“An objective of the National Quality Framework is to improve the educational and developmental outcomes for children attending education and care services”. – National Quality Framework
NATIONAL QUALITY FRAMEWORK STANDARD ONE: Educational Program and Practice
Giving students the opportunity to complete their homework whilst they are at OOSHC, provides them with significant benefits and aligns with the National Quality Framework Standard One.
SELECTING A DESIGNATED HOMEWORK SPACE
Some students prefer to complete their homework in a quiet area whilst others prefer some background noise. Discussing their preferences with them could be a great way to select a designated area for homework that works for the service, and for most of the students.
Ask students what they would like their Homework Area to:
Look Like
– Students could decorate and label their homework area themselves (See our Display Templates)
– Ask students to nominate what resources they would like to have access to in their homework area. Items could include Optimise Learning HATS resources, pencils, rulers, protractors, erasers, sharpeners, a dictionary and a thesaurus for example.
Feel Like
– Ask students how they would like their Homework Area to feel. Our research has revealed that many students want their Homework Area to feel ‘safe’, so they can ask questions or seek assistance from the supervising educator without feeling fearful or embarrassed.
– Ask students to create a ‘Homework Club Agreement’ (See our Homework Club Agreement sample) in collaboration with each other. The ‘Homework Club Agreement’ could to be displayed in the Homework Area. It is important for it to be signed by each student using the Homework Area. Developing an agreement in collaboration with each other, is great way to for students to develop awareness of and respect for themselves and others, and it also helps to create an emotionally safe environment in the designated Homework Area.
Sound Like –
– Ask students what they would like their Homework Area to sound like. Students may discover that many of them would like to have some background music playing to help them focus. Students may prefer for people using the Homework Area to use quiet voices, and allow only encouraging words.
– Once students have completed their homework, will they need to leave the Homework Area?
It is important for the designated Homework Area to reflect the ideas, needs and wants of the students who opt to use it.
Tracey Hand
Co-Founding Director
Optimise Learning Australia
