Homework

The purpose of the Torrens Homework grid is to provide students with an opportunity to work independently, have conversations with others, teach someone else, be part of the community, consolidate knowledge and understandings, transfer thinking and skills into other situations, demonstrate abilities in alternate ways and take on responsibilities ... and the list goes on. The Homework grid is in no way intended to be another layer of formalities, but rather a routine of establishing a work-life balance and work in progress developing your child's identity and well-being.

Grids are published each term and contain three compulsory components students are encouraged to routinely engage in - Reading, Jobs/Chores and Physical Activity . The fourth section on the grid allows each student even more choice and independence. Titled, Something Special, students are able to follow an interest or wondering that they have, in addition to personal targets they need to attend to. By planning and setting and actioning their goals, students can direct these mini projects. Happenings within each class or collectively as the Torrens community may be the catalyst for these fortnightly foci.

Classes use the JARS acronym to help them organise these tasks:

J for Jobs or household responsibilities.

A is for Activities, with many of our students routinely participating in sporting clubs / lessons.

R stands for Reading, such a vital life skill. Both reading aloud and being read to are essential elements for children at this age.

S refers to special happenings within the class or individually selected projects.

Each fortnight, students are expected to reflect on their organisation, task completion and skill development/improvement, using the questions at the bottom of the grid. They will be given opportunities at school to share their reflections and show evidence of the completed task within each fortnightly cycle. Peer and teacher feedback are a powerful and integral part of this learning process.

Students have choice about how they would like to record their evidence of task completion and reflection responses. Recording tasks in their diary helps most students with their organisation and is an easy means of showing evidence. Parents initially or signing diaries regularly is then encouragement and extra accountability for students.

Students are encouraged to tackle a variety of activities within a fortnight and rather than remain continuously in a comfort zone, launch themselves into a learning pit - trying and experiencing new things and stretching their thinking.

Most student will share their work on Google Drive (in their Homework folder). Many will make a Slide presentation and add to it each week.

In the past, students have

recorded videos
written stories/created books
inserted photos
constructed models
made collections
creatively used different art medium
re-use, re-cycle, re-purpose materials
report back on findings from research or participation in community events

Our first grid begins in Week 4. It will be published digitally in several places so that students can access regularly while routines are being established - Classroom, Drive. The copy inserted below is for home conversations and reference. Please be aware students will discuss this in class from Week 4 (Monday, Feb 19th)

Torrens Homework Grid T1.pdf