Mrs. Stueve’s Second Grade
Homework Policy
I will be assigning homework because I believe it is important that students begin to develop good
homework habits in early grades, especially the responsibility aspect of it. Homework also gives me a
way of having students practice what I have taught in class or build on the thematic unit we are studying
and it helps you as a parent know how your child is progressing.
I will assign homework EVERY NIGHT (except Friday) unless otherwise stated. Homework should take
students from 15 minutes to ½ hour to complete each night.
To help your child do their best with homework, see to it that they find a quiet place to work at home, help
them decide on the best time of day to do homework assignments and make doing homework a priority.
If the assignment sent home is handwriting, math problems, questions geared toward the student, etc. I
expect the student to do the work on his/her own in PENCIL. They may ask for help from you only after
they have given it their best effort.
On the other hand, some assignments will require that the student collect materials, sketch and label
creations, do some creative critical thinking, etc. These assignments may require some HELP from you.
The key word is HELP. You may HELP your child, but please don’t do the assignment for them. Talk
with your child, offer ideas, encourage them, get them THINKING and wonderful things will result.
I will ask the students to take their homework home in their “Homework Folder” and bring it back in the
folder completed the following day unless instructed otherwise. Occasionally, I will send assignments
home a day early so the students have more time to complete it. For this reason, it is very important for
the students to have their homework folder in their backpack at all times.
If there is a legitimate reason why the student is unable to finish homework, I ask that parents send a note
to me on the day the homework is due stating the reason it was not completed. However, if there is not a
legitimate reason, the student will not receive credit for that homework assignment.
My sister or brother tore it up, my dog ate it, I left it at school, or I left or lost my backpack somewhere are
not legitimate excuses. Students are responsible for it each day and need to keep their folders,
homework, and backpacks in responsible places at all times.
“But I Forgot!”
We all forget something once in a while. Therefore, I will give each student one “I forgot my homework
coupon” each quarter. If a student does forget their homework without a legitimate excuse that student
will be able to turn their coupon in and I will give them one more chance to make it up. That student will
be able to make up their work during the course of the day or at home. The work will be due no later than
the next morning.
The following is a breakdown of what is required for homework:
Homework Folder and Planner
The Homework folder and planner must be here in order to receive credit. If the homework folder is lost,
a new one needs to be purchased immediately from me or from the store.
Math
On the math paper, you will notice that your child may have already completed one side in class that day.
The other rest is homework. Your child should be able to complete this independently or with a very
minimal amount of help. Please sign all papers to show you have checked over them. Have your child
correct any mistakes and finish any work that was not finished in class. Unsigned papers may be
returned for signatures and corrections if a student consistently misses problems. Just a helpful hint:
The Math Assessments look a lot like the homework pages. Your child will only do as will on the
assessments as s/he does on the homework, so make sure you help your child understand mistakes and
understands how to correct them.
Spelling
For spelling homework your child will have the words written in his/her planner. The test will be
given on Friday or the last day of the week. Along with the list, your child will be tested on some extra
words that we have worked on throughout the week. I will have a strong focus on teaching your child to
“visualize” a word based on the knowledge he/she already has about how words work. Extra practice
homework us usually sent for homework the night before the tests (Thursdays) unless an A is earned on
the practices test. Good handwriting is expected or the work will be done over at recess.
Reading
Another responsibility of your child will be to read a BOOK for at least 15 minutes each night
(Monday through Thursday, snow days, and extended holiday weekdays). Parents must sign the
reading minutes on the calendar page in the planner each evening for their child to receive
homework credit (see example planner page). I know parents forget and get busy, but it is the
expectation and it is the student’s responsibility. Please write the number of minutes and your initials in
ink in the box each night that your child reads and on weekends if your child reads any extra days.
Failure to read or sign will result in the child reading during recess.
I expect your child to do homework independently and to ask for help only after giving it his/her
best effort. If your child has difficulty with the assignment, please write me a short note explaining what
you think the problem may be. Please check over all of your child’s work and have him/her correct any
mistakes. By working together, we can help your child do his/her best job.
The second grade has developed the following consequences for missed homework:
st
1 missed assignment during one month: warning, reminder note written in planner.
nd
2 missed assignment during one month: loss of recess and reminder note written in planner.
Assignment to be completed at recess.
rd
3 and 4th missed assignments during one month: loss of recess, note in planner, and a homework
plan to be completed with a parent at home. Assignment to be completed at recess.
5th missed assignment during one month: discipline referral and detention or other consequence as
determined by Mr. Wortmann.
Further missed assignments: administrative decision/action