Education Queensland's homework policy for students outlines how homework strengthens classroom learning and shapes a student's learning behaviour beyond the classroom and how families can help with their learning.
Homework needs to ensure students have a balanced lifestyle that includes time for family, recreation, cultural and employment activities.
To increase student learning, homework should be:
- focused and relevant to students needs
- at the right learning stage (early, middle and senior)
- to the student's ability
- developed to the student's independence as a learner
- varied, challenging and related to class work
- geared to them having a balanced lifestyle to include other activities outside school.
State school policies
Queensland state schools are required to develop a homework policy in talks with their school community, particularly with their Parents and Citizens' Association (P&C).
School Principal's homework role
School Principles are required to implement their up-to-date school's homework policy during enrolment and in their annual report and distribute it to all:
- staff
- students
- parents and caregivers.
Teachers homework responsibility
By setting homework on a regular basis teachers can help students create a regular independent study routine allowing them to develop organisational and time-management skills which they can put into practice doing homework.
Teachers use homework strategies by communicating it's purpose benefits and expectations by setting tasks that are:
- varied
- challenging
- related to class work
- fits the learning needs of the students'.
They will also check homework on a regular basis, provide feedback and discuss any problems students may have with parents and carers and suggest alternatives.
Homework tasks
The types of homeware tasks could include:
- daily reading to, with, and by parents, caregivers or other family members
- linking ideas with familiar activities such as shopping, food preparation, local environment and family outings
- talking about what's happening at school
- preparing for oral presentations
- write with purpose.
Prep Year tasks
In Prep Year, students usually don't get set homework.
Prep to Year 3 - (Early Phase of Learning)
In the Prep to Year 3 all activities at home or in play assist children to develop, numeracy and problem-solving skills.
Years 1,2, and 3
Homework for years 1,2, and 3 is around 1 hour per week.
Years 4 to 9 (Middle Phase)
Middle Phase homework can be completed daily, over a week or fortnight and may include:
- reading every day
- using different subject areas, e.g. setting a task like writing a letter in English to the local member of parliament (Civics) about a local environmental matter (Science)
- extend class work to include research and projects.
Students in Years 4 and 5 could get up to 2 to 3 hours of homework per week to complete.
Years 6 and 7 student may have up to 4 hours of homework to complete each week.
Students homework responsiblity
Students need to take responsibility for their own learning by:
- being aware of the school's homework policy
- discussing homework expectations with the parents and caregivers
- accepting responsiblity for completing their homework tasks within set timeframes
- following up teachers comments
- organising and manage their time to include other activities (home, sports, work, cultural).
Parents and caregivers homework role
Through your local Parents and Citizens' Association, parents and cargivers can play a key role in developing their school's homework policy and help their children by:
- reading and talking to them, involving them in home tasks like shopping, playing games and other activities
- helping them with homework tasks and talking about key questions or pointing them to resources
- encouraging them to organise their time and take responsibility for their learning
- encouraging them to read and take an interest in and disuss current local, national and international events
- helping them to balance their homework and other work, sport or home activities.
- contacting teachers to discuss any homework concerns you have.