At St Anthony’s School, Dimbulah we believe that fostering a love for reading and developing foundational skills in basic facts are essential components of a well-rounded education. Therefore, we have implemented a homework policy that focuses primarily on home reading and practicing basic facts to support students’ academic growth and literacy development.
Rationale:
- Promotion of Oral Language: It is through oral language that students can develop broader literacy achievement when they build their oral language competency. Through these oral interactions students build knowledge of sounds or phonological awareness. They also develop understanding of word and sentence structure, meaning, connections between words as well as vocabulary, and their capacity to use flexible language structures.
- Promotion of Literacy: Reading is a fundamental skill that plays a crucial role in academic success and lifelong learning. By encouraging home reading, we aim to instill a passion for literature, expand students’ vocabulary, and improve their comprehension abilities.
- Reinforcement of Basic Skills: Proficiency in basic facts, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (based on year level), forms the foundation for more advanced mathematical concepts. Regular practice of basic facts at home helps students build fluency and confidence in arithmetic operations, which are essential for success in mathematics and everyday problem-solving.
- Parental Involvement: Homework assignments focused on home reading and basic facts provide opportunities for parents/guardians to actively engage in their child’s education. Parents can support their child’s learning by reading together, discussing texts, and practicing basic math skills in a supportive home environment.
Expectations:
- Oral Language: Students are expected to engage in oral conversations with adults on a daily basis.
Parents could use the Learning Walks and Talks that are engaged with at school:
- What are you learning at school? Why?
- How are you doing at school?
- How do you know?
- How can you improve your learning?
- Where do you go for help?
Other ideas could include conversations around the dinner table, while going for a walk, while playing a game, while cooking dinner, while driving to and from places, doing the house chores, etc.
- Home Reading: Students are expected to engage in home reading for a minimum of 10 minutes each day. They should select age-appropriate books, novels, magazines, or other reading materials based on their interests and reading level. Parents/guardians are encouraged to read with their child, ask questions to check comprehension, and provide encouragement and support.
- Basic Facts Practice: In addition to home reading, students are required to practice basic facts for 10 minutes per day. This may involve reviewing flashcards, completing worksheets, using online math games, or participating in other interactive activities designed to reinforce arithmetic skills.
While home reading and basic facts practice are essential components of our homework policy, formal assessment is not conducted for these activities. Instead, teachers may periodically check in with students to discuss their reading habits, monitor progress in basic facts mastery, and provide positive reinforcement and encouragement.
At St Anthony’s School, our homework policy prioritizes home reading and basic facts practice to promote literacy development, strengthen foundational mathematical skills, and encourage parental involvement in students’ education. By providing meaningful and manageable homework assignments, we aim to support students’ academic growth and cultivate a lifelong love for learning.
