WOODBURY ELEMENTARY HOMEWORK PLAN
Homework Plan Grades K-3
Purpose Statement:
The purpose of homework is to enhance student achievement by practicing concepts and skills taught in the classroom. Homework helps students become self-directed, independent learners and to develop good
work habits. Assignments provide for self-assessment and feedback for the student, the parent, and the teacher.
Kindergarten: Parents are welcome to read for more than 10 minute requirement (parent discretion).
First Grade: The purpose for first grade homework is for your child to practice and apply what has been learned in class.
Grades 2-3: Homework provides students with the opportunity to independently apply information they have learned and complete unfinished assignments.
Appropriate Parent/Guardian Involvement
Set up a consistent, organized, and distraction-free place for homework.
Help your child establish either a consistent schedule for completing homework or help him/her create a schedule each week that reflects that particular week’s activities.
Prompt your child by reviewing the directions and the completed work.
Encourage your child, but if the work cannot be completed or should homework become a frustration, please see your child’s teacher.
Parents provide guidance in the completion of homework, as needed, but do not complete the work for the students.
If your child is practicing a skill, ask him/her to tell you which steps are easy, which are difficult and how she/he is going to improve.
There is a strong correlation between reading to or with children every day and increased student achievement.
If you have any concerns about homework, please see your classroom teacher and adjustments can be made for each individual child.
The teacher and grade level teams will communicate our homework policy at Back to School Night, during Parent Conferences, on our website, and on the Homework Cover Sheet.
Encourage students to be LEADers while completing homework and long term assignments.
Differentiation
Independent reading is at the child’s reading level. Student will progress at their own pace learning High Frequency Words and Math Facts.
Extension or review of skills can be done at home through Ticket To Read, V-Math Live (programs purchased by the PTA and school) as well as Big Brainz a free web page.
Completion
Students should stop working once a frustration level is met. Parent has the right to discontinue homework at 20 minutes for first grade, 30 minutes for second grade, and 45 minutes for third grade. If homework is
not completed within this time frame, parent may initial the work on the line, indicating that it was modified, and turn in. Full credit will be earned since the child met the time requirement. Teachers understand that
each child is different and that the parent knows the child best
Student Access
Students will be provided all necessary learning materials.
Coordination of Assignments
Each grade level team works together to create weekly homework.
Students are encouraged to read nightly; specific reading assignments may be given.
Homework and Absences or Suspensions
Students are encouraged to complete missed homework within 3 days of their absence or suspension. Assignments must be turned in the day a student returns from an Independent Study Contract.
Homework and Academic Breaks
Homework will not be assigned during academic breaks. Some long-term projects may span over the weekends, but not over breaks. Student may reasonably complete these projects during weekdays. Long-term
projects are assigned in advance and students are given a timeline to complete.
Grading
Homework is skill practice; it is included in the Work Habit/Effort grade. Homework can be graded, reviewed for accuracy, or used as a tool to guide classroom instruction. Students should complete work
independently.
Kindergarten
First Grade
Informing Parents and Guardians
Second Grade
The Kindergarten team will communicate our
homework policy at Back to School Night,
during Parent Conferences, and on our
website.
Homework expectations will be reviewed at
Back to School Night, during Parent
Conferences, on our website, and on the
Homework Cover Sheet.
LENGTH AND DURATION:
Students will listen to an adult read at least
10 minutes a night, Monday – Friday
Parents are welcome to read for more than
10 minute requirement (parent discretion).
Turn in a monthly Reading Log Calendar
LENGTH AND DURATION:
20 minutes a night, Monday - Thursday
(packet is sent home each Monday).
Students are welcome to do more than the 20
minute requirement (parent discretion).
Some long-term projects, such as our cultural
doll, may span over the weekends, but not
over breaks. Long term projects are given well
in advance, and students are given a timeline
to complete. Student may reasonably
complete these projects during weekdays.
MATH OBJECTIVE:
Review skills with the Homework and
Remembering pages (optional).
READING OBJECTIVE:
Improve reading fluency and comprehension
by reading aloud at home (10 minutes). Turn
in a monthly Reading Log Calendar
MATH OBJECTIVE:
Review skills and practice already learned
concepts with Homework & Remembering
Pages. Both sides of worksheet assigned, odd
problems only. It is the parent/child’s choice to
complete the even problems on each side, but
this is optional. Increase fluency with weekly
Math Fact Testing of Addition and Subtraction
Facts.
READING OBJECTIVE:
Improve reading fluency by reading aloud at
home (10 minutes).
