Homework and study information for parents

Homework and Study

Information for parents “Be “Be the the best best you you can can be” be”

Homework This booklet is a guide for parents so they can support their child’s learning at home.

What is the purpose of homework?

Homework builds good independent study habits, confidence, and academic success. Homework allows pupils to practice recalling key knowledge and vocabulary, consolidate understanding and practise skills. In doing so, pupils can develop good routines and organisation skills. This means that when we start to prepare pupils for exams, they have the skills be able to study independently.

What is the frequency and duration of homework?

Motivation and routine certainly go hand in hand. To get pupils to build a routine, they benefit from short, regular tasks. In fact, having a set schedule has been suggested to help pupils remember when to set aside time for homework but is also linked to increased pupil achievement (Paulu, 1998).

Key Stage 3 Homework – set every 2 or 3 lessons Year 7-9 – regular 15-30min tasks Key Stage 4 Homework – set every week Year 10 & 11 – regular 30-40min tasks building up as exams approach.

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Pupils are asked to complete two Bedrock ‘lessons’ as homework in English each week.

Bedrock makes it possible to ensure regular reading of culturally enriching texts, while also improving reading fluency and comprehension. Vocabulary and grammar are learned while reading rich, interesting texts. The texts are a mix of fiction and non-fiction from a wide range of topics and they are read aloud so that pupils can hear expert reading.

Parents should create their own account through the ‘Guardian signup’ tab using the access code provided by school. app.bedrocklearning.org.

Please contact Mrs. Leonowicz if you would like support downloading and using the Bedrock app on this email: j.leonowicz@holyfamilyhighschool.co.uk

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Supporting homework The importance of Class Charts Parents and pupils have access to the Class Charts App where information about homework is placed every week. Supporting pupils to meet Class Charts homework deadlines is an important aspect of personal development in sticking to a schedule.

Class Charts also includes links directly to essential websites or documents, making accessibly easier.

If a pupil or parent would like the unique Class Charts code, it can be obtained from the Form Tutor or by emailing Mrs Leonowicz on j.leonowicz@holyfamilyhighschool.co.uk

What is period 6 Afterschool support?

Supervised study for all year groups takes place afterschool on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in S10. Pupils may access computers and 1-2-1 support to help them with their homework.

The Late Bus is provided to enable pupils to get home.

The Maths Department offers afterschool ‘Maths Clinic’ each Tuesday in T7 for any pupil who is struggling.

How do I know if homework is being completed?

Teachers allocate homework demerits and subject lunchtime or afterschool detentions on Class Charts if homework is not completed. They also award merits and postcards for excellence in homework.

Parents are also informed through termly Monitoring Reports where there is a section specifically on homework (see the next page)

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Homework on reports Homework

1

This pupil... ·Completes all homework tasks fully and to the best of their ability. ·Meets all homework deadlines. ·Prepares for assessments and exams by revising at home. · Always submits merit worthy work of high quality.

2

This pupil... ·Completes almost all homework tasks fully and to the best of their ability. ·Meets all homework deadlines. ·Prepares for assessments and exams by revising at home. ·Almost always submits work of good quality.

3

This pupil... ·Often fails to complete homework tasks fully and sometimes does not complete work to the best of their ability ·Does not meet all homework deadlines. ·Prepares for some assessments and exams by revising at home, but more effort is required. ·Rarely submits work when required and it is sometimes not of the required standard.

4

This pupil... ·Regularly fails to complete homework tasks fully and does not complete work to the best of their ability ·Regularly fails meet homework deadlines. ·Does not prepare for assessments and exams and there is very little evidence of revision at home. ·Regularly fails to submit of the required standard.

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Study and revision Every subject specific curriculum is carefully planned. The first step in successful independent study is to find out exactly what knowledge is essential for each topic.

You can find this information in many ways: The curriculum area of the school website.

There is a curriculum area which lists each subject alphabetically.

Within each subject page, there are curriculum plans for each year group setting out ‘What I need to know’ and ‘What I need to be able to do.

The topic overview in a pupil book.

Within the book, you will see key word lists and information about the important knowledge that must be learned.

The revision list shared before each assessment.

This is shared on Class Charts and helps pupils to prepare for assessments. It is a useful list to keep and use to independently study.

Websites that cover the KS3 National Curriculum

Websites such as BBC Bitesize are used by many schools and cover the same knowledge and skills. They are a useful place to start independent study.

Key Stage 3 Revision Guides These are produced to support independent study and a useful place to find the essential knowledge needed for each topic.

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How to remember more After establishing what needs to be learned, the hard part is getting this knowledge to stick. If a pupil believes they do not know how to study or revise, there are four very useful techniques that they have been taught to help retain knowledge: Flash Cards and spaced repetition Great for learning facts and vocabulary. They can be used to test recall over increasingly spaced periods of time which means you quickly find out what you know and don’t know. https://youtu.be/p3-o0pxDrL0 Making Cornell Notes Using a simple piece of lined paper, layout the Cornell note following the four-part format – heading, main notes, questions and summary. Use this to make independent notes on a topic. https://youtu.be/pZgMpjjgCRA Mind Mapping or flow charting Mind maps and flow charts replicate how the brain stores information and can be a powerful revision tool. Colour, images and links from idea to idea all support memorisation. https://youtu.be/oY4sUQzXJ1g Annotating model answers and replicating them Seeing ‘what a good one looks like’ is very important but it is not enough to just look. Both annotating and replicating excellent answers can support pupils improve their knowledge. This technique is used frequently in lessons and in ‘walking-talkingmocks’.

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Useful Apps and websites There are many useful websites to support homework and study at home. Teachers will link these directly onto Class Charts but click on each image to access these useful websites:

If a family has no access to a device or the Internet, the school can support. Please email Mrs. Leonowicz at j.leonowicz@holyfamilyhighschool.co.uk

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