I'm Lovin' Homework: That's a Wrap! {A Mini-Series}
Hi friends! I'm back today to wrap up the Homework Mini-Series. Thank you so much for all of the comments and feedback during this series. I'm so excited that many of you are going to try this approach to homework this year and I can only hope that it works as well for you as it has for me!
If you've missed the past days in this series, click below to catch up! :)
Post 1: TEAM Homework Post 2: Making Math Homework Engaging Post 3: Keeping Reading Homework Authentic Post 4: Why Writing Homework is Important Post 5: Spelling Should be Differentiated
Today, I'm going to focus on my MONSTER folder (daily take-home folder) and the "extra options" that are available for homework.
Right now, my classroom theme is monsters (or MonSTARS, as I like to call them) so our daily take-home folder follows right along with that theme.
I have tried everything from binders to folders for my take-home organization system and I found that the two-pocket, pronged, poly-folders work the best for me! I purchase them myself at the back-to-school sales so that I can have them prepped and ready for the first day of school (and so that they all match), but you could certainly place them on your students' supply lists.
I use the Avery full-page labels to print the cover and attach it to the folder. If you are looking for covers that match your theme, we have a ton of covers for every theme imaginable on our website. Just click here and select your theme to find the covers!
Right now, my folders are organized using one pencil pouch and four clear sleeves (page protectors).
Let's take a peek inside...
I use the Avery full-page labels to print the cover and attach it to the folder. If you are looking for covers that match your theme, we have a ton of covers for every theme imaginable on our website. Just click here and select your theme to find the covers!
Right now, my folders are organized using one pencil pouch and four clear sleeves (page protectors).
Let's take a peek inside...
The first time the folder goes home, I stick in an "overview" page that lets parents know exactly what they will find in the folder and how it is set up to be used throughout the year. You can click HERE to download my overview page (PDF file) or HERE to download an editable file (no graphics on this one due to copyrights - artwork by KPM Doodles www.kpmdoodles.com copyright 2010).
We use this front folder for important papers that will need to be returned to school. Think field trip permission forms or anything that parents will need to sign and return promptly. Placing these in this front pocket ensures (hopefully) that parents will not miss them!
Then, I place a pencil pouch inside the folders. I purchase these at The Dollar Tree usually and the great thing is that they can usually be used for a few years at least! This is the pouch where their math game cards, other games, or study cards are placed. This ensures that students have them at school and also at home or daycare - wherever they go!
We use this front folder for important papers that will need to be returned to school. Think field trip permission forms or anything that parents will need to sign and return promptly. Placing these in this front pocket ensures (hopefully) that parents will not miss them!
Then, I place a pencil pouch inside the folders. I purchase these at The Dollar Tree usually and the great thing is that they can usually be used for a few years at least! This is the pouch where their math game cards, other games, or study cards are placed. This ensures that students have them at school and also at home or daycare - wherever they go!
If you flip the pouch over, you'll see our weekly newsletter. We are required to publish a newsletter weekly, so this is the perfect place for me to list homework of the week. If you don't publish a weekly newsletter, you could send home Homework Bookmarks with the weekly options listed. A template for those (as well as a parent letter explaining the TEAM Homework approach) is included in our Dealing With Math Homework Card Games (See Post 2 for more information on that).
On Mondays, students will enter the room to find their new newsletters on their desks. It takes a couple of weeks, but they quickly become pros at removing and inserting papers into the sleeves in their folders. I do not do this for them.
On Mondays, students will enter the room to find their new newsletters on their desks. It takes a couple of weeks, but they quickly become pros at removing and inserting papers into the sleeves in their folders. I do not do this for them.
Flip over our newsletter and you will find our Daily Schedule. I find it helpful to include this for parents so if they are planning to come eat lunch with their child or thinking about early dismissals, those times are available at their fingertips - no need to send an email to ask. :)
Next up is the monthly writing calendar. (See Post 4 in this series for more on that.)
Next up is the monthly writing calendar. (See Post 4 in this series for more on that.)
I also include a class roster for parents. Again, this just saves them from emailing me to ask for a class list when they want to send birthday invitations or make Valentine's cards, etc.
The next piece is our "MONSTERS Club" page. This is used as one of the "extras" on our TEAM homework at all times. It's an enrichment piece that is perfect for those students who like to go that extra mile. You can read more about my MONSTERS Club HERE. (My MONSTERS Club resource is not available for sale. I found this idea online and adapted it for my classroom. I would suggest using your state standards and student interests to create your tasks.)
Next, I have some type of Spelling Menu or Choice page (I'm working on a new one of these that will be included in my Differentiated Spelling Unit). Students may use this page to get ideas for practicing their spelling words in new and different ways.
Finally, I have our unit study guides. I only provide study guides for our science/social studies units, but I always place the study guides in this sleeve on the very first day of the unit. I do this for several reasons 1) so I don't forget (ha! But seriously, that is one of the top reasons) 2) So parents have ample time to help their students prepare for the tests 3) I love that students can use it to preview/review. I know typically study guides are a review, but I love that by providing it at the beginning of the unit, some students will begin "previewing" it right away and by the time we get to certain topics they are able to help teach it. They are so proud!
Often times I'll list the "review study guide" as an "extra option" on our homework up until the final week before our test. Then, I'll move it to one of the nightly suggested options.
Finally, I have our unit study guides. I only provide study guides for our science/social studies units, but I always place the study guides in this sleeve on the very first day of the unit. I do this for several reasons 1) so I don't forget (ha! But seriously, that is one of the top reasons) 2) So parents have ample time to help their students prepare for the tests 3) I love that students can use it to preview/review. I know typically study guides are a review, but I love that by providing it at the beginning of the unit, some students will begin "previewing" it right away and by the time we get to certain topics they are able to help teach it. They are so proud!
Often times I'll list the "review study guide" as an "extra option" on our homework up until the final week before our test. Then, I'll move it to one of the nightly suggested options.
If, for some reason, I have an additional study guide there is space left for that, too.
The back pocket of our folders is used for classroom work and/or graded work that is ready to be taken home and kept at home - no need to return these papers to school.
Besides the "MONSTERS Club" and study guides, I will sometimes add other options to the extras, like practice lowercase cursive letters (after we've practiced those in class) or visit (a certain website) to practice (a skill we're focusing on). The great thing about this approach is that you can add or delete things as you wish to make it meet the needs of your students at any particular moment.
That's it, friends! That's a wrap on homework! If you decide to use this approach I would love for you to let me know how it works for you this year! Enjoy the last days/weeks of summer!
The back pocket of our folders is used for classroom work and/or graded work that is ready to be taken home and kept at home - no need to return these papers to school.
Besides the "MONSTERS Club" and study guides, I will sometimes add other options to the extras, like practice lowercase cursive letters (after we've practiced those in class) or visit (a certain website) to practice (a skill we're focusing on). The great thing about this approach is that you can add or delete things as you wish to make it meet the needs of your students at any particular moment.
That's it, friends! That's a wrap on homework! If you decide to use this approach I would love for you to let me know how it works for you this year! Enjoy the last days/weeks of summer!
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