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You cannot allow your children to remain indifferent about their homework. If they develop such an unmotivated approach to learning, they are likely to have problems handling the “real world” as well.

The quote above, from the book Homework Without Tears, reminds us of the importance of homework.

If your student is having a problem with completing work, you may want to consider one of the suggestions from this book: to set up a Daily Homework Time.

The idea is to have fourth graders expect to work for 40 minutes every night (fifth graders work 50 minutes), even if there is no “official” homework. When no homework is assigned from school, students work on other academic activities to practice, extend or enrich their studies in school, such as practicing cursive, working on math facts, or exploring the Internet to find out more information about the current science topic. When students understand that they will work for 40-50 minutes on homework every night, they will be less likely to argue, procrastinate, or “forget” their work.

And what happens if students refuse to do their work during Daily Homework Time, choosing just to sit there or work slowly? Well, the student has a choice. He can complete the work, or sit at his desk without TV, music, video games, computer, phone or any other privilege. Once he knows that you mean business, the work will get done.

Find more information about homework and missing assignments on the Homework Policy page. I also have copies of Homework Without Tears if you would like to borrow one. Here’s a sample schedule of daily homework time and more information.

Originally posted 2009-10-09 17:26:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Spelling: None today due to working on our Leadership Notebooks. We will create this over the year and use is to showcase our learning, goals, and ways we are being leaders.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 7-9 are available and are due today.

Reading: Today was a discussion day in Literature Circles. Students discussed their notes from the story they read this week.

Writing: We talked about using choice adjectives in writing. Adjectives answer the question, “What kind?” Is there a car? What kind? Maroon car. Is there a river? What kind? Raging river. Tree? What kind? Oak tree. Adjectives help a writer be more descriptive.

Students also worked on drafting today. Your student should be about half done with their story by Sunday, and that would be about 20 lines typed. Some students haven’t been working 15 minutes a night on their daily homework time, and that means some are getting behind.

A personal narrative is due October 11. Homework on weekdays is to work on writing for 15 minutes. Your student should be drafting at this point. Homework is also to finish decorating portfolios with pictures, drawings, stickers, etc., and return by Monday.

Math: None today due to art. Homework on weekdays is to practice math for 15 minutes using MobyMax or Khan Academy.

Science: None today due to extra time with social studies.

Social Studies: We learned about the core democratic values of popular sovereignty, common good, and limited government. We learned how a representative government works.

Character Strength: We are learning about teamwork and citizenship this week.

Notes:

• Next week is Spirit Week. Check out the class calendar for a schedule.
• Have you started a Daily Homework Time with your student? If homework causes tears or battles, or if you have had to deal with missing assignments or low grades, read more about Daily Homework Time and start one with your student. It will help!
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Spelling: We practiced writing words with silent letters.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 7-9 are available and are due on Friday.

Reading: We finished reading a story about a talent show. We practiced determining important parts of the story.

Writing: We reviewed the idea that writers should focus on a short time. They should not write about days and days, or many different times. Just focus on the best part and a short time.

Students also finished prewriting conferences today. Some students are behind due to not finishing their prewriting yesterday.

Finally, we started our draft today. We will have four school days to work on our draft, which should be a full page. That means a student will need to write about 10 lines a day to finish with a full page after four drafting days.

A personal narrative is due October 11. Homework on weekdays is to work on writing for 15 minutes. Your student should be finished prewriting the beginning, middle, and ending of their story and should have their draft started.

Decorated portfolios are due next Monday, September 30.

Math: None today due to art. Homework on weekdays is to practice math for 15 minutes using MobyMax or Khan Academy.

Science: We looked at a map showing different rock types over the US, and talked about which rocks might contain rocks. We’ll be investigating rock samples soon.

Social Studies: We started to read a story about a country with an unfair government and the problems it caused.

Character Strength: We are learning about teamwork and citizenship this week.

Notes:

• If you would like to buy chromebook insurance for $25, payments are due TODAY!
• Have you started a Daily Homework Time with your student? If homework causes tears or battles, or if you have had to deal with missing assignments or low grades, read more about Daily Homework Time and start one with your student. It will help!
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Spelling: None today.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 7-9 are available and are due on Friday.

Reading: We continued to read a story about a talent show. We also practiced visualizing by drawing a picture that matched a part of the text.

Writing: Students worked on prewriting conferences today. Students found a partner, shared their writing, and partners were to comment curious questions and suggestions for their partner. We will work on this tomorrow morning too.

A personal narrative is due October 11. Homework on weekdays is to work on writing for 15 minutes. Your student should be finished prewriting the beginning, middle, and ending of their story by tonight.

Decorated portfolios are due next Monday, September 30.

Math: We practiced multiplying and dividing by 10 today again today. Homework on weekdays is to practice math for 15 minutes using MobyMax or Khan Academy.

Science: We discussed how a fossil plant might have formed, what rocks are made of, and what might cause mixed fossil beds, such as those with land and sea creatures fossilized together.

Social Studies: We started to read about type of government we have.

Character Strength: We are learning about teamwork and citizenship this week.

Notes:

• If you would like to buy chromebook insurance for $25, payments are due by September 26 and you can pay online.
• Have you started a Daily Homework Time with your student? If homework causes tears or battles, or if you have had to deal with missing assignments or low grades, read more about Daily Homework Time and start one with your student. It will help!
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Spelling: We practiced common spelling patterns for the long /o/ sound: o, oa, -old, o-e, ow.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 7-9 are available and are due on Friday.

Reading: We starting reading a story about a talent show. We also practiced writing questions and connections that we thought of when we were reading.

Writing: We talked about how to prewriting a list of ideas using a “BME Chart.” This is a list of ideas from the beginning, middle, and end of the story, listed using bullets. If a student prewrites their beginning, middle, and ending, it will be like a map helping them know what to write about next.

A personal narrative is due October 11. Homework on weekdays is to work on writing for 15 minutes. Your student should be prewriting the beginning, middle, and ending of their story at this point.

Decorated portfolios are due next Monday, September 30.

Math: We practiced multiplying and dividing by 10 today. Homework on weekdays is to practice math for 15 minutes using MobyMax or Khan Academy.

Science: We used a simulation to learn that fossils can form if a dead organism gets buried quickly. Organisms that don’t get buried will decompose or be eaten by scavengers before they can fossilize. Homework is to finish notebook p. 9 if not done in class.

Social Studies: We used on textbook to write notes about what the Preamble means. Homework is to finish this note page if not done in class.

Character Strength: We are learning about teamwork and citizenship this week.

Notes:

• If you would like to buy chromebook insurance for $25, payments are due by September 26 and you can pay online.
• Have you started a Daily Homework Time with your student? If homework causes tears or battles, or if you have had to deal with missing assignments or low grades, read more about Daily Homework Time and start one with your student. It will help!
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.