Reception - Homework

[Jojomay]

My little boy has just started reception - just wondering what your children are being asked to do by way of homework each week for those in reception?

DD's school only had reading in reception. Nothing else, which was great.

In fact, the new principal has banned all homework, right across the school, bar reading, spellings and maths worksheets - no projects, no pick lists, no book reports or holiday diaries. It's great.

Reading. And they sent home worksheets for letter formation in the first term but they weren't official homework, just giving them the opportunity to practice if they wanted.

My DC are older now, but in reception homework was to read for 10 minutes with a parent/carer (could be sound/letter or simple words on the way to books). They didn't mind if it didn't happen every night, especially early in the year when DC might be rather tired at the transition), but more or less expected it regularly be the end of the year.

Plus the occasional task in support of a project (like write or draw, or cut out pictures of things to do with castles).

DC jut started Primary has a picture book to read.

Reading and a fortnightly writing task.

Just reading books when ds was in reception and some sight words

DD’s first day today and she came home with a reading record and a book. We read together nightly anyway.

I know from DS that we will have half term ‘projects’ later in the year but nothing more than that. It’s only colouring a picture of finding some information on whatever topic they’re covering next.

Our school didn’t give reading books until day before October half term

Reading book, try to read everyday. Homework was handed out on Friday to be completed by the following Thursday at the latest. Usually compised of a page each of the English and Maths workbook

My DD was reception last year and she had 3 reading books per week (Mon, Weds, Fri) and every half term they had an extra 3 pieces of homework to do - usually one craft thing, one research thing and one easy thing (learn address, practice getting dressed etc)

Reading. A scrapbook for the weekend, show and tell Monday etc

We had a fair bit last year - phonics games/activities to play, reading, fortnightly homework task. Less for the Y1 child to be honest!

We had reading books, somethin practical every couple of weeks (make a sandwich, count windows in the house, ...), and some -easy- spellings in the last term

We've been told we'll get reading book/words and otherwise will be 'fun tasks' to complete e.g. try a new food etc.

The reception teacher said the school don't agree with more formal homework at this stage.

We’ve done 6 days in reception so far and have had a book sent home every night from day 2
We also got some ‘tricky’ words on flash cards for them to learn - they’re checked each Thursday to see how they’re doing learning them and then a new set of words are given
Haven’t been told anything by the school about what else to expect but I’ve got the impression our school like to get parents involved and will gradually send more and more home

DS Usually had a different reading book every week. He also had sounds and letters to practice and homework every Friday to be done by the following Thursday. Homework was never usually anything too taxing. Usually something that could be done in 30 minutes.

When DD was in reception homework was basically reading and practising letter formation, but it also helps if when at home to do counting, abc, phonic sounds.

Recognition words to be learnt on sight.

'A, an, as, at, you, me, Mum, dad etc

They were sent in groups of 5 and had to be known by sight not sounding out. (Recognised in 3 seconds or less!)

I thought it was madness at first (she came home on day three with the first set!)
However in hindsight it was superb. They learned many key words by sight, so when they started reading their reading books they only had half a dozen words that needed sounding out. It speeded up the reading process and they felt empowered by knowing they could actually read a lot of words!

One reading book per week (from October half term, two books/week in summer term) plus occasional 'projects', e.g. find things to do with Autumn (leaves, acorns etc.). So really not much, for which I'm definitely grateful.