This is very exciting! I have a new homework idea that I am hoping you will be as excited about as I am. I told you all at Back to School Night that homework would be due every Friday and that is still the case. The only thing that will be different is the new plan that I am going to fill you in on!

My Firsties will come home with a Weekly Homework Menu that will include 8 flexible choices to complete and 1 constant to be completed by all. The constant will be Every Night Read For Enjoyment, for now that can be you reading to them and/or them reading to you depending on the level of your child and the availability of reading materials at home. Later this year, I will begin to send home leveled readers, on your child’s reading level that will allow them to read each night, comprehend what they read and build fluency by rereading for the week.

Of the eight flexible choices there will be some math and some language arts as well as science and social studies woven within. They will complete at least 4 of the activities but if you need more for your child then by all means, complete more. A notebook will be sent home as well to make for easy recording of the assignments chosen. Homework is to be done neatly and with pride since it really is a minimal practice activity and can be tackled with all their excitement. In an effort to conserve, please do not limit each page to an activity. If there is space on the page, draw a line and start the next activity in the next space. I will be able to work it out and determine where each activity ends and the next begins. The work in the menu will be material that was covered in the previous week of school so that we don’t have to worry that an activity you chose Monday will not be taught until Thursday. If you recognize a theme to the homework feel free to visit the library to find books that could aid in enhancing your child’s understanding of the topic (apples). Books are always a good share for the classroom and I make time for them to be shared often so if they are excited and want to bring in what they found I will make time for it!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

We have already developed sentence writing skills so if they are to write a sentence then I expect that it will have a period and a capital.

If make a list is chosen then please allow them to use their best try on spelling difficult words, encourage them to say the sounds of the words slowly to be able to record most of the sounds in the words. If they spell it wrong but it is decipherable then leave it as is...words are tricky and we have not learned all of the rules for spelling yet. If they are having a hard time moving on because a word is not correct then it is ok for you to take the pencil and write it underneath. No one but me will be checking their work so it is ok if it is their best try!

If tell someone is chosen please just initial the box so that I know it was the activity they chose since there is no writing involved. These are especially helpful on the nights you may not be home and can be easily tackled in the car on your way to the many places you need to be!

I hope that you enjoy this style and look forward to your feedback. I would be open to any other suggestions that would aid in furt