Homework Tips & Hints
Research has consistently shown that parental involvement in a child's learning is a key factor in that child's achievement in school. Homework reinforces skills, concepts and information learned in class. Homework prepares students for upcoming class topics. Homework teaches students to work independently and develop self-discipline. Homework encourages students to take initiative and responsibility for completing a task. Homework allows parents to have an active role in their child's education and helps them to evaluate their child's progress. Homework activities relate what is learned in school to children's lives outside of school and helps to connect school learning to the real world.
Homework is also your teachers' way of evaluating how much you understand of what's going on in class. But it can seem overwhelming at times. Luckily, you can do a few things to make homework more enjoyable.
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Agree a suitable time for doing homework, taking into account the child’s age, and the need for play time, relaxation and family time.
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Provide a quiet place, with a suitable work surface and suitable seating, free from distractions, interruptions and TV/or other distracting devices.
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Your child should be sitting comfortably at a table.
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Consider allocation of time for oral as well as written assignments as oral work can effectively consolidate that which is learned at school.
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Encourage good presentation and neatness within a reasonable time.
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If your child is working independently, be available to help and show an interest in what is being done.
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Praise your child’s efforts at every opportunity.
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Sign the homework diary (2nd – 6th Classes) checking that all homework is complete to a standard that you find acceptable.
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If, for any reason, homework cannot be done on a particular evening, parents should inform the teacher by writing a note in the homework journal. An e-mail is not suitable, as it is unlikely that teachers will have an opportunity to check e-mails during the school day.
Parents are urged to establish a routine from an early stage in their child’s school life.
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Children should be encouraged to space any learning homework over the week so that it is not left to the last minute.
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Allow your child to develop the study style that best works for them - this may be repeating facts aloud, singing or creating rhymes and mnemonics, writing something out a number of times or being quizzed by a family member.
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If you feel that your child has finished their homework quickly and to a high enough standard and they have more time left in your agreed homework slot e.g. 50/60 minutes in 6th class here are a few suggestions
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Read a book (try to ensure the book is suitable for the child i.e. not too easy and too hard, ideally the child should be coming across new words in the text they are reading - encourage him/her to look up the meanings of these words)
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Practice speaking some Irish at home or take some time to listen to fluent Irish being spoken, these are good sources
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Radió na Life
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Radió Fáilte
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Radió Rí-Rá
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TG4
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Cúla 4
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