We assign routine home PRACTICE rather than homeWORK. Unlike traditional homework, home practice is individualized for the unique needs of each student AND practices or reinforces something already learned. Our goal is to require the minimum amount of home practice to provide the greatest impact.
With that said, we understand some students may need accommodations or modified home practice expectations, and that not all students have reliable access to the internet or devices at home. We promise to be good listeners and to be flexible to figure out what works best for the individual needs of the students and families in our class. Please send us an email or fill out the contact form on our home page if you have any questions or need support.
Home Practice Expectations
Students will be expected to complete home practice as part of their regular routine. On Monday- Thursday nights, students will read for 15-20 minutes, practice their math facts for 5-10 minutes, and work in ST Math for 10-15 minutes. They will complete a log to keep track of their practice. We ask that students keep this log in their Home/ School Folders and that students get an adult at home to initial their completed log each day.
Reading Practice can be done independently or with someone else at home. Students have begun to check library books out from Memorial School’s library so we will be encouraging students to choose books that are of interest to them, and something they can read. We can assist any student who needs help choosing a book. Reading can also take many other forms-- such as reading a recipe or listening to an audiobook. The most important thing is that children are exposed to reading often so they can build enjoyment, stamina, fluency, and comprehension. For digital resources, visit the ELA section of our class Clever page.
Math Fact Fluency is an essential building block of your child’s mathematics education. Research shows that students must be able to easily recall basic math facts in order to solve more complex mathematical operations. We also know that consistent, repeated exposure is key to developing a memory relationship in the brain. In class, students useXtraMath to build fact fluency as part of their regular morning routine. Students can also access this program at home through Clever, but fact fluency can be practiced in many other ways too. For inspiration, visit the Fact Fluency page of our website.
ST Math is a puzzle based math program that helps students to develop critical thinking and mathematical problem solving skills. ST Math is designed for students to work on independently, learning through trial and error. This program is accessed through Clever.Clever login information is located at the bottom of the Home Practice Log, as well as in your child’s Home/ School folder.
The best way to help your child be successful with their home practice is to build a consistent routine and reinforce the importance of practice to develop learning. Help your child find a consistent time and a quiet spot where they can complete their focused practice. For some families, this may mean completing homework when their student comes home from school. For others, it may mean completing homework after dinner or sports activities.
MURSD Homework Guidelines
The Mendon-Upton Regional School District homework guidelines provide teachers, students, and families with expectations about the vision, purpose, and beliefs about homework. Additionally, it provides implementation practices that will support our district’s mission to empower all learners to thrive working towards our strategic objectives to redefine and reimagine school to empower learning for a modern context. These guidelines also support social-emotional learning in order to create safe, healthy, and balanced learning environments. Establishing coherency and consistency to homework practices is essential.
Students will get a new log at the start of each week and more will always be available in the classroom, but here is a digital copy should you ever need one: