What?? No Homework?
On average, a student in middle school should have between 1 - 1 1/2
hours of homework each school night. Students at this level are
responsible, not only for the assignments given by teachers, but also
for reviewing and studying the material covered in class.
No doubt
there will be occasions where your child tells you that he or she has
no homework. Not having homework though, doesn't mean there is no
reason to study. The biggest trouble spots for most of our students are
multiplication, reading level, and vocabulary. A little extra effort in
these areas goes a long way.
Multiplication
By
junior high, students should have the basic multiplication chart (0-12)
memorized. If your student still struggles, have him or her make
flashcards and practice, practice, practice.
Reading
Each
student in the St. Paul Public Schools has been challenged to read 25
books each year. Although reading anything is better than reading
nothing, students benefit most from reading material that offers some
challenge and variety.
In preparation for the BST (Basic Skills
Test) which students take during their 8th grade year, we also
recommend having your student read newspaper articles. After reading an
article, discuss with your student the basic facts (who, what, where,
when, why and how) as well as the author's purpose for writing the
article, and the perspective that the author has chosen to highlight.
Newspaper
articles are written at an 8th grade level and students should strive
to make themselves familiar with any words they encounter in their
reading.
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