Homework
St. Columba’s N.S. Homework Policy
Introduction
Homework has long been a staple of our school’s education system, intended to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and independent mastery.
We strongly believe homework that is well-designed - prioritising quality over quantity - offers several key benefits for academic success and personal development.
Homework is of great benefit to pupils at all stages and levels of learning.
It is the policy of St. Columba’s School to issue homework to pupils from Monday to
Thursday, the preparation of which takes place in class.
Homework is given for the following reasons:
Academic Reinforcement and Mastery
● Information Retention: Homework provides the repetition necessary to internalise
and master new concepts.
● Application of Knowledge: It allows students to apply knowledge and skills learnt
in school to help consolidate said learning.
● Improved Test Scores: Students who are given the opportunity to further practise
learning / skills do better in assessments as they are more assured and comfortable in their learning.
Development of Life Skills
● Time Management: Homework teaches students how to prioritise tasks, create
schedules, and meet deadlines - skills that are essential for future success.
● Responsibility and Accountability: Completing assignments independently fosters
a sense of ownership over one's own education and encourages self-discipline.
● Problem-Solving: Working through challenges without immediate teacher
intervention builds critical thinking and the ability to use resources eg. Reference
books, libraries or the internet.
Strengthening the Support System
● Parental Involvement: Take-home assignments give parents a direct look into
what their child is learning, helping them identify academic strengths or potential
areas that need additional support.
● Teacher Insight: Homework serves as a feedback loop, allowing teachers to see
which students have grasped the material and who might need additional support
before the next lesson.
● Parent-Child Bonding: Working with your child strengthens your relationship and
communication between parent and child.
Preparation for Future Challenges
● Independent Study Habits: Homework helps students establish a routine for
independent work, which is vital for success in secondary school, higher level
education and lifelong learning.
● Comfortable Environment: Learning at home allows some students to process
information in a space where they feel most comfortable, which can accelerate
development.
At Home-Recommendations for Parents / Guardians
Parents / Guardians should check for homework assigned daily. This could be written in a homework journal / copy or assigned on Seesaw.
Parents / Guardians are encouraged to sign homework diaries when complete and checked. This provides an informal link between the home and school on a daily basis.
It is recommended that children have a homework routine, a quiet table and chair to work at, away from distractions such as television or unnecessary screens.
Time spent on homework should not be excessive. Where a parent/guardian considers that their child has made his/her best effort and is now struggling to continue, the parent/guardian can choose to sign off on that night’s homework at that point and communicate this to the teacher either via the homework journal or Seesaw.
Parents / Guardians should try to encourage a positive attitude towards homework and help if necessary. They should however not do their child’s work for them.
Tests should be signed by a parent/guardian when sent home to confirm that the parent/guardian has noted the results.
Some homework may require the parent to take the lead at home, especially in junior classes.
Parents/guardians must ensure they are signed into Seesaw. (New login codes can be given on request)
Oral language and reading activities are hugely important. Parents /Guardians are asked to listen to their child read daily. Teachers may request Seesaw recordings of reading or oral language tasks to encourage and assess progress. This should not replace daily reading.
At Home-Recommendations for Students:
Ensure your homework is correctly written in your homework journal. If students struggle to write down homework, communicate this with the teacher. Teachers can take a photo and send it home via Seesaw.
Check your bag before going home and before coming to school in the morning to ensure that you have the books / sheets / resources needed whether at home or school.
Try to complete your homework as early as possible in the afternoon.
Try your best with your homework. Work as independently as you can.
Do your best to present your work neatly and on time.
If you are struggling, let your teacher know.
Types of Homework
As well as writing and learning homework, homework can involve practical and digital tasks. Some examples are given below.
Written homework
Written homework can include practising handwriting, completing comprehension activities in English or Irish, or other areas of the curriculum, e.g., History, Geography or Science (SESE). Homework in Maths usually involves completing computational or problem-solving exercises. Written project work may also be assigned.
Practical homework
This type of homework is equally important. The time devoted to it and the eventual outcome can vary considerably, depending on what is needed. Children are often very motivated to complete these types of tasks. Examples of practical homework include
researching for project work, interviews using suitable resources;
collecting items for science, art or project work
preparation for music or art;
Interactive Seesaw tasks.
Memorisation homework
Memorisation or learning-by-heart homework can often be completed in a very short
space of time, but requires the support of an adult to check that the child has correctly learned the facts or to act as ‘audience’. Short items for memorisation can benefit from being ‘topped-up’ outside of normal homework times, for instance, while travelling to or from school. Examples of memorisation homework include:
● Maths tables,
● Spellings (English, Gaeilge and Modern Foreign Language - MFL),
● Grammar rules and lists (English, Gaeilge and MFL),
● Words of songs, poems, nursery rhymes and hymns,
● Lists in context eg.counties of Ireland, historical timelines, colours of the rainbow.
