Homework

For Parents

Retrieval Practice for Parents

Teams Assignments

Homework will be set in Teams as an assignment – you can find out more about Teams on our Remote Learning page.

Retrieval Practice Update - December 2020

Retrieval practice as a learning strategy.

We have recently changed our homework for KS3 to ‘Retrieval Practice’.

We have done this for a number of reasons:

• It is inclusive and all pupils can participate
• Teacher expectations are clear and consistent
• Removes stress and anxiety that unclear homework instruction on Teams assignments causes
• Develops good study habits and routines
• Involves a technique that has significant evidence base in cognitive science and successfully used in a number of the top performing schools in the UK.
• Helps embed key knowledge so reducing working memory issues when attempting more complex problems.
• To fill gaps in knowledge that have appeared over lock down or during isolation

We have used the simplest form of retrieval practice to start with and this is to ensure all pupils are able to participate as well as being clear to parents what needs to be completed each evening. In time we will introduce a wider range of techniques but don’t want to overcomplicate things at this stage.

Retrieval Practice

Key Stage Three – Year 7 to Year 9

Launch of Knowledge Homework for 7-9

Homework for most subjects is knowledge based. (With effect from 16th November 2020)

Please watch the below presentation or the below video introducing this to pupils and parents/carers.

Knowledge Homework

Your child will be given a homework exercise book and will complete the work using the method described in the below video on Retrieval Practice

From Monday 16th November work set will follow this structure.

There is an expectation that pupils turn in evidence of homework by uploading an image in Teams.

There are four support videos for Teams on the remote learning page

Mathematics – IXL will be used for Year 7 and 8 – Your child will have been allocated a personal account for this.

My Maths will be used for Year 9 – teachers will have distributed login credentials for this.

English – teachers will set assignments for English in Teams. They may also require pupils to read books, plays, poems and texts. Details of these will be posted and pupils will be told how to access them.

Art – homework for Art will be set in Teams

Key Stage Four – Year 10 and Year 11

Teachers will set homework in Teams as assignments.

Assignments start at 8am on the day of the lesson and end during the evening on the 4th working day.

Your teacher will tell you what evidence they require, it may be they want you to upload an image of the work you do and turn in on Teams.

You should do this before the deadline- each assignment is 4 school days.

There are videos on our remote learning page.

The below guide explains more about Teams assignments.

Teams Guide

There will often be revision and assignments , as well as, past papers and questions at Key Stage Four. Your teacher will explain the additional learning to you and tell you where to access it. The posts feed in the General Channel of your class team and the files area may be used. Please spend time looking at the Teams interface so you can become familiar with navigating to items you need.

Sixth Form

Your teacher will explain the rigorous requirements of post-16 study and the expectations.

There will often be revision and assignments, as well as, past papers and questions at Key Stage Five. Your teacher will explain the additional learning to you and tell you where to access it. The posts feed in the General Channel of your class team and the files area may be used. Please spend time looking at the Teams interface so you can become familiar with and fluent at navigating to items you need.

Support

For support in the use of the software applications, Office 365, email and teams please contact the help desk. There is a link on the homepage to itsupport@stmargaretsacademy.com.

Senior staff monitor this and will direct your enquiry so you receive support from an appropriate staff member.