*Homework Tips*

Fourth grade is all about choices. I want to create opportunities for students to make decisions for themselves, both as a means to customize their learning and to foster responsibility. I am trying out a different homework format this year that allows for students to take more ownership of their learning, and challenges each student to work to his/her potential. We will talk more thoroughly about homework at Curriculum Night, and I will update the blog with tips as needed.

Homework Basics for 424:
Homework should not be a nightmare! 1 hour of homework each night seems like a reasonable amount for 4th grade. 2 hours or more does not! Please always encourage your child to write me a note and move on if they are stuck on something that they put their best effort into trying and you aren't sure how to help them. I expect that they will see me the next day about it so we can go over it, and not wait until the end of the week when homework is due to ask for help. It is your child's responsibility to make sure he/she has all of the materials needed to complete assignments. If materials are needed, please ask! I will provide students with everything they need, as long as they ask.


Reading:
Each night your child is expected to read for at least 20 minutes (this can be silent reading or have your child read aloud to someone). They are also expected to fill out a nightly reading log. The reading log will be handed in each day this week to help develop this routine. Once this routine is established, reading logs will be due on Fridays.

Writing:
Monday night students will decorate their Writer’s Notebook and bring it into school on Tuesday. Other writing homework this week will be making jots in their Writer’s Notebook. Writing Notebooks travel to and from school each night there is writing homework.
4th graders should be developing the ability to hone their writing skills to focus in on a small moment. We are working on "showing, not telling." It is very common to see students write stories that tell action after action, and lack other elements of writing such as dialogue, setting, internal thinking, etc. We will be starting off in our Writers Notebooks by discussing the difference between a "seed idea," (a small moment), and bigger ideas. Please use the following chart as an example, which we'll be discussing in class, to help your child choose small, seed moments to gather and write about at home:

Generic Big Idea Seed
Important People My Grandma The time my Grandma Julia taught me how to cook cream of wheat

We are spending a lot of time discussing how to REVISE your writing to ensure it includes a balance of elements that SHOW, not tell your story.
An example of telling and not zooming in on the seed/small moment:
My New Bike
One morning I woke up and got dressed. I was so excited I was getting a new bike today. I brushed my teeth and waited around for Jason to wake up. Finally we left to go to the bike shop. I looked around and picked out a red bike. I rode it around the street. It felt good. I bought it!

An example of SHOWING and ZOOMING IN on a small moment (this is what we're going for!):
Super Schwinn Deluxe
I knew it the moment I laid my eyes on it. It was perfect. Maroon with black handlebars. Cool lettering. Just the right size. I gulped and looked over at Jason. "This is it," I whispered. I had found my new bike.
"Would you like to take it for a spin?" the shop owner asked me. I nodded as he wheeled it out the front doors of the dusty shop on Union Street. The sun was strong and I had to adjust my eyes. The bike looked even better outside! I carefully got on and looked both ways. I was a tiny bit nervous about riding in the street. I gripped the handlebars tightly and pushed off.

Math:
This is our first Math Challenge of the Week – your child will have a couple of problems to choose from and do at home. They must do the problem, show and write how they did it with words and a drawing (or graph, etc.), and write a reflection. This is due on Thursday. I attached a Grading Rubric with the homework. This Rubric is to show how the math homework will be graded. You should keep this at home, as it will be helpful to use throughout the year. I will be filling them out in class each week so keep an eye out after they are returned to your child.

To help your child get used to a weekly Math assignment, he or she can follow a weekly Math Challenge Schedule:

Monday: Review the problems. Pick one problem you would like to do, think about what supplies you will need, and bring any questions you have about the problem to share with Maureen and the class on Tuesday.

Tuesday: Start working on the problem

Wednesday: Continue working and revise your work

Thursday: Hand in your work

Math Facts: Your child should practice math facts every night. They should know their times tables up to 10 automatically at this point (as well as they know how to spell their names!). I am counting on you to help your child master these basic facts, as I must cover fourth grade math curriculum, which assumes that students' basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts are solid and automatic. Just from observing some math games in our classroom from the first week, I can see that many students have lost a bit of their basics over the summer. I will do my best to give them a boost at school, but I expect you will commit to working on these at home EVERY NIGHT! I don't suggest spending more thant 10 - 15 minutes (less if your child has got it down!) each night. It's the consistency of practicing that will ensure improvement, not cramming it all into one night! If you child already knows their tables up to 10 – then move them up to the 12’s or focus on division – or see me for other math supplemental homework ideas. Instead of sending home worksheets, I encourage you and your child to choose the best way to practice and review for your child. If flashcards work well, use flashcards. If there are websites your child enjoys using, that's fine too. Turn practice into a game whenever possible. I highly encourage you to mix up practice strategies so no one gets burned out. I am happy to send home any materials needed to create practice materials (i.e., index cards to make flashcards), just let me know. If you need help with establishing a way to review math facts at home come see me.

Social Studies:
We have our first Social Studies project homework this week. It is to generate excitement about the topics we will study this year, and to get an assessment on what the children already know and wish to learn about. It is designed to be an open-ended and fun project. There are many choices here for your child to choose from. If there is any confusion about the assignment bring your questions in. I also have construction paper, books on our topics and other supplies if you need them.

To help your child get used to a weekly assignment, he or she can follow this weekly Social Studies Project Schedule:

Monday: Review the project. Pick one topic, question, and project you would like to do. Think about what supplies you will need, and bring any questions you have about the project to share with Allisyn and the class on Tuesday.

Tuesday: Start working on your project

Wednesday: Continue working on your project

Thursday: Revise and Edit your work

Friday: Hand in your work

Word Work:
Each week I will send home a few words to learn. These will be a mix of high frequency spelling words, vocabulary words, and spelling patterns we are studying. We will have a short spelling quiz each Friday. Your child should study these words for a few minutes each night.


Hope this is helpful! As always, please contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or comments**


**Allisyn
allisynl@yahoo.com