Home learning is an integral part of the learning process and the Dominican faith tradition. Home learning assists students by complementing and reinforcing classroom learning and provides a means by which students can take responsibility for their own learning. Home learning is also an opportunity for parents to work in partnership with teachers and to further participate in their daughter’s education.
Amount of Home Learning / Study per Subject
Because of the inherently different nature of subjects, home learning requirements will vary. Part of the learning process for students involves discernment and time management as they plan home learning. Subject teachers use the suggested total guidelines and their professional judgement as to the quantity of set home learning for their individual subject. The following is a guide per year level to the amount of time that students should spend on home learning:
Year 7: 60-90 minutes per day Year 8: 60-90 minutes per day Year 9: 90 minutes per day Year 10: 90-120 minutes per day Year 11: 2-3 hours per day Year 12: 3-4 hours per day
Student Responsibilities
In becoming independent learners, students are encouraged to:
Use Siena Central as an organisational tool and to view home learning expectations daily
Submit work that reflects their best effort and in which they have pride
Complete and submit all work set by the due date
Develop a home learning/study planner to establish a regular home learning routine
Undertake regular study/revision of their work to assist their learning
Seek assistance from their subject teacher where lack of understanding exists
Communicate with the teacher prior to the due date when a lack of understanding prevents them from completing tasks
Find out what home learning has been set via the Class Page on Siena Central and complete the set work when classes are missed due to temporary absence (e.g. Siena College activities, music lessons, illness, medical appointments, lateness to school, etc.)
Parent Responsibilities
Parents, as the primary educators of their children, are encouraged to:
Provide an environment conducive to effective home study
Help their daughter balance the amount of time spent completing home learning with engagement in leisure or recreational activities
Assist their daughter in developing a home learning/study timetable
Encourage their daughter to set aside a regular daily session to study/revise and complete home learning and assessment tasks by the due date
Observe and acknowledge their daughter’s success by asking how their home and class work is progressing
Check Siena Central regularly to monitor that home learning is being completed
Encourage their daughter to exercise thoroughness and care in the completion of work
Encourage their daughter to seek assistance from the teacher where lack of understanding exists
Communicate with Siena College where appropriate.
In order to maximise your daughter’s learning opportunities, it is important to establish a home learning environment that is conducive to completing home learning tasks and revision of class learning. Tablets and laptops are not always required to complete home learning tasks and can become a distraction. Ensure that technology is switched off when not being used to complete home learning in order to avoid unnecessary distractions. Your daughter’s home learning space should:
Have a suitable desk and chair
Be free of noise and distractions (such as the TV, iPhones, Social Media, other people, etc.)
Be well organised, allowing easy access to resources and stationery
Display a 2018 calendar with important dates such as due dates, assignments, key school events, etc.
Be well lit and ventilated
Best wishes to all students in your learning endeavours in 2018!
Michelle Robertson Director of Learning and Innovation
