Curriculum News and Class Homework Expectations

Homework Expectations for Each Class in 2026

With the excitement of the School Swimming Carnival now behind us, it has been wonderful to see all students settling well into their daily classroom rhythms. As we establish our academic routines for the year, while homework has already commenced in some classes, it will soon be starting across all grades to help reinforce what is being learned at school.To keep everyone informed, we have provided a brief outline below of what homework expectations will look like for each class this year.

Kindergarten:

Home readers will commence term 2.

This term will be just a reading log, where parents read to their child. Information will be provided by Ms Wilson soon.

Year 1-2: Homework commenced in Week 3. Homework will be sent home each Monday and is to be returned every Friday. Inside each folder will be a Home Reading Diary and some readers. The Home Reading Diary has sight words and activities in the back that you can complete with your child.

Stage 2 Homework: Kicking Off in Week 5!

Get ready to sharpen those pencils and open those books—Stage 2 homework officially commences next week. Our goal this year is to build consistent habits that support classroom learning without overwhelming your afternoons. We want to keep things focused, effective, and manageable for busy families.

The "Must-Dos"

Every Stage 2 student is expected to complete two core tasks daily to keep their fundamental skills sharp:

Daily Reading (15–30 minutes): Whether it’s a gripping novel, a comic, or a non-fiction book about space, we ask that students read every single day. This is the single best way to improve vocabulary and comprehension.
Times Tables Recitation: Quick-fire mental math is a superpower! Spending a few minutes reciting times tables helps students tackle more complex math problems with confidence later on.

Looking for an Extra Challenge?

We understand that some students (and parents!) are eager for a bit more academic rigor. If you would like your child to receive extension homework beyond the daily reading and tables, we are happy to provide it.

Note to Parents: Extra homework is optional and will be sent home only upon request. Please reply directly to Mrs Pittman if you would like your child to be included in the extra homework loop.

We are looking forward to a fantastic term of growth and learning!

Year 5-6: In Year 5/6, homework is kept purposeful, manageable and as stress-free as possible. The aim of homework at this stage is to support learning through revision, build positive study habits, and gently prepare students for the expectations of high school — not to overwhelm students or families.

The only compulsory homework for all students is:

15–30 minutes of reading each night, and
Regular recital of times tables to support fluency and confidence in mathematics.

These tasks are designed to reinforce key skills, encourage independence, and promote consistent learning routines at home.

For families who would like additional optional practice, a printed homework sheet will be available upon request. Parents can notify Sally in the office if they wish to receive this. Please note that this additional work is entirely optional and not required.

Overall, homework in Year 5/6 is intended to be supportive, achievable, and balanced, allowing students to maintain a healthy routine while developing responsibility and readiness for future learning.

The following is the second part in a three part series designed to help you the parents help your children with reading at home.

Please feel free to contact me or your child’s class teacher if you have any questions about the information provided.

Libby Makeham

HOME READING (PART 2 -FLUENCY)

WHAT IS FLUENCY?

You know fluent reading when you hear it: it sounds effortless, natural, and conversational. While it may look easy, achieving fluency requires your child to master a complex set of skills.

In our classrooms, we use evidence-based instruction to focus on the three main ingredients of fluency:

Accuracy: Reading the words correctly.
Rate: Reading at a steady, conversational pace (not too fast, not too slow).
Expression: Using the right tone and feeling so the reading doesn't sound "robotic."

Why does this matter? Fluency is the bridge to comprehension. When a child struggles to sound out words or reads haltingly, their brain power is focused on decoding rather than understanding. When they can read fluently, they are free to focus on the meaning of the story.

Effective Strategies for Parents to Build Fluency

Repeated Reading: Have your child read the same passage, story, or poem 3–4 times. The first time may be choppy, but repetition builds speed, accuracy, and confidence.
Model Fluent Reading: Read aloud to your child, using expressive voices, proper phrasing, and appropriate speed to demonstrate what good reading sounds like.
Choral and Echo Reading: Read together in unison (choral) or read a sentence and have your child repeat it back to you with the same expression (echo).
Focus on Expression (Prosody): Encourage your child to change their tone, pitch, and volume to match punctuation and dialogue, turning reading into a "performance".
Scooping Phrases: Help your child group words into meaningful phrases rather than reading word-by-word. This helps them read with better speed and understanding.
Use Audiobooks: Let your child listen to audiobooks while following along in a physical book to connect written words with fluent oral reading.
Practice High-Frequency Sight Words: Build automaticity by practicing common, irregularly spelled words, which allows children to focus on meaning rather than decoding.

Tips for Success

Choose the Right Book: Use books that are slightly below their maximum reading level to ensure they are practicing fluency, not struggling with decoding.
Set a Routine: Make reading a daily habit to ensure consistent practice.

Make it Enjoyable: Encourage reading with silly voices, use puppets, or create a pretend audience to keep it engaging.