There is so much discussion about homework. I've done all of them!
Then I came up with this!
It's a lifesaver!
A paper saver!
A sanity saver!
I made these calendars to be completed over the month.
I start this homework notebook at the beginning of the year.
There are varied opinions on giving homework in kindergarten, and as I think about it, I give my students numerous things to do for homework. Most of it is just during the week. I know of teachers that give packets of homework for the weekend, I think the weekend is for families. Along with this notebook, my kids take a book home that we read for a reading group, a book from my Home Reading Connection program, and a Discovery Pack!
Homework for the week:
Monday: Students choose a Discovery Pack, a reading book.
Tuesday - Thursday: Take Home Reading Connection book and reading group book
Friday: Children return the Discovery Pack, reading group book, and their
Home Reading Connection Book
And that is just for reading! Most of my kids don't see any of that as homework.
I can recall one time their homework was to count all the clocks in their
house. Well, I wrote all of their answers down on the overhead. Some of
them had forgotten some that others had. They wanted to re-do their
homework!!! I got this idea from a book called "Math Around the House."
A little bit about my Homework Notebooks. I printed off a cover on my computer printer and glued it on the cover. On the inside, I glue a calendar of items to do for the month. This way they can work on it when they have time. These are very easy tasks to complete. I talk to my kids about their homework for the night, so even my non-readers know
what they have to do and they can do it on their own or with a little help!
*September - Finding ideas for every letter in the alphabet.
*October- shapes, colors
*November-nutrition, senses
*December-winter, counting
*January- snow-related activities, counting, writing
*February- mail, Valentine's, retelling
*March- reading, weather
*April- time, Earth Day
*May- writing, math
I have included a label for you to print as well.
This is such an awesome deal for you and your students.
There are a minimum of 20 different activities per month for $1
That is an amazing deal.
Activities included each month:
Math
Science
Language Arts
Speaking
Life Skills
Social Studies
Writing
During wrap-up at the end of the day, we discussed what that night's homework was and brainstormed as a group what our answers could be.
I love this homework because it isn't a lot of prep and uses only one piece of paper per student.
I use enough paper-making printable books, I don't want to print a packet for homework for every student every month. And all that correcting? No one has time for that!
I love this homework because it isn't a lot of prep and uses only one piece of paper per student.
I use enough paper-making printable books, I don't want to print a packet for homework for every student every month. And all that correcting? No one has time for that!
The feedback I have gotten about this homework:
What is Covered in the Homework Calendar:
September we cover the alphabet. Yes, there is homework on the weekends, but since I don't get the calendar back until the next month, they can complete it whenever they want. If you are doing ABC Boot Camp from Mr. Greg, there will be tons of pictures the students can draw or even add to!
October~ Shapes and colors this month. Beginning this month, we begin to see "Do something for a grown-up" Some of our students go to an after-school program so they can initial the calendar too.
It is wonderful to read and tell a younger sibling or family member. That's okay too!
November~ We discuss nutrition, food groups, and senses this month.
December~ The first day is always amusing to me. I live in a cooler place and think about when it snows. Then I think about my friends in Hawaii! It's all about perspective.
We practice writing our numbers using my number grids or these number grids so this is additional practice. We sing number songs too and write number words while singing during math time using whiteboards.
January~ We count by 1's and 10's during calendar time.
We do an ice-melting experiment in science, so they are sharing their scientific findings with their family. I just make sure that we have done it before it is on the calendar.
September we cover the alphabet. Yes, there is homework on the weekends, but since I don't get the calendar back until the next month, they can complete it whenever they want. If you are doing ABC Boot Camp from Mr. Greg, there will be tons of pictures the students can draw or even add to!
October~ Shapes and colors this month. Beginning this month, we begin to see "Do something for a grown-up" Some of our students go to an after-school program so they can initial the calendar too.
It is wonderful to read and tell a younger sibling or family member. That's okay too!
November~ We discuss nutrition, food groups, and senses this month.
December~ The first day is always amusing to me. I live in a cooler place and think about when it snows. Then I think about my friends in Hawaii! It's all about perspective.
We practice writing our numbers using my number grids or these number grids so this is additional practice. We sing number songs too and write number words while singing during math time using whiteboards.
January~ We count by 1's and 10's during calendar time.
We do an ice-melting experiment in science, so they are sharing their scientific findings with their family. I just make sure that we have done it before it is on the calendar.
I love to include children in cooking. Hence the picking something for dinner.
February~ I teach my students how to draw different things. I have little cards that show step-by-step how to draw things. In February, I teach them how to make hearts from two dots and a V.
Heart Words (that you need to know by heart)
or
Popcorn Words (because they keep popping up)
or
Star Words (because they star in a ton of books)
March~ We celebrate reading. We read a different book every day. That's why the rhyming part comes in. We are consonantly practicing our phone numbers and addresses. We read sight word books and also send home word lists to practice.
In math, I write on the board or on chart paper: The answer is 16. The children tell me math sentences on how to make that number. Ex. 16+0 15+1 I do let higher children do subtraction and I let them do 2+2+2+2+2+6 if they wanted ;)
April~ Earth Day is celebrated, and Easter is around that time (I don't teach about Easter, but I do teach about oviparous because they sell those plastic eggs then!
May~On the balloon day, if they don't have a balloon, have them use a ball or a rolled-up sock!
By this time, they have brought home so many books, that it is always interesting to see who keeps them.
