[ms. m]

Can anyone share their homework policy for 2nd grade? What are your consequences for missing assignments and forgotten homework? How much do you give per night? How do you hold students accountable for the quality of work they do without having to grade each assignment?

[NoElephants]

My homework is this:
Every night read a book, practice math flash cards and short spelling activity for the week's words.
Mon/Wed-Math skills practice
Tues/Thurs-Reading passage with questions (short)

Missing homework=time off recess. I also give a reward on Fridays to eat lunch in the classroom and watch cartoons. Kids who have any missing homework for the week do not get to participate.

When I scan their homework in the morning and it looks like poor quality, I give them the choice of fixing it at recess or at home.

[jhint0812]

Reading (first 2 qtrs. 10 min., 3&4 qtr. 20min) every night except Friday
Math - short skill worksheet Mon-Thrus
Spelling activity for the weeks words on Thurs.

They have a Reading log that parents are suppose to sign. For the Math and Spelling all they get is a "+" in my book and on the paper if they completed the assignment. If it is of poor quality they re-do it at home and bring it back the next day or they do not get credit.
I have a homework lunch at the end of every marking period. If you have missed more than 1 assignment you cannot each lunch in the classroom with me. I always bring a special treat for those kids at the lunch (like popcorn, a cookie, etc...). The kids really like it, and so far it has worked... the kids really look forward to eating lunch with me.

[Tiki]

Reading: 10-20 minutes 3 nights per week
Math: 2 homelinks are sent home on Monday and are due Friday, Rocket Math oral practice for 5 minutes nightly
Spelling: Practice Words to Learn and one worksheet sent home on Monday and due on Friday.

It's really difficult to "police" homework. Some children have the support at home to get it done and others don't. When homework is not done I send home a note that the parents must sign. At this age it is really the parents who decide if homework will be done or not so I require them to at least acknowledge that there was an assignment that they did not have their child complete. If children do not return their reading books for 2 days then they spend 5 minutes of their recess writing a reminder note. After that each day they lose 5 minutes more of recess time until they return the book.

[TommysMommy]

I make homework packets that are passed out on Monday and are due on Friday. They contain spelling practice (I'm trying Making Words this year) and math practice. There are enough pages to keep them busy for about 20-30 minutes per night.

I've had very poor results with reading logs and other things that require nightly parental involvement. I'm not giving up, but I'm not sure how I'll work that in this year.

If a child shows up without their homework, they lose their recess for Friday and get a zero for their homework. Unless there is an excused absence, I do not take late homework, so the zero is permanent. A note goes home to their parents that has to be signed and brought back with their homework on Monday. Even though I don't give them a grade for it, it shows them that I mean business and that homework is important.

I don't give very difficult homework. It is skills practice, period. I'm dealing with a lot of children who have minimal parental support or who have parents who can't help them academically so complex reports and other things haven't worked well. Simple but related to what they're learning and good practice is best.

I have found that the best homework is study work. My students have a skill sheet (usually phonics related) of words to practice reading, a sight word sheet and this year I'll start to include a math study sheet. As they "master" each one, they let me know, I quickly quiz them, and then they move up to the next level. It needs to be something they can do on their own, with or without help.

Worksheets get lost or done poorly, and at second grade, assess a parent's involvement level more than the child's. They love this kind of system when they are recognized. It also allows for some self pacing and differentiation.

Hope that helps!