The “I Don’t Have Any Homework” Page

Your child should have homework every night. On the rare occasion that your child does not have any homework, please turn to this page.  Your child has lots of things he or she needs to read, review, study, and learn.

Reading:  Have your child read EVERY night!  Ball students are required to read 20 minutes each night.  The English Language Arts California Content Standards require that students read one million words independently by the end of the year.  Turn off the television, the phone, and remove distractions.  Students may read books of their own choosing or they may read informational materials, such as newspapers and textbooks.  Reading as a habit will contribute to increasing your child’s vocabulary and reading comprehension.  Ask your child what book he or she is reading and ask questions about the characters and the plot.  You may even want to read the same book as your child!  Parents say this strategy helps both the child and the parent because it increases the topics of conversation at home!  

Vocabulary:  In this planner there are literary and other academic terms that EVERY student must learn.    Your child will use these terms in school throughout the year.  If your child doesn’t have homework, have your child memorize the definitions of these words.  If your child tells you he or she already knows them, quiz him or her on the definitions.  He or she must be able to explain the word or concept to you.  He or she should also be able to give examples of each word or concept.  It is a very lengthy list.  Check the Dates & Topic of Study column on the English Language Arts Curriculum page in order to know which words students are currently learning.  It is essential that they master these definitions.

Review/Re-write/Copy class notes:  Your child should take notes every day in class.  Many times students write their notes quickly or sloppily. Have your child re-write his or her notes in a clean, neat manner. He or she can keep a set of notes for each subject at home.  Re-writing the notes will help him or her remember what he or she has learned.  As a parent you can stay aware of what your student is studying by looking at the notes.

Create Flash Cards or Test Questions: Your child should review his or her class notes and create study cards for tests.  Flash cards or study cards are easy to make.  Using 3x5 cards, students should write key words, concepts, or the material they must master on one side of the card, and the definition or explanation on the back side. Students and parents can use the cards to quiz for tests.  Another idea is to create sample test questions.  Have your child predict test questions for an upcoming test.  Have him or her write the questions and the answers and then compare them to the real test.