Grade 5 & 6 Homework Guidelines

NEW HOMEWORK GUIDELINES

GRADES 5 & 6

The following fifth and sixth grade homework guidelines reveal the results of a 2010-2011 pilot program to focus our students’ homework efforts on:

  1. Reading (fiction / non-fiction / content specific / cross-curricular),
  2. Analyzing / evaluating / thinking critically about what is being read,
  3. Communicating students’ analysis / evaluation / individual perspective via succinct, accurate, and high quality writing, and
  4. Nightly practice of mathematical concepts and procedures. In addition, a week long math (or science) based “problem of the week” activity and one language arts, science, or social studies vocabulary/spelling unit will be assigned each week. A science / social studies / World Language reading activity may replace a Language Arts Night Write at the teachers’ discretion.

The table below illustrates this highly structured homework guideline:

Weekly Homework Calendar

 

Subject Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Math Nightly
Practice		 Nightly
Practice		 Nightly
Practice		 Nightly
Practice		 Nightly
Practice
Problem of
The Week
(Math or Science)		 --------------> "Problem
of Week"
Assigned/Due		 ------------------- --------------- -------------->

Language
Arts

 Reading &
Night Write		 Reading &
Night Write		 None Reading &
Night Write		 Reading &
Night Write
Science None None None None None
Social
Studies		 None None Wednesday
Night Reading
& Writing		 None None
Spelling /
Vocabulary
(LA, Sci. or SS)		 Assignment
Vocabulary /
Spelling		 --------------> Quiz
Vocabulary /
Spelling		 None None
WL None None None None None

 

Additional Guidelines
1. No more than two assessments per day (a quiz is an assessment)

  •  This does not include Language Arts timed writing prompts, reading comprehension activities or math fact fluency (as there is no immediate preparation).
  •  Pop quizzes are permissible as long as no more than 2 assessments total that day.
  •  On the night before a major test in any subject area, teachers will not assign a Night Write.
  • No more than one additional assessment will be scheduled on the due date of a lengthy project.
  •  Wednesday Night Reading and Writing assignments will not be assigned when formal social studies writing assessments are administered on Thursdays.
  •  Fifth grade teachers utilize a “day-specific” assessment calendar and sixth grade teachers do not.

2. Only fifth grade teachers will administer assessments based on the schedule indicated below:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
None Lang Arts &
Science		 Soc Stud &
Science		 Soc Stud Mathematics