High Frequency Word development through
Theme testing.
SPELLING OBJECTIVE:
(Optional): Practice using student’s preferred
strategies (SpellingCity.com, Practice Tests,
etc.). No proof of studying required. Spelling
reflects phonics skills learned during the week.
Third Grade
Homework expectations will be reviewed at Back to
School Night, during Parent Conferences, on our
website, and on the Homework Cover Sheet.
Homework expectations will be reviewed at Back to
School Night, during Parent Conferences, on our
website.
LENGTH AND DURATION:
30 minutes a night, Monday - Thursday
Students are welcome to do more than the 30 minute
requirement (parent discretion).
No homework or projects assigned over the weekend
or breaks.
Some long-term projects, such as dioramas, may span
over the weekends, but not over breaks. Student may
reasonably complete these projects during weekdays.
When special projects are given, other homework is
reduced.
LENGTH AND DURATION:
Approximately 45 minutes per night, Monday Thursday. This includes 20 minutes reading of a
chapter book per night (read to self, read with parent,
and/or parent reads with child.) Homework is sent home
daily to be returned the following day.
MATH OBJECTIVE:
Review skills and practice already learned concepts
with Homework & Remembering Pages.
Complete both sides of homework pages assigned.
Increase fluency with weekly Math Fact Testing.
READING OBJECTIVE:
Improve reading fluency by reading aloud at home.
Increase comprehension through book reports
(Require two book reports a month).
Sight Word development through the Sight Word
Soldiers Program (weekly testing).
SPELLING OBJECTIVE:
Practice using student’s preferred strategies
(SpellingCity.com, practice tests, etc.).
No proof of studying required.
Spelling reflects phonics skills learned and integrates
social studies and science curriculum.
MATH OBJECTIVE:
Review skills and practice already learned concepts with
Homework & Remembering Pages.
Increase fluency in multiplication & division Facts.
Develop problem-solving strategies.
READING OBJECTIVE:
Improve reading fluency by reading aloud and silent
independent reading.
Increase comprehension through book talks, book
reports, and class novels.
SPELLING OBJECTIVE:
Practice using student’s preferred strategies.
(SpellingCity.com, practice tests, etc.).
Spelling reflects phonics skills learned and integrates
social studies and science curriculum.
WOODBURY ELEMENTARY HOMEWORK PLAN
Homework Plan Grades 4-6
Purpose Statement:
The purpose of homework is to enhance student achievement by practicing concepts and skills taught in the classroom. Homework helps students become self-directed, independent learners and to develop good
work habits. Assignments provide for self-assessment and feedback for the student, the parent, and the teacher. All homework is given for the purpose of reinforcement, practice, and preparation for assessments of
concepts taught in class. Additionally, students should use homework as a self-assessment tool (“Did I understand?” or “I need extra help with…”).
Appropriate Parent/Guardian Involvement
Help set up a consistent, non-distracting, organized setting for homework to be done.
Help your child establish a consistent schedule for completing homework.
Students and parents reference Black Board for assignments nightly.
Encourage, motivate, and prompt your child, but do not sit with your child and do the homework for them. Shift the responsibility for homework completion from parent to student as much as possible.
Encourage and support your child so they will try his or her best.
Communicate with the teacher(s) if your child is consistently not able to do the homework independently or if they are spending too much time on homework.
Students are encouraged to read independently daily. Homework assignments will include the practice of reading skills, but we hope that reading for pleasure as well as for information will become a daily routine for our
students.
We will communicate our homework policy and homework expectations on our school webpage, at Back to School Night and during Parent Conferences.
Encourage students to be LEADers while completing homework and long-term assignments.
Differentiation
Math: Students will achieve mastery of multiplication and division facts at their own pace.
Reading: Students will choose literature at their individual levels.
Spelling: SpellingCity.com-Students will choose activities to match their ability and interest level.
Completing portions of assignments (i.e. only odds), asking students to go deeper with the knowledge/apply skill (i.e. completing additional higher-level questions not originally assigned, leveled-projects), or
seeking out additional online-resources (i.e. Khan Academy, etc.).
Extension or review of skills can be done at home through Ticket To Read, V-Math Live (programs purchased by the PTA and school) as well as Big Brainz a free web page.
Completion
Students should stop working once their frustration level is met and parents should schedule a meeting with child’s teacher. If homework is not completed within this time frame, parent may initial the work, indicating
that it was modified, and indicating the child did not understand the material.
Student Access
All homework activities will be accessible to all students, regardless of resources at home.
