All About: First Grade Homework

Homework begins next week.  This blog post will help explain the components of the First Grade homework packet.  

First and foremost, I do not wish for my students to go home and spend lots of time on homework every night.  I do not want my students to ever feel frustrated or angry while completing any type of homework.  

First graders need to re-energize when they get home.  They need to spend time with their families and get a good night sleep.  Homework should last no longer than 10-15 minutes.  Set a timer!

Reading at home is the most important part of the homework packet.  This can include reading right before bed.  Your child can read to you, read with you, or listen to you read.  All of these can be recorded on their reading log.  

Homework packets will be given to the students on Mondays and will be returned on Fridays.  

Here is an explanation of each part of the packet:  

Math Menu

I use a menu style of math homework.  

The appetizers are skills currently being taught or already learned.  It will provide a great review for students.  Just choose two skills through out the entire week.  You can do these every night or do them one night and be done for the rest of the week.  A great appetizer is practicing your child's rocket math page that comes home every night.  

The main dish is an activity page that is found on the back of the menu.  Students will complete the activity page and a parent/guardian will sign the menu

Desserts are math skills that have not been taught yet, but if children want to do more homework and challenge themselves, then they are more than welcome to.  

Math Activity Page

Found on the back of the math menu.  This is the main dish activity.  

Reading Study Guide (Vocabulary Words) 

The reading study guide just informs you of the vocabulary words and reading comprehension skills that are being taught at school.  You can discuss these words with your children if you would like, but there is nothing that needs to be completed.  

Reading Menu/Log

The reading menu is set up just like the math menu.  Please record books read at home (as I said, these books can be read by your child, with your child, or to your child...) It can be the same book over and over again, it can be a chapter book.  

If there is a night where you were unable to read---it's ok! Just write in the log that no book was read. 

Logic(spelling) Study Guide and Reading Passage

The way your children are learning how to spell words is amazing!  LOGIC is a program that teaches them the different syllable types and the rules that go along with each syllable.  

When you are practicing some of the example words given on the Logic study guide:  have them orally finger spell the word (breaking apart the sounds with their fingers) and then write it down.  

Do not have your child write the example words 3 times each or any other traditional method of memorizing spelling words...that is not what this program is about.  Your child is not memorizing words, but rather learning valuable skills!!

The reading passage will give your child extra practice with these skills.  Simply listen to your child read the passage and have them complete the questions.  

I hope this blog post was helpful!  All the skills in the homework packet are skills learned in school.  If your child does a good job of listening to the lessons taught in school, then the homework should just be a quick reinforcement.