[madiaeb]

This is my first year teaching first grade. I wanted to know are homework packets effective in first grade. I had trouble last year with students not turning packets in on time. Or they would complete the packet in one day. How can I make this work for this year? Any suggestions or what homework ideas works best for you. And teaching all subjects do you send packets home for every subject weekly? Please help--nervous 1st grade teacher.

Thanks in advance

[new1stteacher]

Here is a previous thread discussing it: http://www.proteacher.net/discussion...ad.php?t=49156

[GoTeachers]

I want to try them this year but I have a question that was asked by someone on another thread and I don't think it's been answered...
What do you do about sending home worksheets (especially math) ahead of time (packet) say on Monday but you don't get to a particular topic or concept until say Wednesday or Thursday? Last year I'd send home nightly work but the math coincided with what I taught that day. How do the "packet" people do that? Do you just go ahead and send everything even if you haven't taught it yet that week? Just curious on your thoughts or suggestions. TIA!

[Love2Learn2]

To answer your question about sending packets ahead of time, I always send handouts that I have taught by Friday or that will be taught by Monday or Tuesday, making sure that they won't need to complete it until later that week.

But you're right, you need to be careful about that. If it is a new spelling assignment, I model it and practice it with them on Friday of the week before.

[janicepet]

My homework packet has a dated cover sheet with assignments listed for each day of the week, Monday through Thursday. When I speak to parents on Back to School Night, I tell them that if they are going to complete homework ahead of when its listed to be aware that the skill may not have been covered yet. You could also include homework on skills from the previous week so that doesn't happen.

[judyf]

I am not a fan of hw packets and have always done daily hw. My parents say they prefer it. It also gives practice for next year.

[GoTeachers]

Thanks for your advice... I'm still on the fence but leaning toward them. I like the idea of a cover sheet with the day that particular concept will be taught. DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS!

[cathybev]

I'm on the fence too. I have always done nightly math homework that coincides with what I have taught that day, but I like the idea of packets. I've got to decide too!!

[GoTeachers]

Driving me crazy! I go back and forth. I've always done nightly homework too cathybev, but sometimes I am getting it in their folders last minute. I like the idea of a packet but I'm not so sure yet. YIKES!

[janicepet]

I used to have the same problem of getting it in their folders at the last minute. With the packet, it gets done on Monday and you don't have to worry about it after that. Parents love it also. Some members of my first grade team used to do daily HW but have since switched over to the packet. They love it, too. It's worth a try, if you don't like it you can always switch back next year.

I think the first year I used the packet was the hardest for me. It was time consuming finding appropriate and relevant practice for the kids. Now it's much easier. I keep packets from years past in a folder and I might only have to make a few changes before copying and handing out. (Pacing and skills stay relatively the same from year to year.)

[GoTeachers]

Thanks janicepet... you've convinced me! I'm gonna give it a try and you are right, if it doesn't work out I can switch back next year.

[madiaeb]

Thanks for the thread it provided me with some new ideas for the homework packets.

[madiaeb]

Thanks janicepets the idea for having a cover sheet attached to the packet is a great idea. I am going to try this out and see how it works this year.

[GoTeachers]

Here is what I have come up with as far as a cover sheet for my homework packet. I took one, that I believe that I found here, (I'm sorry I don't know who to give credit to) and I tweaked it to work for my classroom needs. What do you guys think? Do you see any typos or things you'd change? Thanks, because this homework packet is going to be SO NEW for me this year, but I'm excited! Thanks for all of your help (especially janicepet)

[msharkey]

Super! You obviously put a lot of thought into your homework packet.

What kind of homework will you be attaching? I know I read in your note about having spelling and math and grammar. I am just curious as to what you might include in the packet for HW. I'm on the fence as well. I like the idea but not sure how it will look. (I'm a very visual person) but I'm sure if you could explain the kind of things you might include it would help make a visual in my head.



Great job!!
Shark

[Dixiecup]

I love that attachment-it is double tasking with keeping track of the minutes and making parents accountable. Good job!

[GoTeachers]

Thanks! I am going to give this a try and we'll see how it works.
Shark: Our reading basal is Scott Foresman and they have a spelling worksheet for each day of the week, well Monday-Thurs. They are usually kind of a fun type thing like a crossword with the spelling words. The first day is writing them, things like that. However, I'm also on the fence about doing a Spelling Tic-Tac-Toe type thing that I read about here. I'd let them pick any three in a row of various activities and I"d attach blank notebook paper for them to do it to my packet (like 2 sheets or something). I'm still undecided about the spelling but it will be one of those two things. I may start out with the worksheets for the first half of the year then switch to the Tic-Tac-Toe. Yeah, I like that idea! Thanks for letting me "talk" it out in my head guys!

Then for Math it will depend on what we are working on. We use Houghton Mifflin Math, but we also have these Week by Week essentials from our state. So, my homework varies in math. Sometimes it's items from those things, sometimes it's things I've made up, like a survey or graph or line plot or something. I'll have four different math sheets of some sort.

The grammar will also come from Scotts Foresman. They also have four days of that but I only pick two different ones ~ they are also fun type sheets for finding nouns or adjectives. They also have writing with them as well.

I hope this helps you get a visual of some sort. I'm the same way...

[Limusser]

I too have been on the fence about these homework packets. It seems very time consuming getting everything ready Monday, along with lesson plans, newsletters etc.