Coordination of Assignments
Fourth grade teachers will coordinate assignments so that students do not receive an excess of 45 minutes of daily homework assignments.
Fifth grade teachers will coordinate assignments so that students do not receive an excess of 70 minutes of daily homework assignments. 20 minutes of daily, independent reading for Book Summaries and the
remaining time will be spent on independent practice to reinforce concepts taught in class.
Sixth grade teachers will coordinate assignments so that students do not receive an excess of 90 minutes of daily homework assignments.
Students may receive assignments from specialty classes (Music and Science Lab).
Homework and Absences or Suspensions
Students are encouraged to complete missed homework within the amount of days of their absence or suspension. (i.e. If a student is absent on Monday and returns to school on Tuesday, all work will be due
Wednesday). Assignments must be turned in on the day a student returns from an Independent Study Contract.
Homework and Academic Breaks
Homework will not be assigned during academic breaks. Some long-term projects may span over the weekends, but not over breaks. Student may reasonably complete these projects during weekdays. Long-term
projects are assigned in advance and students are given a timeline to complete.
Fourth Grade
LENGTH AND DURATION:
Students should expect 30-45 minutes in the first term. As they adjust
to upper grade expectations, the amount of time will increase to 40-50
minutes.
MATH OBJECTIVE:
Review skills and practice concepts already introduced in class with
Homework & Remembering Pages.
Increase fluency of multiplication and division facts with at-home
practice (Math Facts are tested weekly).
LANGUAGE ARTS OBJECTIVE:
Improve reading fluency by reading at home (20 minutes).
Exposure to a variety of literary genres.
Reinforce reading comprehension and summarization skills.
SPELLING OBJECTIVE:
Reinforce phonics skills learned during the week.
Assigned weekly on Mondays; collected on Fridays.
SCIENCE/SOCIAL SCIENCE OBJECTIVE:
Review skills and practice concepts already introduced in class.
GRADING:
Homework will be primarily used in determining a student’s effort
grade; whereas Science and Social Studies study guides are credited
toward achievement grades. There will also be a separate indication of
homework responsibility on the student report card.
Informing Parents and Guardians
Fifth Grade
LENGTH AND DURATION:
Students should expect 70 minutes of homework nightly.
MATH OBJECTIVE:
Review skills and practice concepts already introduced in class with
Homework & Remembering Pages as well as supplemental
assignments.
LANGUAGE ARTS OBJECTIVE:
Improve reading fluency by reading at home (20 minutes) and
completing weekly Book Summaries.
Exposure to a variety of literary genres.
Reinforce reading comprehension and summarization skills, as well as
responding to and analyzing literature.
Practice and apply proper English Language Conventions
SCIENCE/SOCIAL SCIENCE OBJECTIVE:
Review skills and practice concepts already introduced in class.
GRADING:
Homework will be primarily used in determining a student’s effort grade;
whereas Science and Social Studies study guides are credited toward
achievement grades. There will also be a separate indication of
homework responsibility on the student report card.
Sixth Grade
LENGTH AND DURATION:
Homework completion should take approximately 90 minutes a
night, Monday – Thursday.

Of the approximate 90 minutes of homework, all
students are required to do 20 minutes of daily,
independent reading for Book Club.

The remaining time will be spent on independent
practice to reinforce concepts taught in class.
Week-long assignments include: Book Club, geography
quizzes, test reviews
Typically, no homework or projects will be assigned over the
weekend. Exceptions include:

Reviewing concepts already taught in class for
upcoming assessments.

Preparing for long-term projects that may span over
breaks. Long-term projects are given well in
advance, and students are given a timeline to
complete.
MATH OBJECTIVE:
All work must be shown and the strategy explained verbally
or written depending on the assignment.
Review skills and practice concepts already introduced in
class with Homework & Remembering Pages as well as
supplemental assignments.
LANGUAGE ARTS OBJECTIVE:
Improve reading fluency by reading at home (20 minutes)
and completing weekly Book Club.
Exposure to a variety of literary genres.
Reinforce reading comprehension and summarization skills,
as well as responding to and analyzing literature.
Practice and apply proper English language conventions
SCIENCE/SOCIAL SCIENCE OBJECTIVE:
Review skills and practice concepts already introduced in
class.
GRADING:
Homework will be used in determining student’s effort grade,
and no more than 10% toward the achievement grade. There
will also be a separate indication of homework responsibility on
the student report card. Late work is accepted; however, the
score is dropped one letter grade each day it is late.