St John’s National School
Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Eoin
Principal: Catherine Coady Deputy Principal: Katrina Scanlan
Address: Wyattville Road, Phone: 01 2855525
Ballybrack, Email: office@stjohnsns.ie
County Dublin, Website: www.stjohnsns.ie
A96 NW60

Homework Policy
Context
Homework provides the children with the opportunity of revisiting learning experiences encountered during the school day and of practising the skills and concepts associated with those learning experiences. In the senior classes some homework is designed to challenge the children’s ability and provide opportunities for creativity. The children are expected to do their homework to the best of their ability – no more, no less.
Why give homework?
To re-inforce what the child learns during the day.
To provide a link between teacher and parent.
To develop a child’s concentration skills and to develop a work ethic.
How often is homework given?
Homework is given on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Homework is usually not given at the weekend.
Sometimes at the discretion of the class teacher or the principal, children are given “homework off” as a treat or as acknowledgment of some special occasion.
SET
If needed, SET teachers will create a special programme of work for those children needing additional support. Children in receipt of this programme, will not have to complete the work set by their class teacher.
What is the content of homework?
Ideally homework will contain a balance between reading tasks, learning tasks and written tasks.
This balance is not always possible and can vary considerably from day to day. However, it should be noted that homework time devoted to reading and learning is as important as written work.
Homework will regularly contain reading, spellings, tables, written work, pieces to be “learned by heart”, drawing/colouring, collecting information/items and finishing work started in class.
At least once a week, homework will include an item of work to be completed on Seesaw.
Children often feel that reading and “learning by heart” is not real homework. Parents can play an important role in listening to reading and items to be learned ensuring this work is done well.

How much homework?
The following are guidelines for time spent at homework. Different children will complete the same homework in different lengths of time. Time spent will vary from day to day and also from the beginning to the end of the school year. It is important to remember that it is the quality and not the quantity of homework that matters. The following are general guidelines only:
(a) Junior / Senior Infants:
Ten minutes
(b) 1st and 2nd classes:
15 – 20 minutes
(c) 3rd and 4th classes:
30 – 40 minutes
(d) 5th and 6th classes:
45 – 60 minutes

Junior Infants
Homework will be introduced to the Junior Infant classes during the course of the year, at a time when the class teachers deems it appropriate. Homework will be explained to parents using an information sheet.
Maximum time homework should take: 10 mins.
Shared reading with parents.
Parents are also asked to work with their children on basic sight vocabulary (lists provided by teacher).
Senior Infants
Maximum time homework should take : 10 mins.
Reading to be completed nightly with parent’s assistance and supervision.
Reading record to be signed by parents to indicate that homework has been done.
First Class
Maximum time homework should take: 15- 20 mins.
Children begin to use Homework Journal, which should be signed nightly
Reading: PM reader
Spellings
Addition Tables to begin in October
Activity from New Wave Mental Maths
A written literacy activity once/twice per week for example: spellings into sentences, handwriting or a grammar activity.
Second Class
Maximum time homework should take: 15- 20 mins.
Reading: PM reader
Spellings
Subtraction Tables to begin in October,
Activity from New Wave Mental Maths
A written literacy activity once/twice per week initially increasing in Term 2/3
Third Class
Maximum time homework should take: 30- 40 mins.
Tables: Revision of Addition and Subtraction, moving onto Multiplication
Spelling: English and Irish
Maths
Activity from New Wave Mental Maths
Tables
English: A short written activity
Reading
Research / project work from time to time.
Fourth Class
Maximum time homework should take: 30- 40 mins.
Spellings: English and Irish
Maths
Activity from New Wave Mental Maths
Tables
English: A short written activity
Reading
Research / project work from time to time.

Fifth/ Sixth Class
Maximum time homework should take: 1 hour (less at beginning of year) i.e. 20/20/20 rule applies
20 mins learning (spellings, tables, poetry etc. )
20 mins. Maths
20 mins. Written work
Sixth class homework is viewed as a form of preparation for homework in Secondary School. We often give homework that will not be requested from the pupils for a week or more.
From time to time projects and research may be assigned. This work will be spread over a number of nights / weeks.
How much help should parents give?
Parents should try to help their children with homework by:
providing them with a suitable place and time to do their homework
endeavouring to prevent interruptions or distractions to the work, like T.V. or other children
Children should do written homework themselves and parents should only help when the child has difficulty.
If a child has difficulty with homework, the parents should help the child to overcome the difficulty with further explanation or examples, but not by actually doing the homework for the child.
If a child has substantial difficulty completing a particular task within a reasonable period of time (15 minutes), the task should be left uncompleted so as not to cause frustration and anxiety for the child. A note explaining the difficulty should be given to the teacher so that the problem can be addressed the following day.

How often should parents monitor homework?
Parents should check and sign a child’s homework journal every evening.
The pupil’s journal is an important record of the child’s homework. It is also a valuable means of communication between parents and teachers.
Ideally, all written messages to your child’s teacher should be put in the homework journal
Please check that your child records the homework neatly on the correct page and ticks each item of homework when completed.

How often do teachers monitor homework?
Teachers like to check homework on a daily basis.
As children get older and learn to work independently, some items of homework are checked less often e.g. every second day or once per week.
Children themselves under the direction of the teacher may check some items of homework (and classwork). This can be a useful part of the learning process for children.
When should parents communicate with the teachers about homework?
When your child cannot do homework due to family circumstances
When your child cannot do homework because she/he cannot understand some aspect.
If the time being spent at homework is often longer than the recommended amount of time.
When should homework be done?
Ideally, homework should be done before any television is watched soon after school while your child is still fresh