Homework Routines

Student Planners:

This tool is provided to all students in the Lighthouse.  Student planners provide a consistent format for recording and monitoring homework.  We expect students to write their homework each day.

Homework Routines:

Students have homework every night in fifth grade.  Each evening you can expect your child to have math, spellingand home reading homework.

Home Reading:

Students are expected to read a minimum of four nights a week for at least 20 minutes.  While these are minimum requirements, students are encouraged to read more often.  Time spent reading easy or just right books is the single best way to improve your child’s reading skills.  Home reading sheets are due each Thursday and must be signed to receive full credit. 

Need a home reading sheet? Click here.

Spelling Homework:

Each night of the week your child will have spelling homework.  Most groups follow this homework schedule:

Monday . . . Sound sort.  This sort was completed with a teacher and your child’s group in class to introduce the week’s words and patterns.  Tonight they will do the same sort and write it neatly in their word study notebook. Word wall words are written 3x in columns not rows.

Tuesday . . . Pattern sort.  This sort was completed with a partner in class.  The same sort needs to be completed and written in the word study notebook. Word wall words are written 3x in columns not rows.

Wednesday . . . S. A. W. (Sort, Alphabetize, Write) by sound.  This is a sound sort with a twist:  your child needs to sort the words and then put each column in alphabetical order.  Similar to Monday night’s homework, but alphabetized. Word wall words are written 3x in columns not rows.

Thursday . . . Blind sort.  This sort is like a practice test.  You read the words to your child. They write them and sort them by pattern (see Tuesday’s homework for patterns).  Any words that are misspelled need to be written in 5 additional times in their word study notebook. Word wall words are written 1x as part of their practice test (a.k.a. blind sort).