In the Early Phase of Learning many activities at home or in play can assist children to develop literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills.

• daily reading to, with and by parents/ caregivers or other family members
• linking concepts with familiar activities such as shopping, food preparation, local environment and family outings
• conversations about what is happening at school
• preparation for oral presentations
• opportunities to write for meaningful purposes

From Years 4 – 7 some homework can be completed daily or over a weekly or fortnightly period of time and may:

include daily independent reading

be coordinated across different Key Learning Areas

include extension of class work, projects and research.

Jindalee State School is committed to developing worthwhile and authentic partnerships with its parents. The Department of Education Training and the Arts suggests that parents can help their children by –

• reading to them, talking with them and involving them in tasks at home including shopping, playing games and physical activity
• helping them to complete tasks by discussing key questions or directing them to resources
• encouraging them to organise their time and take responsibility for their learning
• encouraging them to read and to take an interest in and discuss current local, national and international events
• helping them to balance the amount of time spent completing homework, watching television, playing computer games, playing sport and engaging in other recreational activities
• contacting the relevant teacher to discuss any concerns about the nature of homework and their children’s approach to the homework.

• setting homework in line with the school’s homework policy
• clearly communicating the purpose, benefits and expectations of all homework
• checking homework regularly and providing timely and useful feedback
• setting homework that is varied, challenging and directly related to class work and appropriate to students’ learning needs
• teaching organisational and time-management skills
• discussing with parents and caregivers any developing problems concerning their child’s homework and suggesting strategies to assist with their homework.

• discuss homework expectations with their parents/caregivers
• complete homework within set time frames
• follow up on comments made by teachers
• seek assistance when difficulties arise
• organise their time to allow for home tasks, physical activities and sports, and recreational and cultural activities.
• adhere to the school’s homework policy.

Some homework tasks will be of a formal nature and may include:

• practice and consolidation exercises eg. number facts and spelling activities
  
• writing tasks eg. journal writing, handwriting
• reading activities eg. comprehension exercises
• design and make in science and technology
• research tasks

Other homework tasks will be less formal and may include:

• reading and being read to for enjoyment
• observation and discussion
• using the home environment
• drawing
• playing
• current affairs

Individual classroom teachers will be responsible for the setting of homework for their class after consultation with the other teachers on their year level.

Homework expectations will be clearly outlined by the class teacher and communicated via parent meetings, class newsletters and parent / teacher interviews.

Some teachers at Jindalee State School will set their homework in the form of a grid with some tasks being compulsory and others being free choice.

The Home work Grid (based on ‘The Homework Grid’ by Ian Lillico) enables parents to get children to do their share of work in the home including housework, shopping, physical activity such as sports training and family outings such as walking, fishing and exploring their world. It also covers areas such as reading, being read to, playing a game with parents, research on a computer, music practice and many others. Below is an example of a home work grid for each area of the school: