Home Learning

Room 3 Home Learning Guidelines:

In Room 3 we call homework Home Learning. It is up to your family how much, or how little home learning you do each week as I am aware that some of you already have many after-school commitments. Below I have outlined the basic home learning requirements needed to sustain your child's learning, along with some other ideas that you can encourage your child to do.

READING: 15-30 minutes per day
Here are some ideas to help make sure this happens-

• Go to the public library on a regular basis.
• Reading independently before lights-out.
• Reading to an adult, brother or sister.
• Reading together, taking turns to read each line/paragraph/page.
• Being read to by an adult or older brother/sister.
• Reading our class blog, and other blogs on our 'Fave Blogs' list.
• Reading the newspaper and talking about what is happening around the world.
• Have access to magazines and comics.
• Reading recipes.

Excerpt from the Michigan University Health System website (if you are interested in reading more click here)-

• Teach by example.  If you have books, newspapers and magazines around your house, and your child sees you reading, then your child will learn that you value reading.  You can’t over-estimate the value of modeling. 
• Read together.  Reading with your child is a great activity.  It not only teaches your child that reading is important to you, but it also offers a chance to talk about the book, and often other issues will come up.  Books can really open the lines of communication between parent and child. 
• Hit the library.  Try finding library books about current issues or interests in your family’s or child’s life, and then reading them together.  For example, read a book about going to the dentist prior to your child’s next dental exam, or get some books about seashore life after a trip to the coast.  If your child is obsessed with dragons, ask your librarian to recommend a good dragon novel for your child.

SPELLING
In Room 3 we are using Switch On To Spelling, a New Zealand based programme. It focuses largely on teaching specific spelling patterns to aide those children who cannot rely solely on visual cues. Your child's spelling notebook will have a weekly list of words from this programme and incorrectly spelled words from their written work. 

Here are some ideas to help your child learn their words each week-

• Rote learning... writing words out the old fashioned way!
• Sign up and use Spellingcity to create your own personal word lists, or use these ones that I have created.
• Ransom words – Write your words by cutting out letters in a newspaper or magazine and glue them on a paper.
• ABC order- Write your words in alphabetical order.
• Dirty Words – Write your words in mud or sand.
• 3D words – Use modeling clay rolled thinly to make your words. 
• Flashwriting – In a darkened room, use a flashlight to draw letters in the air.
• Magazine words – Use an old magazine or newspaper and find your word. Cut it out and glue it on paper.

For more spelling ideas click here.

MATHS- Basic Facts
The most important aspect of maths that your child needs to learn are their basic facts. This means instant recall, and NOT needing to take time to work out the sums on their fingers or using objects.

A compilation of free printable worksheets and online games: www.basicfacts.wikispaces.com

This is the ideal order to learn the basic facts in-

• Numbers that add/subtract to 5, E.g. 2+3=5,    4+1=5,    5-4=1
• Numbers that add/subtract to 10, Eg. 5+5=10,   6+4=10,   4+__=10,   10-8=2,   10-__=1
• Doubles and halves up to 20, E.g. double 7 = 14,   8+8=16,  half of 12 is 6
• Adding on to 10, E.g. 10+4=14,   10+__=16
• 2's, 5's and 10 times tables
• 3's, 4's and 6 times tables
• 7's, 8's and 9 times tables
• And the related division problems, E.g. 2x5=10, so 10 divided by 2 = 5

At certain times throughout the year we will focus on the basic facts, but at the end of the day they are an area that can be best learned through repetition and rote learning, combined with board games, card games and online games to offer reinforcement. It is ideal that this be a regular focus at home.


Other fun educational online games (also check out our literacy and maths links tabs at the top of this site for more educational games)-

Science Games-
Magic Pen- Be warned parents, this game is highly addictive (and I'm not talking about for the kids!)