Homework
Homework, independent work or work set to complete out of class is an intrinsic part of your child's education. A child's full potential will be reached only when he or she is prepared to commit to the idea that learning does not stop at 3.00 pm on a schoolday; it can and should continue (within reason) in the evenings, at weekends and in school holidays. Tasks are set for a number of reasons:
- Assessment and feedback - it is by looking at independent work that teachers truly understand how well a student understands a subject and can address misconceptions
- Reinforcement - students need to practise skills in order to retain knowledge in their long-term memory
- Extension - not all students work at the same rate or ability levels. Independent tasks are the ideal opportunity for teachers to challenge students (and for students to challenge themselves)
- Pre-learning - this is a particularly effective method of learning for more able students, and is widely used in colleges and universities. The content of a topic is learnt in advance, so that the teacher is able to focus on higher order thinking skills during the lesson
- Research - similar to above, this helps to engage younger students' interest
- Revision - learning how to retrieve knowledge from long-term memory, understanding time managment, exam questions and rubrics, coping with stress - these are all specific skills that need to be practised
Homework tasks are usually set on Teams, although students must also record tasks and due dates in their planners.