Study skills homework
In senior classes, study skills such as locating information in a passage, finding the main points, or distinguishing between fact and opinion can form part of homework. Although children may not have ‘something to show’ at the end, these skills are very important for learning as children progress through school or college, and for lifelong learning.
Digital homework
All classes use Seesaw as a digital learning platform. Each child is provided with a home learning code, which can be reissued by the class teacher, on request. Digital tasks will be assigned regularly. These tasks should be completed within the given timeframe and they are often presented in class. Junior classes will require adult support to complete tasks. In senior classes, children should be encouraged to develop their IT skills by independently completing tasks and then reviewed by parents/ guardians. Some examples of digital homework include:
Digital projects,
Show and tell,
Recording reading (English, Gaeilge and MFL),
Reciting poems/ rhymes and singing songs,
Interactive games and activities.
Homework in all classes
● Reading for pleasure or for information should always feature as part of homework, whether or not it has been allocated by the teacher. Reading to your child and listening to your child read is of great benefit to the child’s progress in reading and overall learning.
To aid language development and strengthen the bond between home and school, talking about school, home matters, incidental events in the neighbourhood or at a national or international level, explaining appropriate details in simple terms and inviting the child to express his or her opinion can be very beneficial.
Supporting the Catholic ethos of the school through talk and discussion on the Religious Education programme, saying prayers together or participating in the Family Mass helps the child to grow in faith in a meaningful way. Generally Religion work will be sent home weekly.
Completing homework
Time
The following outline of suggested homework should be taken as a guide, allowing room for
flexibility where necessary.
Reminder: A quiet table and chair, away from distractions such as television, phones and other
unnecessary devices is vital for completion of work within the time suggested for the class level.
Homework in Junior and Senior Infants Suggested Daily Time: 10-15 minutes
Reading UFLI passages and little books,
Learning Heart Words and completing the UFLI Home Practice,
Reinforcing sound/phonic work,
Completing written exercises (English and Maths),
Digital learning tasks.
Homework in First and Second Classes Suggested Daily Time: 15-20 minutes
Daily:
Reading UFLI passages and/ or English reader or little books,
English Spellings,
Tables (Learn by heart),
A piece of written English homework.
○ Comprehension activities
○ Handwriting
○ Composing sentences
A piece of written Maths work
○ Activities/sums based on topics covered in class
○ Mental maths
○ Writing Tables
Weekly:
Memorisation homework,
Religion homework,
Digital learning task.
Homework in Third and Fourth Classes Suggested Daily Time: 30-40 minutes
Daily:
Reading: class reader, novel or little books, Gaeilge
English and Gaeilge spellings,
Tables (learning by heart),
One to two pieces of written homework.
○ Comprehension activities
○ Handwriting
○ Composing sentences
○ Grammar activities
○ Dictionary work
A piece of written Maths work
○ Activities/sums based on topics covered in class
○ Mental maths
○ Writing Tables
Weekly:
Memorisation homework,
Religion homework,
Digital learning task.
Homework in Fifth and Sixth Classes Suggested Daily Time: 45-60 minutes
Daily:
Reading: class reader, novel, Gaeilge
English and Gaeilge spellings,
Tables (learning by heart),
Two pieces of written homework.
o Comprehension activities
o Handwriting
o Composing sentences
o Grammar activities
o Dictionary work
A piece of written Maths work
o Activities/sums based on topics covered in class
o Mental maths
o Writing Tables
Weekly:
Memorisation homework,
Religion homework,
Digital learning task.
Additional Notes:
● It is understood that children will complete homework assignments in different
lengths of time and this can differ from day to day. It is also acknowledged that
every family situation or schedule is different. It is important to remember that
quality homework is better, with that said if families need to adapt the above
recommendations or are having difficulties with homework please reach out and
communicate with your class teacher. This will aid the teacher to better help,
advise, gauge and review homework for that child or class.
Assessment of Homework;
● Homework is differentiated for students where and when needed.
● Teachers will set success criteria for standards of homework which will be shared
in advance in class with the children
● Teachers will ensure work is viewed and corrected and work is reviewed or revisited
when necessary and possible.
● Teachers will give feedback in a variety of ways orally, in writing with stickers or
stamps
● Teachers may give rewards for consistent effort eg written or verbal praise,
stickers, homework passes
● Teachers will make note of children that consistently struggle, advise parents of
ways to support and or differentiates homework given. This is to help better
opportunity for the students success .
● Self - assessment involves students thinking about and reviewing their own
learning or work. It empowers the child to take greater responsibility for their
work and general progress. Students will be encouraged to assess their own work
in relation to the particular set criteria.
Review Timetable: This policy will be amended as necessary by means of a whole school
collaborative process.