At Woodside we believe that homework should be set to ensure we are improving the basic skills of our pupils. The homework policy highlights that we expect pupils to practice their reading, times tables and spellings on a daily basis.  We also provide pupils with an independent half termly homework project based on their topic. We further support parents by providing a large number of resources for any of them looking for creative ways to improve their child’s education at home.

You can find links to lots of websites that give extra help with homework and learning in the tabs to the left....just click on your year group and let the fun begin!

How To Support Your Child’s Reading At Home

Homework help for Beginner Readers

• Look at the picture on the front cover and ask your child what they think the book is about.
• Read the title, pointing to each word.
• Open the front cover of the book.
• Can your child turn the pages over themselves?
• Look and talk about the pictures on each page.
• Go back to the beginning of the book and read the words.
• Point to each word as you read.
• Stop and ask your child a question about what you have just read.
• If your child can read the words then ask them to read the book to you after.
• Read any words they cannot use their letter sounds (phonemes) to blend.
• If the word is a ‘word pocket’ word and they do not recognise or remember it, tell your child the word. This well give them confidence and speed.

When your child begins to recognise letter sounds, ask them to sound out the unknown word and then blend the sounds together, E.g. /c/a/t/ - cat

As your child develops fluency ask them to act out the speech and read with expression.

After reading:

• Talk about your child’s own experiences linked to the story.
• Ask your child: Did you like this story? Why?
• Which was their favourite page? Why
• Ask questions about what happened on each page.

Homework help for More Confident Readers

As your child develops fluency ask them to act out the speech and read with expression.

Below are some questions to use to develop reading comprehension.

Title

• Can you predict what the text might be about from the title?
• What type of text is it? How do you know?

Setting

• Where is this story/scene set? How do you know?
• Does the setting change? Why?
• Which words describe the......... ?

Character

• Who are the main characters in the story?
• How did the character feel? What evidence do you have for that?
• Which words/phrases are used to describe the main character?
• What sort of person is..... ? How do you know that?
• Do you agree or disagree with the actions of.... ? What would you have done?
• How did the character’s feelings/actions change throughout the story?
• Who is your favourite character? Why?

Plot

• What is this story about?
• Can you retell the story in sequence?
• Which is your favourite part of the story? Why?

Structure and organisation of text

• What is the information on the back of a book called?
• What is the title of this text?
• Where will you find an index/glossary/contents?
• What are a glossary/index/contents for?
• What is the difference between fiction and non-fiction?
• What are diagrams/arrows/boxes for?
• Why has the author set the page out like this?

Author’s use of language

• Which words rhyme in this poem?
• What does this word mean?
• Do you think this an effective word choice? Why do you think that?
• How does this sentence make you feel? Why?