Homework is an important part of fourth grade. It allows students to practice concepts taught in class as well as gain independence.
Students will typically have homework every night in both Math and ELA. They will usually have one page to complete for Spelling or pretest corrections if they receive below a 90%. Nightly assignments will also include a minimum of 20 minutes of reading and a Math fact sheet. Several nights per week they will have a Math homework assignment other than working on facts. Students are encouraged to use the lesson pages completed in class as a guide to help with the homework sheet. They are written in a very similar format, so students can easily review the steps and know what the expectations are for the assignment. Please check out the links on my Homework page for printable assignments if your child forgets to bring home the worksheet/workbook.
Timed Math fact tests will be given every day. If a student scores a 100% two times in a row in less than 30 seconds, s/he will move on to the next set of facts. Once students have tested out of all the facts and receive a 90% or higher on the computerized "Timez Attack" game they will become a member of the Math Fact Hall of Fame. This means they will no longer have to complete the fact homework for that particular operation. This incentive is to emphasize the importance of fact memorization as double digit multiplication and long division are just around the corner. Students should also be encouraged to practice math facts at least five minutes extra every night by using either fact cards or through the use of online games. Check out my Favorite Websites page for links to free sites.
Please remind your child to read for at least 20 minutes every night. Sharing that reading time with your child in an 'I will read to you and you read to me' format makes for a wonderful family bonding experience.