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Home Learning

Our approach to home learning at Monks Risborough:

At Monks, we believe that home learning is a useful part of a child’s school life and forms a crucial link between home and school. There is no consequence for incomplete home learning, however, we want to prepare children gradually for life in secondary school, where independent study is paramount. We use a combination of Learning Logs alongside online platforms such as Atom Learning (KS2), Oxford Owl and NumBots/Times Tables Rockstars to provide home learning which focuses on the rehearsal of key skills.

Robins -

  • Read to an adult every day, recorded in their reading records
  • Watch Phonics video links sent home

Wrens & Kites -

  • Read to an adult every day until independent, recorded in reading record
  • Learning Log once a half term
  • Once log in is recieved, Numbots/TTRS once a week
  • Speedy reading game twice a week or Phonics video links sent home
  • Kites - Spelling log as appropriate and red word lists

Kestrels, Hawks & Falcons -

  • Reading every day, recorded in reading record
  • Learning Log once a half term
  • Atom Learning - one Maths, one English per week
  • Spelling log as appropriate
  • TTRS three times weekly

Eagles -

  • Reading every day, recorded in reading record
  • Learning Log once a half term
  • One English task on Rollama weekly
  • One Maths task on Atom Learning weekly
  • TTRS three times weekly
  • Spelling log as appropriate

What is a Learning Log?

At Monks, we use a different approach to home learning and out of school learning, called Learning Logs.

Learning Logs are a journal for children to record their knowledge and understanding about topics that they are covering in the classroom, in whatever way they feel is most helpful. Children may use pictures, writing, photographs, labelled diagrams, pop up pictures, fold away flaps, to present their work.

Learning Logs:

  • Enable children to extend and consolidate their learning in the classroom outside of school
  • Encourage children to be creative and independent.
  • Encourage children to be actively engaged in their own learning and take a pride in their work.
  • Are child-directed, rather than teacher-directed and so give children ‘ownership
  • Are Inclusive’ and cater for all abilities and learning styles.
  • Help to develop a partnership between home and school.
  • Can be a useful revision tool for children and assessment tool for teachers.

As Learning Logs are personalised there is no right or wrong way to approach a task.

How do Learning Logs work at Monks?

Once a half term, the children will be given set tasks which will be based around a key question, title or a learning objective that they should achieve. The activity will usually be relevant to their current class topic or a particular theme that will be covered during the term in class. It will be set over a two week time period, giving children plenty of time to dive into their learning.

The logs focus in developing children’s creativity, independence and a love for learning. Each log is a unique record of the child’s thinking and learning.

At the end of each half term, time is built into the class timetable for children to peer review their work and discuss the different approaches that have been carried out in completing the tasks. Learning logs have a high profile in school and we regularly celebrate children’s good work and effort.

home-learning

Spelling log books

At Monks, we follow the Read Write Inc Spelling programme, following on from our RWI Phonics scheme in Early Years and Key Stage One. To ensure this scheme is effective for all our pupils, we are introducing a spelling log book with a list of spellings for every child. These will not be formally tested, but will be applied in a low-stakes peer-led approach following the RWI spelling programme. Your child may require support at home in order to ensure these words are embedded in their long term memory.

You could try:

- writing the word, then circling any tricky parts, saying it aloud, then covering it, then writing it and finally checking it
- 'rainbow writing' (writing the word multiple times in different colours
- 'throw it on the wall - studying the word and trying to visualise it on the wall before writing and checking it
- writing it in a sentence or paragraph (this aids understanding and definition)

We do not carry out formal spelling tests for these words as we have found them to be counter productive; we would rather that the children learned the spelling patterns by continual use, and applying them to their writing. This retrieval approach encourages words to embed into their long term memory - not just working memory, which cramming encourages.

Eagles

As part of preparing the children for the transition to secondary school, the homework expectations in Year 6 are slightly different.

Each week, they will receive:

  • One English task on Rollama
  • One Maths task on Atom Learning

These tasks will reset every Monday and should take approximately 10–20 minutes each, depending on the task. Your child’s login details for both websites can be found in their Reading Record.

In addition, your child will bring home 10 spelling words each Wednesday, which will be applied in a retrieval task the following Wednesday. Please could you help your child to remember to bring their blue spelling log book into school on Wednesday mornings so that their new words can be added.

Your child will also receive a Learning Log. The Learning Log will be set for two weeks - this is intended to help the children develop the skills they will need when they experience periods of increased homework at secondary school.

There is no expectation for your child to spend hours completing their Learning Log (unless they particularly want to!). There will be a range of activities for your child to choose one from, designed to help consolidate and extend their understanding of our current topic.

As has been the expectation throughout the school, it is also encouraged that your child:

  • Reads five times a week
  • Completes TT Rockstars for 10 minutes three times a week

If you have any questions or concerns about the homework, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Miss Dawes is very happy to give extensions for the Learning Log if needed. Unfortunately, she is unable to offer extensions for the Maths and English tasks, as these reset automatically each Monday morning.

Thank you for your continued support in helping the children develop their independence and prepare for the exciting transition to secondary school.

If you have any questions regarding home learning, please speak to your child's class teacher who can advise you on home learning in their class. You can arrange this through the homelearning@monks.org.uk or office@monks.org.uk email.

Mrs Horton

Useful home learning links:

Your child's login can be found in their reading record. If you cannot locate it, please email homelearning@monks.org.uk.

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