Bannerman High School
S1/2 Homework
Helpful Hints for Parents
www.bannermanhigh.glasgow.sch.uk
Dear Parents/Guardians
The support for Learning Department has put this booklet together with specialist
information from departments. We hope that it will give you some idea of specific help
you can give your child. Please do not hesitate to contact ourselves or Pastoral Care
should you require further information.
All departments recommend that a suitable space for completing and supervising
homework should be available for your child.
Yours faithfully
M van de Gevel
DHT (Support for Learning)
1. Whether you have prior knowledge of the subject(s) or not, you can still help your
child. We, in the Support for Learning Department, have consulted with Principal
Teachers and have some specific tips for you and how you can help your child with
particular tasks. As always we are available, as are Pastoral Care Principal Teachers,
to give further information should you require this. Please do not hesitate to contact
us by phone or by looking at our website or dropping in at Parents’ Evenings.
2. All homework (including learning homework) should be recorded in his/her
homework diary. You can make sure that homework is completed by
checking and signing the diary.
3. This booklet contains examples and explanations of the types of homework
which may be issued during the course of S1/S2. The issuing of homework (i.e.
the amount of time per week) should be in line with the School’s Homework
Policy.
4. With all homework tasks you can encourage your child to discuss/talk through tasks
to be completed. This discussion will ensure that your child understands the task to
be undertaken. This will also allow you to help as and when required by your child.
Understanding the tasks to be undertaken allows you to ask questions about, and look
over, the work.
5. After tasks have been completed you can ask your child to assess the quality of
his/her work. This will help you and your child become better at evaluating the
quality of work.
Types of homework your child may be given in S1/S2
1. Learning Homework/Memory Practice
(English and Modern Languages in particular)
2. Completion of task/exercise started in class
(Most subjects)
3. Project work/Investigation
(Home Economics, Social Subjects, Modern Languages and Craft & Design)
4. Revising for assessment/test
Writing
/
Speaking
(All subjects)
(Modern Languages, English, Drama)
5. Homework sheets/Answering questions
(Most subjects)
6. Extended Writing tasks
(English, Drama)
7. Formal Exercises/Ink Exercises
(Maths, Social Subjects, English, Modern Languages)
8. Thinking Homework
(Most subjects)
Practical advice on types of homework
1.
Learning Homework (Memory Practice) – Pupils feel that this is not real
homework and therefore:
i) Fail to record it
ii) Don’t do it
You can help by asking if your child has Learning Homework. If he/she has failed
to record it, stress the importance of recording all types of homework. Ask your
child to explain the task to you from textbook or jotter. There will be a list of words
or expressions to be learned or perhaps preparation for a written or speaking test or
solo talk (for pronunciation in Modern Languages you can use
www.naturalreaders.com and this will give you the pronunciation of a native
speaker to help).
2.
Completion of exercise begun in class. You can ask your child to show you the
examples already done e.g. in jotter or in text book. Ask your child to explain to
you. If your child cannot explain exercise to you, then he/she has not understood
and must ask the teacher next time. You can put a note in the homework diary or
jotter or write a note to the teacher. All this will help your child.
3.
Project Work/ Investigation Your child will be given a sheet outlining the project
to be undertaken. There may be a deadline for the handing in of this project. There
will, most certainly, be guidelines for the appropriate presentation of the project.
Your child, with your help, will be required to undertake some research (in the
guidelines). You know your child, you know when he/she is working as hard as
possible. You also know when he/she is producing his/her best work.
The high standard required is your child’s best work.
4.
Revising for assessments/tests: Pupils will always be given notice
about forthcoming assessments/tests. Dates should be recorded in
Homework Diaries. Assessments/tests take different formats and you can help your
child with each as follows:
(a)
Written tests: This will be on course work already completed. Teachers will give
advice on revision and topics. You can help by going through the topics and advice
and testing your child’s knowledge by asking questions. In Modern Languages, a
piece of writing, prepared in class, will be learned for the test (this piece of writing
will also be the basis for the Speaking test).
Speaking Test/Solo Talk: For Modern Languages see Written Tests. In English the
Solo Talk is prepared in class and at home usually on a topic of the pupil’s choice.
You can help your child by having the original copy in front of you and getting
your child to practise speaking aloud. This will improve confidence. For Modern
Languages use www.naturalreaders.com for help with pronunciation.
(b)
(c)
Practical Assessments: Pupils will have practised in class and you can help them by
allowing them to practise at home. For Home Economics this may mean practising
cooking skills! For P.E it may mean trying out cartwheels, forward rolls or
particular techniques for specific sports. For Drama it may mean making masks or
props. For Business Studies/Computing it may mean practising keyboard skills. For
Music it may mean practising on the instrument chosen.
5.
Homework Sheets: Exercises or work to be completed should be clearly explained
and your child should be able to explain work to you.
6.
Extended Writing: In Drama this may mean “in character” i.e. pretending to be a
particular person and writing a card, letter or diary entry from this person’s
perspective.
In English this may be the completion of an essay or critical evaluation of a poem,
play or novel started in class. Explicit instructions and help sheets are issued for
these pieces of work.
7.
Formal Exercises (Ink Exercises): These are issued by departments to allow pupils
to show their best work in terms of presentation and accuracy. You can help by
ensuring that your child completes these exercises to the best of his/her ability.
8.
Thinking Homework: Most subjects require pupils to think about what they have
learned and done that day. Thinking time can be used for evaluating the quality of
work done during each lesson. Talking through the school day with your child and
discussing any issues that may arise can be of tremendous value to your child.
We hope that this advice will be of benefit to you and your child. All 3 parties involved,
Parent, Child and Teacher must work together to guarantee success.
Ongoing Daily Homework
 English reading
 New subject vocabulary
 Modern Language vocabulary
 Look over work completed that day
School Aim
The aim of the school is to provide a safe, happy, ordered
and stimulating learning community in which each
individual can achieve his or her potential, socially and
intellectually, in a caring climate of mutual respect.
Working with parents and the wider community, we seek
to develop successful learners, confident individuals,
responsible citizens and effective contributors.