A child’s Flag Football team has a good coach but has not won a game in 2 seasons. What do they need to do to be more competitive? Talk it over with a shoulder buddy.

To be competitive you must spend more time practicing! This is the same answer to improve your school skills. The more time spent on studying and homework will make the difference.

If you think your team (or grades) will become better without making a change, you won’t see an improvement!

Learning Goal: By the end of the lesson students will know how to use homework practices and methods as a powerful instructional tool. Using best HW practices should help students achieve not only passing, but outstanding grades. By the end of the lesson students will know how to use homework practices and methods as a powerful instructional tool. Using best HW practices should help students achieve not only passing, but outstanding grades.

Homework and Studying

Generalization about homework and practice The amount of HW assigned to students is different from elementary to middle school to high school. Studies show that the more homework students complete, especially from grades 6-12; the better they do in school. Grades gain about 6 points per class Grades gain about 6 points per class Middle school - gain of about 12 points per class Middle school - gain of about 12 points per class High school - gain about 24 points per class High school - gain about 24 points per class

School Culture In the US, we attend 180 days of school. In the US, we attend 180 days of school. Students in India attend 220 days a year. India has a fast growing economy. Students in India attend 220 days a year. India has a fast growing economy. Japan is passing up many countries in math and science skills – they attend school 240 days a year! Japan is passing up many countries in math and science skills – they attend school 240 days a year!

Why is homework and practice important? It is crucial in advancing and enhancing what a student has learned in the classroom. Taking it to a higher level! It is crucial in advancing and enhancing what a student has learned in the classroom. Taking it to a higher level! Provides opportunity to deepen understanding and skills relative to what was previously learned. Provides opportunity to deepen understanding and skills relative to what was previously learned. Helps with LONG TERM memory!! Helps with LONG TERM memory!!

Why is homework and practice important? The HW you do now will help in the short and long run. The HW you do now will help in the short and long run. High School has a lot of HW but if you establish good practices now you won’t get swamped later! High School has a lot of HW but if you establish good practices now you won’t get swamped later! Doing HW brings up both your HW and TEST grades Doing HW brings up both your HW and TEST grades Doing HW is like putting $$ in the bank. Doing HW is like putting $$ in the bank.

Stuck on HW?? When you are stuck where can you go? When you are stuck where can you go?

Stuck on HW?? Here are Tips! This may be a problem because of all of the past HW assignment that have been skipped This may be a problem because of all of the past HW assignment that have been skipped Pay more attention in class and take good notes to avoid this problem. Pay more attention in class and take good notes to avoid this problem. Start by reading the directions (and word problems) 2-3 times Start by reading the directions (and word problems) 2-3 times ASK - Parents / relatives / friends ASK - Parents / relatives / friends Look at your notes Look at your notes On-line text books On-line text books Khan Academy / Math Playground Videos / Google / Cool Math / mathisfun / Brainpop Khan Academy / Math Playground Videos / Google / Cool Math / mathisfun / Brainpop Many teachers will help before school, after school, or during lunch Many teachers will help before school, after school, or during lunch

Organizing Homework Area Establish a routine and a comfortable place for completing homework. Establish a routine and a comfortable place for completing homework. –Decide how much time you need to spend on homework. Plan ahead! Use your planner. –When is best time of day for you to do homework? –HW: Design your space for completing homework free of TV, toys, pets, little sisters, and distracting electronics. –Have supplies handy such as a sharpener, paper, pencils, reference materials, rulers, calculator etc.. –Have good lighting and a comfy chair. Reminder - students that are “behind” seriously need to do HW EVERY DAY! – FEW EXCEPTIONS! Doing HW is like putting money in the bank!

MY NEW HW Schedule (Work 1 st - Play 2 nd ) but start with minutes just to gather supplies and get a snack – set the timer!! (Work 1 st - Play 2 nd ) but start with minutes just to gather supplies and get a snack – set the timer!! Work for minutes on the most important HW. Work for minutes on the most important HW. Do your chores, have some fun, eat dinner. Do your chores, have some fun, eat dinner. After dinner work for another minutes. After dinner work for another minutes. Get your materials packed and set by the door. Get clothes and supplies ready for tomorrow. Settle into bed. Get your materials packed and set by the door. Get clothes and supplies ready for tomorrow. Settle into bed. 10/30/ Dinner/30!

Suggested HW Schedule If you skip a night the next day your numbers should be minute blocks!! If you skip a night the next day your numbers should be minute blocks!!

HW Tips Work 1 st - Play 2nd – the baby is funny but wrong Work 1 st - Play 2nd – the baby is funny but wrong Communicate with your teachers. Communicate with your teachers. Copy answers?? Copy answers?? (why does this not help?)

