HOME STUDY IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Philosophy and Practice

In the UNIS Junior School home study is a tool and process used to reinforce skills and concepts learned in the classroom. We use home study to consolidate and extend knowledge of a subject area. Home study provides an opportunity for students to share with their parents what they have learned in class. Weekday work: The duration of time spent on home study assignments increases as a child progresses through the Junior School. Daily reading is a key component of home study in the UNIS Junior School and is incorporated into the daily time allotted to home study by each grade level. Project work is increasingly a part of childrens classroom work as they move through the Junior School. These projects take place over an extended period of time and the home aspects of this work are incorporated into the time allotted to home study by each grade level. Time allocation per grade level: Junior A students focus primarily on literacy skill reinforcement. JA home study will take approximately 20 minutes daily. Junior 1 students continue to focus on literacy skill reinforcement with the addition of other core subject work as well as the beginning of project based assignments. J1 home study will take approximately 20 minutes daily. Junior 2 Junior 2 is an extension of the Junior 1 focus areas. Nightly home study will reference classroom activities in the areas of math, reading and spelling with a weekly literacy response activity given independently once per week. J2 home study will take approximately 30 minutes daily. Junior 3 work is a consolidation of skills developed during home study from JA-J2. There is an additional component added as children are expected to take home unfinished class work to be completed. J3 home study will take approximately 45 minutes daily. Junior 4 home study focuses on all core subject area reinforcement of skills as well as long term project work. In J4 there is an additional focus on time-management and planning for project work. J4 home study will take approximately 1 hour daily. Mother Tongue Language, Modern Language and ELL Home study: The time allocated for home study in these areas is incorporated into the noted time above and is not in addition. o o JA-J2 French and Spanish: No home study J1 Mother Tongue French: 7-10 minutes per day

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J2 Mother Tongue French: 10-15 minutes per day J2 Mother Tongue Spanish 10-15 minutes per day J3 approximately 10 minutes per day for French and Spanish/ 10-15 minutes for Mother Tongue French and Mother Tongue Spanish J4 approximately 15 minutes per day for French and Spanish/ 10-15 minutes for Mother Tongue French and Mother Tongue Spanish

Weekend work: While we recognize that home study is a valuable tool to implement the UNIS curriculum, we are also committed to developing the whole child. We view weekends as important time for children to be with their families developing other areas of interest and solidifying social skills through play and interaction. Home study during absence from school: At times children are out from school either for illness or due to family circumstances. During these absences, students are expected to read daily and write a travel or daily journal. Teachers will not create make-up work or home study packets for these time periods.

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