St Kevin’s Primary School

Home Activities Policy

Release Date: 2020       Review date: 2022

Approved by: Mrs Mary-Anne Jennings Principal

RATIONALE

Student learning and parental involvement can be enhanced with a clear understanding of the

purpose of home activities compared to formal homework. This will lead to common expectations

for parents and staff on the choices of home learning activities. Full consideration therefore must

be given to the value and purpose of these activities, so that any initiated home learning is

educationally beneficial and meets the realistic expectations of students, teachers, parents and

carers, as well as leading to the wellbeing of the student.

The staff of St Kevin’s Primary School believes that home activities must be relevant to the needs

of the students. They also have the potential to affirm the partnership in learning between parents

and teachers. Acknowledgement is also given to the need to achieve balance between work, play

and the importance of parent child relationships in an ever-changing society.

Activities undertaken at home can:

• assist in developing a love of learning through daily reading
• allow for practising, extending, and consolidating work done in class through access to

suggested websites

• provide training for students in planning and organising time
• further develop concentration and self-discipline which will serve students for future schooling
• reaffirm the role of parents and caregivers as partners in education
• provide parents and caregivers with insights into their children’s interests and abilities
• provide the opportunity for parent-child interaction that is stress free and beneficial
• allow students to follow their passions and interests
• allow students to interact with the world around them

AIMS

At St Kevin’s we aim to:

• suggest suitable alternate activities and websites that are varied and at an appropriate level

considering the age, stage and capabilities of the student

• educate parents and students on home activities and their purpose
• develop an effective partnership between the school and parents
• ensure a consistency of approach across the school
• provide guidelines for the school community on the undertaking of home activities
• ensure the needs of the individual are taken into account

IMPLEMENTATION

St Kevin’s implements home reading, free choice family home activities and occasionally home

activities set by the teacher to be returned to school and marked. The amount of time that students spend on home activities will depend upon their age and ability. It is important that students of all ages have opportunities for free time, leisure and physical activities after school.

The following are suggestions of time spent reading each evening:

• Kinder – Year 2 10 minutes
• Year 3 – 4 20 minutes
• Year 5 – 6 30 minutes

Suggested Family Home Activities

Early Stage 1.

All activities at home and at play can assist children to develop a wide range of knowledge and skills including literacy, numeracy and problem solving. Sounds taught in class will need to be reinforced. From Term 2, children will be encouraged to read to their parents.

Other suggestions include:

• Read to your child · Prepare dinner together – read, measure ingredients etc · Puzzles e.g. jigsaws                            • Play car
• Use construction toys • Write words and stories
• Visit the local library • Practise fine motor skills
• Find a word
• Play a board game – e.g. Scrabble, Boggle, Snakes and Ladders
• Practise address, phone no. emergency procedures etc

Stage 1 activities may include:

• Daily reading – books, newspapers, magazines · Scrabble and other family board games
• Counting – things around the house etc · Puzzles
• Card games · Write stories
• Assist with writing, reading and compiling weekly shopping list
• Visit the local library • Create a story book (paper craft)
• Hand eye co-ordination games – e.g handball
• Any construction games which require reading instructions e.g. Lego
• Websites as recommended by class teacher

Stage 2 activities may include:

• Practise throwing and catching a ball · Card games with family members
• Family board games               · Help with cooking dinner
• Writing stories · Research energy saving in your home
• Investigate recycling in your home · Practising times tables
• Prepare a recipe · Visit local library
• Reading – alone and to parents · Practise a musical instrument
• Watch and discuss the news · Help with the weekly shopping
• Look for specials in brochures and work out how much you would save
• Websites as recommended by class teacher

Stage 3 activities may include:

• Practise a musical instrument   · Research a current event or topic
• Watch and discuss the news · Watch and discuss the weather report
• Read the newspaper and discuss headlines  · Plant and look after a garden
• Play board games with your family • Web-based activities
• Recycle
• Play a game outside · Write stories in different types of text
• Investigate energy saving in the home · Play card games with your family
• Visit the local library · Websites as recommended by class teacher
• Create own games for sharing – e.g. find a word, internet games
• Review shopping brochures – find bargains, determine savings

Types of Home Activities set by Teachers

• Kinder to Year 6 are expected to read daily. K-2 students use ‘take-home-readers’ supplied

by the school.

• Kinder to Year 4 teacher may occasionally send home tasks (for example a speech,

experiment or research activity) to be completed as a home activity and marked by the

teacher upon return.

• Year 5 & 6 will complete contract work and staged assignments in preparation for high

school and to reinforce strategies of time management and organisation. Parental support is

required to empower students to organise their time and work to a deadline

Home activities will be discussed at parent/teacher nights at the beginning of each year. Home activities should enhance family life and not be allowed to become a source of frustration or argument at home. Difficulties should be relayed to the teacher concerned and a compromise reached that is suitable for all involved.

Teachers may send home exercise books at different times throughout the year so students can share class activities with their parents and carers. Specific class activities may also be given from time to time. Parents are encouraged to visit classrooms and have regular conversations with children about their learning.

Responsibilities

Parents can help by:

• taking an active interest in their children’s home activities
• providing a suitable setting in which activities can be undertaken
• ensuring that there is time set aside for parent/child interaction
• encouraging and supporting students to complete home activities
• communicating with teachers any concerns about the nature of and their children’s approach to home activities

Teachers can help by:

• suggesting suitable activities and web sites that are appropriate for the student’s skill level and age
• ensuring that students are aware of the options available and their purpose
• alerting parents to any developing problems concerning their children’s education that can be addressed through specific home activities

Students can help by:

• being aware of the importance of home activities
• completing tasks within a given time frame
• seeking assistance from teachers and parents or carers when difficulties arise
• sharing their home tasks with their parents, carers and teachers
• take responsibility for completing and submitting assignment tasks in Years 5 & 6

CONCLUSION

The best teaching and learning practices take part in the classroom. Hopefully children will have

more quality time to spend with parents and siblings in less stressful activities.

We aim to provide the best possible education for every student. This is our role and purpose as

partners in education with parents or carers.

EVALUATION

Staff will evaluate this home activities policy every three years. Parents or carers will be asked to

provide feedback when necessary