Homework

According to district regulations, fourth graders in Wayland should be spending 45 minutes to one hour on homework four nights per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). This includes a minimum of twenty minutes of reading independently. Students should always have a book "going" and should also have one "on deck." At least two chapters books need to be read each month and recorded in their Book Log.

Other daily homework includes spelling, vocabulary, and math. There is usually one page of each of these subjects in different workbooks (__Spellwell__, __Wordly Wise__, and __Studylink__). Spelling tests are given every Friday of five day weeks. We skip spelling if it is a short week.

The math homework is usually given in the __Studylink__, as it reflects the lesson taught that day. Most of the page is dedicated to that day's topic. The bottom of the sheet usually includes four computation problems. The work for the computation problems can be done in the space given, on the left hand page (which is blank), or on a separate sheet of paper which your child can attach. If you are unsure of how to help your child with the homework, there is an answer key for each page in the Unit letter at the beginning of each unit. Occasionally, there is different math homework which is not in the Studylink.

The Studylink and the Spellwell are almost completely self-corrected by your child in the classroom, using answer keys or "Share/Compare" (comparing answers with a partner). If that night's homework was hard, unclear, or there existed another such problem, please send me a note for your child to give me or email me. I will always try to get back to you within 24 hours.

How can you help? The best thing you can do for your child is to take them to a public library once a week. The library is a place of wonder and endless possibilities, and that's where good readers go. I am a good reader, I love to read, I always have a stack of books on my night table, and I read for at least thirty minutes before I fall asleep each night. I have a full time job, and I have three young children, and every Friday afternoon, we go to the library. Many parents tell me that they frequent Shoppers World and always take the time to stop in at Barnes and Noble and pick their child up a book. Going to a book store is NOT the same as going to the library. At the library, there is no limit to the number of books checked out, and it's all FREE. Don't have a library card? Get one, and have your child get one, too. Anyone with a Wayland address can get a library card for no charge simply by going to the library and filling out a form. Students in my class receive a bookmark for each month that they go to the library. A Monthly Library Chart is posted in our classroom for this purpose.