spelling words. |
| Extension and Creative | To enrich classroom experiences and to deepen the student’s understanding. To provide opportunities for problem-solving and critical thinking. To integrate skills. |
Identifying local plant and animal life in one’s environment. Volunteering to help in local parish or a community group. Working on projects, research and independent study. Inventing a product to solve a problem. Creating designs, stories, drama, prayers. |
Roles and Responsibilities in the Homework Partnership:
For homework to be an effective extension of the school program, the school, teachers, parents, and students share the responsibility for developing and maintaining good homework practices.
The SCHOOL develops and communicates school guidelines for homework to be used by teachers, parents and students. They offer information to assist parents in helping their children at home. They work with the community to develop programs to provide students with support for homework (i.e. peer tutors, homework clubs).
The TEACHER explains to students the purpose and importance of homework and its connection to school success. Teachers teach the skills necessary for the student to complete homework (e.g., note-making, preparation for upcoming test). Teachers assign work that is appropriate to the student’s age, developmental level, learning styles, maturity, skills and individual needs. Teachers use homework as a vehicle for developing and reinforcing learning, not as a punishment for misbehaviour or failure to perform as expected. Teachers work collaboratively with other teachers to assign reasonable amounts of homework and to avoid overload in rotary class situations. Teachers summarize and report on homework completion in the Learning Skills section of the Provincial Report Card.
The PARENT provides encouragement and appropriate support, without doing the homework for the student. The parent expects the student to complete homework regularly. The parent shows interest in the student’s schoolwork and progress.
The STUDENT ensures that he/she clearly understands the homework (i.e. assignments, criteria, timelines). The student asks for help if homework assignments or expectations are not clear. The student completes homework regularly.
Study Tips:
- Praise and encourage your children in their work. Talk to your children about what they are learning in school.
- Read together with younger children.
- Let your children help you with reading and writing activities: recipes, newspapers, letters, shopping lists
- Encourage your children to ask the teacher for help if they find the work difficult or confusing.
- Set a consistent time when homework will be done each night. Check that homework is completed. Provide a quiet place away from distractions such as television and telephone.
- Have your children practise mathematics, reading, and writing skills daily
- Keep in touch with the teachers and call when you have a question or a concern.