Homework is an expected part of every child’s education experience.
Children need to practice what has been introduced to them during the
school day. Homework expectations begin in kindergarten and continue
until graduation from high school. For elementary students, homework
expectations gradually increase from kindergarten through fifth grade. In
accordance with the Rockingham County School Board’s homework
policy, Plains Elementary School has established the following homework
policy for our students.
On-going communication between the school and family is essential for a
successful homework policy. Should a family have an occasional situation
where it becomes difficult for a child to complete their homework
assignment for reasons beyond their control, the parent(s) are encouraged
to communicate with the teacher. Also, if a child is spending more than the
recommended amount of time for their grade level, the parent(s) should
discuss this with the teacher. The parent(s) should communicate with the
teacher if he/she feels that a homework assignment or amount of time
allowed to complete and assignment is unreasonable for their child. This
may indicate another issue with student progress that can be addressed
through a variety of teaching strategies and/or accommodations.
It should also be understood that the role of the parent is to facilitate the
completion of homework. It is primarily the student's responsibility to
complete their homework. It is the parent's responsibility to set a conducive
homework environment and to make sure it is completed.
As students progress in school, daily work not completed in class may be
sent home for completion in addition to the regular homework assigned.
Long-term assignments will be given in first grade through fifth grade.
These long-term assignments will assist students in learning and in
developing planning skills and responsibility.
Homework sheets or assignment notebooks are used in each grade level
to communicate homework expectations to parents. Homework
assignments for each teacher are also posted on the Plains Elementary
Kindergarten
Homework for kindergarten is considered to be minimal. Students will spend up to fifteen minutes daily, as needed. Homework is to reinforce one or more of the following basic concepts taught in kindergarten: 1. Alphabet recognition in random order |
| 2. Identifying capital and lower case letters |
| 3. Knowing the sounds of the letters |
| 4. Writing the letters and sounding out words |
5. Sight word practice/recoginition |
| 6. Reading books with a parent and then having the child retell the story |
| 7. Reinforce Math, Science, and Social Studies SOL's introduced in class. |
FIRST GRADE
Nightly homework is given in first grade to encourage responsibility and reinforce first grade standards of learning (SOLs). Homework will be fifteen (15) to thirty (30) minutes per night. Parents are expected to sign a homework assignment sheet every night. Some of the concepts to be reinforced are as follows.
-weekly word study
-occasional math practice
-daily rereads
-skill practice
SECOND GRADE
Students will be expected to complete homework assignments each night that will take between twenty and thirty (20-30) minutes. A minimum of fifteen (15) minutes should be spent on reading each night. Parents are expected to sign a homework assignment book every night. Types of homework may include the following:
1. Different Spelling and/or Math activities each night
2. Individual theme based projects related to Science and/or Social Studies Standards of Learning (SOLs)
There is an expectation for class work to be completed at school during the day. If a student does not complete daily assignments, he/she may be asked to complete the work at home. When homework assignments are not completed, an effort must be made during the next school day to complete the assignment, either early in the morning or during a recess break.
THIRD GRADE
By the time students have entered third grade, they have progressed into the upper elementary grades and are now expected to complete between thirty and sixty (30-60) minutes of homework each evening. Reading every night is an expectation included with the 30 to 60 minutes. Parents are expected to review their child’s homework assignment book each night. If a child does not have the homework assignment completed, he/she must do it during free time or take it home again for homework. At the end of each week, parents are notified through a weekly report if their child has not been keeping up with the homework assignments.
FOURTH GRADE
Reasonable homework expectations for fourth graders are from thirty to sixty (30-60) minutes per night. Students are expected to read thirty minutes four nights per week. To ensure that students understand the concepts being taught, students usually begin assignments in class. Homework tends to be assignments that have been started in class, but students have not had time to complete. If homework is not completed, the student will work on it during their computer lab or break time. Assignment books will be provided to students to record homework assignments.
FIFTH GRADE
Fifth graders are expected to complete thirty to sixty (30-60) minutes of homework per night, which includes an expectation of reading thirty minutes 4 nights per week. Usually time is given in class to begin assignments. Unfinished work then becomes homework. Students are expected to write daily assignments in an assignment book and check them off as they are completed. Parents are expected to check these. Weekly reading logs and bi-weekly newsletters should be signed by parents and returned. Consequences for not completing homework may include missing break time, school activities, or computer lab time until the assignment is completed. Points may be deducted for late work.