Homework

AH, the much debated issue. Should teachers give homework? How much homework should be given? Should homework be graded? 

My school has a policy that states that students in fourth grade should do spelling homework, work on a Bible memory passage, and study for upcoming tests. 

I decided to give as little homework as possible to my students, keeping in mind that families are busy in the evenings and I would not be at their house to help them. However, that extra study time and opportunity for parents to partner in the child's education is very beneficial. I do not "grade" the homework, but I do give a completion grade for each activity. Homework is never assigned on the weekend.  If a student does not finish their classwork due to playing around or not using time wisely, it is sent home to complete.

Each week, my class learns a new Bible verse that correlates with our Bible curriculum (which I love, by the way). We use ASCI Purposeful Design and study a new doctrine each week, such as the Trinity, Salvation, etc. For homework on Monday-Wednesday, students practice writing their verse in cursive (yes, we still teach that). On Thursday night, students must quote their verse to a parent and return a signed verse slip or note in their assignment book.  

Every Monday-Thursday evening, my students complete a spelling activity. I do not tell them what they must do, but they choose from a list of activities and study in a way that they learn best. Many of my students do various activities throughout the week and then do the "practice test" activity on Thursday night (the day before the test).

Here is my list of spelling activity options- 
 

• Typing - Type each word 3 times on a computer. Print it out.

• ABC Order - Write words in alphabetical order.

• Story - Write a story that makes sense using all of your words.

• Neat Words - Write your words neatly 5 times each.

• Sentences - Write sentences using each word.

• Silly Sentences – write silly sentences using each word. (My pony wears a hat to lunch.)

• Picture Words - Draw a picture and write your words in the picture.

• Goofy Letters – Write each spelling word normal and write it with “goofy letters”

• Puzzle - Make a word search puzzle using Puzzlemaker.com. Print it out and solve it.

• Poem - Write a poem using each word.

• Practice Test - Take a practice test and have your parent sign it.

• Reversed Words - Write each word in ABC order backwards.

• Rainbow Words – Write each word in three times in three different colors.

• Backwards Words - Write each word forwards, then backwards. (smile , elims)

• Ransom Words - Cut out letters from a magazine or newspaper and glue them on paper.

• Pyramid Words – write your words adding one letter at a time. The result will be a pyramid shape of words.

• X Words – Write two words having one common letter so they criss-cross.

• Spelling City – Take a test on SpellingCity.com and print out the results.

• Bubble Letters – Write and then color in your spelling words using bubble letters. 

 

Ransom Note