Our approach to home learning.
Children are to produce a ‘Learning Project’ for their half term topic. Learning Projects are a journal for the child to record their knowledge and understanding in whatever way they feel is most helpful. ‘Learning Project’ activities are intended to be as open ended as possible, allowing the children to reflect on their learning in class in a creative way and for the children to make their own decisions on how to collect, record and present their home learning.
Why do them?
We are at the beginning of our journey with learning projects, but already we can see great benefits for our children and families. For example:
- They are an opportunity for children to extend and consolidate their learning in the classroom
- They encourage all children to be creative and independent
- They encourage children to be actively involved in their work and take pride in it
- Learning Projects encourage a partnership between home and school
- As Learning projects are personalised there is no right or wrong way to approach a task
- They give children ownership of their work
- Children can be as creative and imaginative as they like
- Learning Projects can be a useful revision tool for children, especially in year 6
- Learning Projects can be a useful assessment tool for teachers
How can you help?
You can help and support your child in many differing ways, here are some ideas of how children might approach ‘Learning Project’ tasks:
- Drawing, colouring, sketches, labelled diagrams, artwork- painting, collage, 3D constructions
- Cooking with photographs or explanations
- Take photographs or even videos of their work
- Use the library/internet as a resource
- Physical activity
- Tables, charts and grids
- Writing fiction, poems, descriptions
- Writing non-fiction-report, diary, letter, journal, newspaper report, e-mail, leaflet, debate or explanation
- Invitations, postcard
- Your child can include objects or resources or references to them.
Additional homework
As well as Learning Projects, class teachers may also send out additional worksheet based activities. However, these may not always be for the whole class. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, as with any good practice, activities should be differentiated and pitched correctly for every child. Home learning is no exception and is therefore not always appropriate for all. Home learning activities such as this will:
- Support children to address a misconception
- Provide pre- learning opportunities
- Consolidate learning
Weekly/ on-going homework
Regular home learning includes:
- Read as often as possible (min 3 x per week)
- Times tables (children should know all their times tables by end of year 4) TT Rockstars (online)
- Class spellings- Spelling shed (online)
Please visit our Websites for home use page for helpful websites to extend your child’s learning and use a revision tools.