Home Learning

1. Home Learning Our new approach…

2. Homework: What does the research say? • Overwhelming research shows that Homework (as it is presently done) has a very low effect size (less than .30) and in many cases has a negative effect size. • However there is also substantial evidence that demonstrates an enormous effect size for interactive activities involving families

3. What Do We think/Know? • Our current system and framework is not working. • There is not a high degree of buy in from students and families and there appears to be a misunderstanding about what homework is and/or should be. • Teachers are unable to effectively achieve the statement from Alton —Lee given the current set up • Teachers feel that their preparation and marking time regarding homework is not an effective use of their time — as per research.

4. What do we propose? • A new 'Homework' programme renamed 'Home Learning' and based around the following principles....to be trialed in term 2 (beginning week 3) • Home Learning is less prescriptive, open ended, interactive and *optional • There are 3 main learning areas for 'Home Learning' — 1)Literacy 2) Maths 3) Inquiry • Home Learning is generated through a weekly correspondence via the class webpage • A commitment to educate our community of home learning philosophies, skills, and assessment concepts (AFoL)

5. To this End.....Woodhill School would like to propose a home learning system that ‑ 1.is... - Less Prescriptive non worksheet based - Open Ended — allowing for pure inquiry - Interactive — family based, promote learning conversations, promote joint inquiries/projects within families. WS will devise a bank of useful and interactive websites that will generate learning conversations within families. *Optional — WS school recognises that there are students (often within target groups) who would benefit from carefully selected activities in order to consolidate their learning for a given period of time (or until the skill was consolidated) 2. incorporates... - Literacy — by always having a teacher directed book for every student. Up until level 18, this forms part of the home reading plan. After level 18, the student can choose from a range of options for home learning. These activities are in keeping with principle 1 — some examples could be.... • Choose a member of your family that you think would benefit from reading this book the most — Explain why? • Discuss the most exciting part of the book with a parent and together recount a situation where there have been similar feelings/events within your family • Identify at least 5 words within the story that are not part of your everyday vocabulary — research these with a member of your family - Maths — Maths buddy system - Inquiry — a series of research based activities that encourage family interaction and participation, eg:... • opportunities at home to utilise the KC of managing self, communication, participation and contribution, thinking • recording of a family recipe 3. is…. - driven and initiated by the teacher via the class page — sometimes just a series o catalytic questions 4. enables regular scheduling of information evenings for home learning and AFoL principles as well as skill building for families in how to assist their child's learning

6. Maths Buddy http://www.mathsbuddy.co.nz