HW Tips – Making Time Read / study in the car Read / study in the car Study during your brother’s soccer game Study during your brother’s soccer game Use mornings ONLY as review and extra practice Use mornings ONLY as review and extra practice Don’t Cram – Do a little each night Don’t Cram – Do a little each night Get SERIOUS – you’ll get more done in the same amount of time. Get SERIOUS – you’ll get more done in the same amount of time.

HW Tips Don’t wait until the last minute  Helps avoid the 0% grade when unexpected things come up!  You have time to approach the teacher with a question.  You now have time to have someone PROOFREAD Procrastination is like a credit card…..it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.

HW Buddies?? Could be Good or Bad! Could be Good or Bad! Choose wisely Choose wisely If your parents are working at home – ask to sit with them when doing HW If your parents are working at home – ask to sit with them when doing HW

HW boring or hard? HW boring or hard? * It may be because you have not done it in the past or have little knowledge on the subject. ( * It may be because you missed a day, leave class too much, or are not paying attention. * To make things better will take some time keeping to your new HW schedule and attending every day!

HW boring or hard? HW boring or hard? * Would you be more motivated if you were paid for doing HW? * You ARE – just not yet….. (your reward will be greater future happiness, freedom, and salary!)

Also at Home Look over Vocabulary ahead of time Look over Vocabulary ahead of time Go over your errors and mistakes on graded assignments Go over your errors and mistakes on graded assignments Work EVERY DAY! Even this weekend!! Work EVERY DAY! Even this weekend!! Go to ve/learning/homework.html for more how to Study Tips. Go to ve/learning/homework.html for more how to Study Tips.

Final HW Tips Reward yourself for doing your HW Reward yourself for doing your HW Write a To Do List of the “3 most important things” daily!! Write a To Do List of the “3 most important things” daily!! Turn in something – partial credit is better than a 0%!! Turn in something – partial credit is better than a 0%!! When you only have one night to do homework and something unexpected comes up – COMMUNICATE! Ask your teacher for another night (note or ). It might work.?.? When you only have one night to do homework and something unexpected comes up – COMMUNICATE! Ask your teacher for another night (note or ). It might work.?.? For what ever reason, if you are forced to choose what HW you need to do consider: your core classes, how the HW will be weighted, what teacher will not accept it late, the class you have the lower grade in. For what ever reason, if you are forced to choose what HW you need to do consider: your core classes, how the HW will be weighted, what teacher will not accept it late, the class you have the lower grade in. Break HW into chunks / Make a schedule in your planner Break HW into chunks / Make a schedule in your planner Use timers. Use timers.

NO HW? NO HW? With a group write a list of things you can work on when you have no “official” Homework. With a group write a list of things you can work on when you have no “official” Homework.

NO HW? – Build Your Brain! NO HW? – Build Your Brain!  Reading ahead in an assigned book, or read a book that you are interested in.  Study Voc. – read glossaries  Future Projects  Watch math videos/ Khan Academy  Study notes from the current week  Look at your grades for make up work  Get ahead! Skim over the next chapter in your textbook.  Practice something you want to be good at! Music, art, sports, drama, etc.  Play Kahoot! Or other trivia  Extra credit?

NO HW? Build Your Brain! NO HW? Build Your Brain!  Other web sites mentioned: Math Playground Videos / Google / Cool Math / mathisfun / Brainpop  Help a family member with their HW – teaching really cements things into long term memory (teach a parent, sibling or friend)  Watch educational TV – Some of the shows on the History Channel, Discovery Channel, or Science Channel may be educational.  Standardized testing practice web sites (they have training guides and practice tests)  Chess or other critical thinking/strategy games

NO HW? Students added these! NO HW? Students added these!  Clean and organize your backpack  Double check or proofread what you have done  Make Flash cards  Reread your notes  Remember: Sleep right, exercise, and eat brain healthy foods!  Get Supplies  Art projects  Practice Typing – find an on-line tutorial

Read!!!!! benefits-reading-why-you-should-read- everyday.html benefits-reading-why-you-should-read- everyday.html benefits-reading-why-you-should-read- everyday.html benefits-reading-why-you-should-read- everyday.html OR Search: “Reading benefits” and click on “Reading benefits” and click on 10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day

As you get older….. HW may not even be checked – Why? HW may not even be checked – Why? You get less classwork – most work is homework You get less classwork – most work is homework You are trusted to read and practice at home. If you don’t ……… You are trusted to read and practice at home. If you don’t ………

HOMEWORK REACTION - Write what you learned about doing your HW. You may include: > What HW behaviors do you need to get rid of? > What are the 3 best tips you heard? > Thoughts and opinions > Goals > Where to turn when you need help > Reading thoughts…… > Changes you are going to make > Your HW schedule or your HW Plan Paragraph form! Write at least 2/3 of a page. You have just 11 minutes.