Homework Policy Review Sept – Dec 2018

Our school homework policy was discussed at a staff meeting in Sept 2018. The value of homework was reflected upon by teachers. We discussed the reasons why we thought homework was a necessary practice to continue in our school. A wide variety of opinions were expressed on this topic. It was evident that a variety of approaches were taken by teachers in relation to the amount of homework given, the quality of homework expected and differentiation of homework for weaker/ more able students .  Therefore, we decided as a staff, to review our school homework policy.

Initially staff thought we could use this as part of the SSE process.

This process involved a number of steps namely the following;

• Tracking the time taken by pupils to complete their homework each night for a period of a fortnight
• Surveying parents ( via an online survey) in order to ascertain their views in relation to homework
• Discussing students’ concerns surrounding homework
• Collaboration among teachers at each class level

Following the gathering of the above data, teachers in each year group met to discuss their findings.  During these meetings, teachers considered  further their expectations in relation to homework and collectively decided upon the appropriate amount of homework to be given to students in their classes / year group. A more uniform approach is now evident in relation to homework at each class level and across the whole school.

Central to the aforementioned discussions was the learning, holistic development and wellbeing of children in our school. It was acknowledged that homework should be adjusted to meet the differing needs of students where necessary. 

The homework given at each class level is as follows;

3rd Class

• Reading – Fifteen  minutes per night  ( with an adult- folder to be signed)
• Spelling-  One box and one task from the relevant week in ‘Spellcheck’
• Tables- ‘Table  Toppers’ – One activity section from the relevant week
• Comprehension – ‘Read At Home’ – one page to be read and a minimum of three questions to be answered in written format –  two may be answered orally
• Maths – ‘Master your Maths’ – A minimum of ten questions to be answered in written format or a teacher designed activity sheet

4th Class

• Reading – Fifteen minutes per night  ( folder to be signed)
• Spelling-  One  box and one task from the relevant week in ‘Spellcheck’
• Tables – ‘Table Toppers’- one activity section from the relevant week
• Comprehension – ‘Read At Home’ – one page to be read and  five questions to be answered in written format
• Maths – Teacher designed activity sheet-( six questions on average)

5th Class

• Spelling-  One  box and one task from the relevant week in ‘Spellcheck’
• Tables – ‘Table Toppers’ – one activity section from the relevant week
• Comprehension – ‘Read At Home’ – one page to be read and  five questions to be answered in written format or an activity from ‘Word Wise’
• Irish Spellings – Two spellings to learn and write into sentence
• Maths – Master your Maths or teacher designed activity sheet-( ten questions on average)

6th Class

• Reading – Several pages from class novel
• Spelling-  One  box and one task from the relevant week in ‘Spellcheck’
• Comprehension – ‘Read At Home’ – one page to be read and  five questions to be answered in written format or  spelling sentences
• Oral Language / Debate preparation
• Essay – (on a fortnightly basis)
• Gaeilge- Teacher deigned sheet – (fill in the blanks or write four sentences)
• Maths – Teacher designed activity sheet-( ten questions on average)

 

 

At the end of this process it was agreed by the middle management team that it could not be progressed as a topic for school self evaluation as it would be impossible to set achievable targets.

Staff agreed that the Science Plan would be updated in 2019. The middle management team decided in January 2019 that as part of this review they would engage with the SSE process in this subject area.