Tips for Parents

Homework

1. As a general rule, every child form first to sixth class inclusive is given homework each night.  Parents are asked to ensure that their children complete their homework not being attempted or not being completed teachers may insist that the homework is completed by the children during some of the breaks.
2. Each child should have a homework notebook and homework copies.
3. Where exceptional circumstances prevent the completion of homework please forward an explanatory note to the teacher.
4. Do not do the child’s homework for him/her.  Work set for homework will have been prepared in class.  Please check your child’s homework for neatness and point out mistakes.
5. Changes have taken place in the way in which certain areas of maths are being taught.  In helping your child please adhere to the methods being used in school.  Providing alternative methods may lead to confusion for the child.
6. Oral work is as important as written work.  Please listen to the child read and examine spellings and tables.
7. Parents should check homework notebook and / or homework each night.
8. As a general rule, homework is not given at the weekends.

Homework for Various Classes

Junior Infants
As part of the reading programme, the pupil is given a word box in which a number of words are regularly added.  These words can be practised each night.  The main emphasis of the infant programme is on oral language and it is important to listen to your child as he relates the day’s news and repeats rhymes and songs.

Senior Infants
Preparation of reading, a small amount of maths and there may be some writing.

First Class
Reading, a small amount of maths, some spellings and there may be some writing.

Second to Sixth Class
(a)    Reading / Spellings
(b)   Maths – Sums as a revision of day’s work, tables to be learned.
(c)    Some writing may be given as a means of revising day’s work.

Suggested time taken:

Junior and Senior Infants        –           Class teacher will advise
First and Second Class           –           20 – 30 minutes.
Third and Fourth Class           –           30 – 40 minutes.
Fifth and Sixth Class              –           40 – 60 minutes.

The time will vary form pupil to pupil.  If parents feel a child is spending and excessive amount of time at homework, they should discuss this with the class teacher.

Reading

It is primarily in the home that the habit of reading is fostered.  Encourage your child to join the library and help him to appreciate that reading can be fun and not a chore which is confined to school and homework.  Encourage reading in free time and during holidays.

Problems with Reading
Children with reading difficulties may be referred to the Learning Support Teacher or Resource Teacher.  For a support programme to be successful it will require the encouragement and active co-operation of parents.  Specifically, parents are asked to listen to their child reading on a nightly basis.

Use the method which has been outlined above.  Don’t panic about the child’s reading or cause him to panic.  Be positive.  The road to good reading may not be smooth but the child will get there in the end.

Tables

Addition / subtraction tables are taught in second class, while multiplication tables form a large part of the third class programme.

Spellings

Spellings are taught from first class onwards.  Spellings are taken from the graded spelling programme which is in use in the school.  Some do’s and don’ts for the teaching of spellings:

DO

• Teach children to look at the word.
• Cover the word.
• Write the word
• Check the word.
• Make sure that the child always writes form memory.
• Write down “asked for” words and remove them before they write.
• Help them with their handwriting because handwriting influences spelling.
• Watch to see if children are forming their letters correctly.
• Encourage them to be careful.
• Praise them for all attempts.

DON’T

• Let learning to spell become rote-learning.
• Allow them to continue writing their letters incorrectly.
• Let them think that they are poor spellers.

Handwriting

The children are taught the basic steps of a joined script style. While readiness is a factor, it is to be hoped that most pupils will be using a joined script by the end of third class.