Homework

Homework is an opportunity for students to learn and for parents to be involved in their children’s education. A parent’s interest can spark enthusiasm in a child and help teach the most important lesson of all, that learning can be fun and is well worth the effort.

Homework can help a child to prepare for class, cement previous lessons and assist them in their development as independent and inquisitive learners. The introduction of homework to students in school is a continuous process beginning with shared parent/student activities, such as reading, in the early years up to a more structured homework plan for students in Years 5/6 and the Middle Years Programme.

Purpose of homework

Homework is a valuable opportunity, which serves a variety of purposes by:

Bilding self-discipline and responsibility

Instilling a sense of self-discipline and responsibility when tasks are tackled on a regular basis and completed within guidelines and suitable timeframes.

Developing independent learning skills

Developing independent learning skills, particularly in the older classes where the quantity and variety of homework given will require that the students, teachers and parents work together to develop time management skills.

Practicing what is taught and reinforcing learning skills

Supporting classroom teaching, enabling concepts and skills taught in class to be practiced and reinforced.

Engendering a sense of self-achievement

Engendering a sense of self-achievement especially when self-reflection is accompanied by constructive feedback from parents and teachers.

Parentising the learning experience

Involving parents as partners in the learning experience as listeners, guides, facilitators and audience. In addition, the nature of homework set will give parents a valuable insight into classroom programmes.

Learning is a process that has no end

Reinforcing the attitude in the students that learning is a lifelong process not restricted to schools and classrooms.

How to help your child with their homework?

Tell your child that their homework is important to you as parents and that it should be to them as well.
Offer help, but make sure your child works independently as far as is possible.
Ensure the quality of homework and its presentation is always consistent with the standards expected in school.
Ensure your child has the opportunity, space and time to complete their homework to a high level. Ideally homework should be done in a quiet area with a good work space and a child should have the necessary equipment at hand.

Guidelines for homework and time commitment

The following are guidelines for daily homework by year group:

Grades (5,6,7)	Individual reading and/or set subjects of spelling, math, language, project work and English. Approximately 30-45 minutes.
Middle Years Grades ( 8,9,10, 11)	Homework will steadily increase during the MYG from approximately 30-45 minutes a night for them 1 to 1 hour 30 minutes per night. Students are provided with a homework timetable and will be given guidance by staff with regard to how long to spend on homework. Students from are required to keep homework diaries and are expected to complete assignments on time. Students are to write the homework in the diary on the day it is due.
Grade 12 Bilingual Monolingual	Grade 12 students have a heavy academic program that involves a considerable amount of work completed at home. In addition, students need to write an Extended Essay as well as be responsible for a large number of projects, many of which will be included in the General Certificate Internal Assessment. Frequently students will be given large projects and are expected to work on them over several days or even weeks; time management is an important factor to a student's success in this programme.