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April Homework
Thank you for your purchase of the April Homework Package. There are four weeks of homework packets and one Spring Basket Decorating Home Project included in the package. The homework cover sheets are formatted to make it easy for you to change the weekly assignments to suit your needs. You can mix and match the assignments! Choose what you would like to do and save the other activities for use in class.
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The homework program that I have used and had great success with was to send a homework folder (envelope) home on Monday. All homework is returned on Friday. I use a cover sheet to explain the weekly assignments and give helpful hints to parents. But, you might choose to send the assignments home on a daily basis.
I use a 11 ½ x 14" envelope with a blue cover sheet on the front. I copied the page on blue paper and called it the "BLUE HOMEWORK FOLDER --even though it is an envelope. See sample at left.
The child's name and room number was added with felt tip marker and laminated. I used an Exacto knife (VERY CAREFULLY!) or a very sharp pair of scissors to make a slight cut on the back side of the envelope in order for the envelope to open. You might want to cut the envelope flap off, too. It makes it easier for taking papers in and out.
The folder usually lasts all year for the students. You might want to make a few extras for any new students you might get during the year, too. All homework was returned in the envelope on Friday. You can easily edit the cover sheet if you would like to have a different due date. If the student returned all of the work and it was complete, he/she would receive a sticker on the homework folder. I wrote a date and attached a sticker to the folder (see sample.) This was a very BIG DEAL for the students to collect the stickers each week, and it seemed to motivate them to return the homework on time! They did not receive a sticker if the homework was incomplete or late. I tried to find special stickers for the folders---sparkly ones, themed ones that went along with our social studies or science unit, etc. I had very good luck with the students taking care of the homework folders since it had their sticker collections on it. It was very rare that a homework folder was lost. The kids wanted to keep them for their treasure box. Their treasure box was made in September to hold all of the little books we made throughout the year. On Friday, the completed homework was removed and the next week's packet was put inside. I often had a parent help with removing the old homework and stuffing the new packets inside. They also recorded the date and added a sticker. I would correct the homework later, but it was a big help having a parent remove completed work and put in the new packet!
The spring basket can be copied on colored or white heavy paper. I like to use cardstock to make it a bit sturdier. If your district does not stock this paper, it is available at any of the office supply stores such as Staples or Office Depot. It is useful for lots of different projects throughout the year and comes in 8 1/2 x 11 or legal size --11x14. You can fill in a due date for the home project and sign the letter before copying it on regular paper. I staple a letter to each of the basket patterns. The "Spring Has Sprung!" banner is three pages long. The edges will need to be trimmed to fit together. I tape the pieces together with transparent tape and mount the banner on a contrasting color of construction paper. Laminating will make it possible to keep it for several years! April Home Project Letter (can be edited)
Week 1 The focus for this week's homework is on mastering the top 50 words on the Dolch High Frequency Word list.
1. Cover sheet to explain assignments to parents. This also offers helpful hints on ways to assist their child. There is a second cover sheet is formatted for you to be able to edit to suit your needs if you would like to make changes. 2. Writing Numbers 1-5 This page gives students extra practice to make sure they are forming the numbers correctly. 3. "Mastering the High Frequency Words" page gives parents lots of ideas on how to help their child with games and helpful hints on mastering the words. 4. "High Frequency Word Lists" Page three of the homework package gives parent the top 50 words from the Dolch High Frequency word list that children can work on mastering at home. You might choose to split this up and give the first list from 1-25 on the left side, or the next 26-50 words---depending on the level of your students. Many children might not be ready for all 50 words! 5. The first Bingo card uses the list of words 1-25 words on the Dolch High Frequency list. Depending on the reading level of your students, you might choose to send only the first card for students. 6. The second Bingo card uses the list of words from 26-50 on the Dolch High Frequency list. If students have mastered the first list of words, you might choose to send both cards for homework. 7. "Using High Frequency Words" is a worksheet that gives student practice using the high frequency words in making sentences. 8. "My Favorite Book" Instructions are given for parents to assist students in completing this page. Helpful hints are given to encourage parents to ask questions when reading to their child. If you would like to change the directions, you may use the cover sheet that can be edited. 9. "Number Words" is a worksheet for practice in recognizing and reading number words. Students draw a string to connect the balloon to the correct number written in each handprint. 10. "Shapes Around the House" introduces students to the octagon shape. Students color all of the octagon shapes on the page.
