Home+Based+Learning

Hi parents and students

It is important that homework is a followup from classroom activities, maintenance of knowledge already learn't or inquiry based investigation work. Students will be informed of any expectations, guidelines and due date deadlines. If, at any time you are unsure please communicate through the student diary or via email directly to me.

__**WEEKLY HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS**__

__**Basic facts**__ - Every Monday 5 -10 equations a week or step ladder system - located in the back of student notebook - parents to initial every night - practice with speed over and over - year 7 is your last opportunity to really master all your basic facts - work hard to improve your test results from the beginning of the year

__**Spelling**__ - 3-5 words a week - words have come from a newspaper article already discussed in class - use spelling city website http://www.spellingcity.com/ to spend 10 minutes a night on your words - for those students who don't have access to the internet, words can be learn't eveynight or students can use the classroom computers after school or first thing in the morning before the bell rings

__**Personal Reading**__ - 30 minutes most nights of the week - this is an area I am concerned about, many students are not reading for enjoyment and this limits vocab and comprehension - any type of text is fine - use the public library - **keeping students engaged in reading is crucial for further learning, parents please really work hard with your child to find a quiet time in your busy weeks where reading for enjoyment is not left out**

==__**Extra Inquiry Based Projects for Term 1**__ __**Persuasive Speeches**__ - topics will be discussed in class and students decide on topic after discussions with parents at home - examples/expectations/success criteria and judging criteria will distributed to students during week 5 - speech draft preparation during week 5/6/7 - teacher one on one conference with each student - deadline week 8 term one, timetable of exact day and time slot to be decided==
 * __Reading Log__ -** 3 reading log entries per term are required - template outline is attached below - hand written/computer written is acceptable - students can hand these in any time during the term - one book may have two reading log entries, this is because the personal response comment will change after the completion of a book - further expectations and standards will be discussed in class to improve on term ones reading logs

__Extra Inquiry Based Projects for Term 2__
==__**Science Fair Inquiry**__ "Science Around The Home" - basic outline (3 page document) distributed to students week 9 term 1 to take home and discuss with parents over the April holidays - **this will be a major homework based inquiry in term 2** - further details and expectations will be discussed during the first two weeks of term - students to decide by week 3, which of the projects outlined they will base their inquiry on==