Home Learning/Homework @ Karaka School

Learning is a three way partnership between the child, home and school. All three areas are responsible for a child’s learning. If one section is not in partnership, then the learning triangle is not complete. This is why we do not set homework tasks each week; instead we believe that home learning along with other commitments benefits the whole child. Home routines means whānau is actively involved in the child’s learning at his or her level, without the added frustration of ‘completing set homework sheets’ that have no benefit to the child’s classroom learning. Here is a myriad of home learning activities provided by the Ministry of Education (set by year level) that we recommend you utilise if you would like to provide more ‘learning at home’ activities for your child:

Resource link: 

Home learning activities to support Reading, Writing and Math (MoE)

If any home learning is set by the class teacher for a particular reason, the teacher will follow up learning tasks with your child each week. For example, home learning tasks around Agricultural Day or specific tasks to support the classroom programme. Children are encouraged to continue their learning at home to develop lifelong learning and recognise that learning can happen anytime and anywhere. We strongly recommend that all children read each day. For beginning readers this means reading daily readers and being read to. For more capable readers, the opportunity to read chapter books, e-books (through sites such as Epic), blogs etc (remember that not all children enjoy reading fiction).

It is also important to be aware that no study has ever confirmed the widely accepted assumption that homework yields better academic results for students, or nonacademic benefits (self-discipline, independence, perseverance, or better time-management skills) for students of any age. The idea that homework builds character or improves performance at school is basically a myth. 

Please have a read through some of these educational sites to explore further the pros and cons of ‘homework’:

Sitting down to do homework with a child can also cause a lot of unnecessary stress, anxiety and arguments. Spending time with family, playing games, playing a sport, learning an instrument, exploring, creating and making is a much more valuable use of time. Taking time to relax, play, explore, and participate in extracurricular activities are all very important for a person’s well being, and their mental and emotional health.

At Karaka School, this is what ‘Home Learning’ is:

  • Working on school related activities (eg work that has not been completed at school and needs to be completed at home)
  • Finding/researching information to take back to school
  • Preparing for a school event. EG Agricultural day, speeches, school camp etc
  • Playing a game with others
  • Attending a sports practice
  • Learning to cook a meal
  • Learning an instrument
  • Reading and more Reading
  • Writing – any writing, make a recipe book or write a letter to a friend, journal writing, diary writing
  • Creating or making something – arts and crafts
  • Looking after an animal
  • Helping out at home, housework, gardening, caring for others

Children need plenty of exposure to words, sounds, numbers etc, that they are learning at school. Popping into your child’s class to look through their books and noting words/vocabulary or maths concepts they are working on can also be a good way to extend your child at home. Any learning at home should be authentic and fun.

And plenty of praise and encouragement needs to be given 😊