Week 1 Cover Sheet (can be edited)
Week 2
The cover sheet for the second week includes the following activities:
1. The cover sheet explains the activities for the week with helpful hints to assist to parents in assisting their child. 2. "Writing Numbers from 6-10" Numbers are printed with arrows showing the correct way to form each number. 3. "High Frequency Words" There are two different papers for the high frequency words. You may choose to give one or both of the papers for students to complete---depending on the student's reading levels. Ideas are given on the cover sheet for parents to use these word cards to assist their child with practice throughout the week. 4. "Short O Words" Students color all of the pictures that begin with the short /o/ sounds and an X put on all of the ones that do not begin with the short /o/ sound. 5. "Make a Graph" Students count all of the animals and fill in one square for each of the animals on the graph. There are two questions at the bottom of the page for students to analyze the information on the graph. 6. "Sink or Float" This is a fun science experiments for students to do at home in the sink or bathtub. Directions are given to use 15-20 objects to discover which objects float and which ones will sink. Questions are asked to learn encourage students to think about why these objects sink or float. Week 2 Cover Sheet (can be edited)
Week 3 1. The cover sheet explains the activities for the week with helpful hints to assist to parents in assisting their child. 2. "Writing Letters A-D" Examples are given with dotted lines and arrows to assist students in making each of the letters correctly. 3. "Trading Places" Story paper is given for each student to finish the sentence "If I could trade places with anyone, I would_________." Parents are encourage to assist their child in completing the story. Students illustrate their story at the top of the page. You might choose to mount each story on a piece of construction paper to make it heavier. A banner is also provided to use if you would like to use for a bulletin board. I would often use stories like this for a bulletin board before combining in a class book. To make the banner, you will need to trim the pages to fit together. I use transparent tape to put the banner together. You might like to cut a "bubble" around the banner and mount on heavier, colored construction paper. This will make it sturdier. If you laminate the banner, it will last for many years! A book cover "Trading Places" is provided if you would like to combine all of the stories into a class book. I like to print one of the covers and then mount it on a piece of contrasting color construction paper. Laminating the book cover will make it possible to save the cover for use in future years. 4. "Making New Words" Students write the sounds they hear in each word. These are all consonant-vowel-consonant words. There are also other words listed for parents to dictate to their child. 5. "Counting by 2s" Two activities are given for counting by 2s. The first is a simple dot-to-dot. The second page is a worksheet for extra practice in learning to count by 2s starting at different numbers. 6."Make a Picture" Lots of different shapes are given for student to cut out and use to make a picture. You might choose to give the students an extra blank paper for them to for this project. Week 3 Cover Sheet (can be edited)
Week 4
1. The cover sheet explains the activities for the week with helpful hints to assist to parents in assisting their child. 2. "Writing Letters E-H" Examples are given with dotted lines and arrows to assist students in making each of the letters correctly. 3. Consonant Blends is a worksheet for students to practice beginning sounds. They draw a line from the picture to the correct blend.
5. The book cover was copied on pink paper and a cotton ball added for the tail. You may choose to add the date for your book on the feet. The book cover can also be cut out in the shape of the bunny. I stapled the book together with a heavy duty stapler. You might use a spiral binding, too.
6. Counting by 2s and 5s provides extra practice in learning to count.
7. "Subtraction" Directions are given for students to use the houses to help them solve the equations. An example is provided. Week 4 Cover Sheet (can be edited)
Please let me know if you have any questions about any of the homework activities. I hope that you enjoy using these materials, and that they might save you some valuable time! Thanks!
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4.
The student writing paper was copied on regular, white
paper and included in the weekly homework packet. You
may choose to cut the stories out in the shape of the
bunny. 
6. The banner can be used for a bulletin board.
You will need to trim the edges of two pages for the banner
to fit together. I use tape to put the banner
together. I usually bubble around this page and mount it on
a piece of contrasting construction paper. You can
also bubble around the outside of the construction paper,
too. I laminate all of the banners. That
makes it possible to save them for many years! 