News From Mrs. Talley
Why aren’t you doing homework packets or sending home worksheets?
Our goal is to make homework Relevant, Engaging and Independent. Each classroom has a wide range of abilities and on average the packets were too hard for 1/3, too easy 1/3, and “just right” for only a 1/3. Our goal is that this new approach will make home learning “just right” for all students. Additionally, a teacher survey revealed that intermediate teachers spent up to 4 hours a week selecting, copying, explaining, collecting and correcting homework. We felt this was not the best use of time and that the majority of teacher planning time should be spent designing high quality instruction. More research on homework is available under the Homework Resources tab on our website.
What are the grade level expectations for the amount of time spent on homework?
District policy states: Teachers are expected to adhere to the following time ranges (below) for specific grade levels, per night average. Students are expected to practice their math facts (grades 2-5) and read for pleasure on a daily basis (K-12).
K=Occasional
1st-2nd = 15 min. (M-Th) or 1 hour per week
3rd–5th = 30-60 min (M-Th) or 2-4 hours per week
How do I know what my child needs to learn in Math?
It is very important that your child fluently know their basic math facts. The grade level expectations are:
Kindergarten: Count to 100 by 1’s and 10’s, write numbers to 20, addition and subtraction to 5
1st: Fluently write numbers to 100, addition and subtraction to 10
2nd: Addition and Subtraction facts to 20, skip count by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s
3rd: Addition and Subtraction facts to 20, Multiplication and division facts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
4th-5th: All of the above
- Practice basic facts: Flash cards and online math (XtraMath, Mathmagician, A+Math), the Homework Tab on our webpage includes great math practice sites including worksheet makers.
- Look for Math Review sheets sent home by teachers, any problems missed on the review should be practiced for homework.
- Classroom newsletters are another source for information on what is currently being taught and many teachers include samples of student work.
- A variety of homework resources will be available at Open House Oct. 18th.
- Intermediate students will be taking the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment which will provide specific information as to individual strengths and challenges.
- Optional: purchase a grade level math workbook available at Launching Success Learning Store.
How will the Home Learning Journals be checked by the teachers?
Students are to bring their journals back to school every Friday. Classroom teachers will provide the opportunity for students to share their learning with others. We would like to give students and families a few weeks to settle into this new routine. Starting in October we will begin Homework Club for students not completing the weekly homework or returning their journal. Friday Homework Club will provide time for students to work with an adult here at school to complete reading and math work and write a weekly summary.
How can I learn more about this new approach to homework and access resources?
There is a new tab on our school website called Homework Resources which we will continue to update.
This year the Bellingham School District is transitioning from Washington State Academic Standards to the national Common Core Standards. The link below is a great parent resource by grade level. Our goal is to make print copies available soon. http://www.ocde.us/CommonCoreCA/Documents/CCSParentHandbook_020411.doc.pdf
Your feedback is important to us! Please to send comments and questions to Nicole.Talley@Bellinghamschools.org.
