Junior School Homework
Homework expectations for Prep to Year 6 at St Mary's College, including nightly reading, reading logs, MathsQuest Online, how much time to spend and what to do if homework is causing stress.
Homework in the Junior School is kept short, purposeful and predictable. Its main job is to build a daily reading habit and to give children a little regular practice of the number facts and spelling patterns they are learning at school. It should never become a nightly battle – if it does, we want to know. This page summarises how the College Homework Policy works in practice for Prep to Year 6.
How much, by year level
| Year level | Expectation | Typical tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Prep | Reading nightly (about 10 minutes) | Take-home reader, sound and sight-word cards |
| Years 1–2 | Reading nightly (10–15 minutes) | Take-home reader, weekly spelling words, occasional maths game |
| Years 3–4 | Up to 20 minutes per night, Monday–Thursday, plus reading | Reading log, MathsQuest Online tasks, spelling, times tables |
| Years 5–6 | 30–40 minutes per night, Monday–Thursday, plus reading | Reading log, MathsQuest Online, spelling and vocabulary, one weekly inquiry or writing task |
Homework is not set on Fridays or during school holidays, and teachers do not set homework in the week of school camps. Times above include reading for Years 3–6.
Nightly reading and reading logs
Reading is the one non-negotiable. Every student from Prep to Year 6 has a reading log in their satchel or diary:
- Prep–Year 2: parents sign or initial each night. Readers are changed at school daily (Prep and Year 1) or on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (Year 2).
- Years 3–4: students record the title, pages read and a one-line comment; parents initial weekly. Students choose from the class library or their own books; teachers check levels each fortnight.
- Years 5–6: students read independently for at least 20 minutes and log their reading. Parents are encouraged to talk about the book rather than sign every night. Students may borrow up to four books from the Library each week.
Reading to your child, and listening to them read, both count. In Prep–Year 2 the skill being practised is fluency, so books will seem easy – that is deliberate. If your child is not able to read a book with about 95 per cent accuracy, let the teacher know and the level will be adjusted.
MathsQuest Online
Students in Years 3–6 have an individual login to MathsQuest Online, our subscription mathematics practice program (funded through school fees – there is no extra cost). Teachers assign two or three short activities each week linked to the topic being taught, plus "Fast Facts" fluency practice. Login details are in the front of your child's diary; if they are lost, email the classroom teacher. Students who do not have reliable internet access at home may complete MathsQuest tasks at Homework Club (see below) or during Library sessions.
Where homework is posted
- Prep–Year 2: a weekly note in the reader satchel and a copy on the class page of the Parent Portal.
- Years 3–6: posted on the Learning Hub by 4:00pm each Monday, with the week's tasks and due dates. Students also record tasks in their College diary.
Homework Club
A free, supervised Homework Club runs in the Library from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Thursday, staffed by a teacher and Senior School student mentors. Junior students from Year 3 upwards are welcome; no booking is needed, but students must be signed out from the Library by a parent or go directly to OSHC. Please email juniorschool@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au if your child will attend regularly.
What parents can do
- Keep a consistent time and quiet spot – straight after a snack works for most families.
- Sit nearby rather than hovering; encourage your child to attempt tasks before asking for help.
- If a task is taking far longer than the guide time, stop, write a note in the diary and move on. The teacher would much rather know than have a distressed child.
- Talk about what your child is reading. Questions like "What do you think will happen next?" and "Why did the character do that?" do more for comprehension than any worksheet.
When homework is not done
Teachers take a supportive rather than punitive approach. A student who has not completed homework will be asked to catch up at a convenient time at school and the teacher will speak to parents if it becomes a pattern. Students are never kept in at recess or lunch for incomplete homework in the Junior School.
Students needing adjustments
Students with an Individual Learning Plan may have modified homework (for example, reduced spelling lists or extra time). This is agreed at Program Support Group meetings – see Learning Support. If your child has an assessed learning difficulty, please speak with the classroom teacher or Mr Sam Devlin, Learning Diversity Leader.
Related pages
- Homework Policy (whole-school policy, including Senior School expectations)
- Reports and Assessment
- Curriculum Years 1–6
- Prep at St Mary's (take-home readers)