Please read through our new 2022 Homework policy.
Homework policy
It is a requirement for all Queensland State Schools to develop a school homework policy in consultation with the school community — as specified in Policy statement: Homework.
At Blackbutt State School we believe that homework provides students with opportunities to consolidate their classroom learning, pattern behaviour for lifelong learning beyond the classroom and involve family members in their learning.
The setting of homework takes into account the need for students to have a balanced lifestyle. This includes sufficient time for family, recreation and community and cultural pursuits.
At Blackbutt State School, teachers will ask parents/caregivers if they would like homework provided for their child/ren. Teachers will provide homework to those students whose parents/carers request it and will mark/provide regular feedback to children who consistently complete their homework.
At Blackbutt State School, there will be no negative consequences assigned by school staff at school for students who fail to complete or return their homework. Students will not miss out on Fun Friday, or play time at school to complete homework. After all, it’s homework – work completed at home.
At Blackbutt State School, we believe that homework is effective in supporting learning when it has a clear purpose.
Homework that enhances learning:
is clearly related to class work
is purposeful and relevant to students needs
is appropriate to the phase of learning (early, middle, senior)
is varied and differentiated to individual learning needs
develops students’ independence as a learner.
The purpose of homework is to engage students in independent learning to complement work undertaken in class through:
revision and reflection to consolidate learning (practise for mastery)
applying knowledge and skills in new contexts (a topic of interest, an authentic local issue)
pursuing knowledge individually and imaginatively (investigating, researching, writing, designing, making)
preparing for forthcoming classroom learning (collecting relevant materials and information).
Homework may be completed daily or over a weekly or fortnightly period and can take many forms including but not limited to:
grids and handouts/textbook/computer based activities
assignment drafting
reading
note taking, revising and studying
completion and extension of class work, projects and research.
Homework guidelines – Education Queensland
The Queensland Government has set out guidelines for homework, including the amount of time students should spend on homework each week. Briefly the policy recommends the following maximum homework hours over a week:
Prep - generally students will not be set homework other than daily reading.
Years 1, 2 and 3 - up to but generally not more than 15-20 minutes per night.
Years 4 to 5 - up to but generally not more than 2-3 hours per week
Year 6 - up to but generally not more than 3-4 hours per week
Responsibilities
Teachers
Teachers can help students establish a routine of regular, independent home-learning by:
ensuring the school Homework Policy is implemented consistently across all year levels
setting home-learning tasks on a regular basis but within a flexible time-frame
clearly communicating the purpose, expectations and benefits of all home-learning tasks
checking homework regularly and providing positive recognition of the efforts of students
providing timely and appropriate feedback about home-learning tasks
selecting tasks that are varied, challenging and directly related to class work
selecting tasks that are purposeful and appropriate to students’ learning needs
explicitly teaching strategies to develop organisational and time-management skills and providing opportunities for practice through home-learning activities
discussing with parents and caregivers any issues concerning their child’s home learning tasks and suggesting strategies to assist with home learning requirements
providing assistance when difficulties arise
supporting students to access technology during school if required for homework tasks
Students
Students can take responsibility for their own learning by:
being aware of the school’s expectations and guidelines for home learning
discussing with their parents/carers expectations around home learning tasks
accepting responsibility for the completion of tasks within set time frames
following up on feedback provided by teachers
seeking assistance when difficulties arise
organising their time to manage the various activities they engage in.
Parents and caregivers
Parents and caregivers can help their children by:
giving them assistance where required to complete tasks
encouraging them to organise their time
encouraging them to take responsibility for their learning
helping them to balance the amount of time spent completing home learning tasks, watching television, playing computer games, playing sport and engaging in other recreational activities
communicating with their child’s teacher to discuss any concerns about the nature of home learning tasks or their child’s approach to the learning
Prep to Year 6
Homework reflects our belief that students need to have the opportunity to consolidate their classroom learning as well as engage in a balanced lifestyle. All teachers set up their homework differently, but some may use ‘The Homework Grid’ (Ian Lillico 2004).
Homework is set out in a grid format. Each cell includes an activity that either consolidates learning at school or involves participating in a specific activity eg. a job around the house, physical activity, reading to a family member, being read to, playing a game or a cultural activity.
The activities included in the grid will vary between year levels, however daily reading is essential to all year levels Prep to Year 6.
These grids can be weekly fortnightly, monthly or for a whole term.
The importance of regular reading at home
All students from Prep to Year 6 are expected to engage in daily reading to, with or by parents/carers. Words are essential in building the thought connections in the brain. The more interactive language a child experiences through books and conversation with others (not passively from digital devices), the more advantaged socially and educationally that child will be for the rest of his or her life. Development of language skills is linked positively to thinking skills and school results.