Suggested Resources and Home Learning

Suggested Resources

The Suggested Resources section lists, in order or appropriacy, recommended mainstream resources, language specific resources and other printed or online resources.  Resources are listed by title, in italics, and then relevant details (i.e. chapter, unit or pages), in bold. This list is not exhaustive and therefore teachers can use other resources not listed in the Suggested Resources section but must ensure that it is appropriate according to published CEFR Level for the resource and the Class Level (See Assessment Text Length and Level Guidelines.)

A full bibliography of the Suggested Resources are listed on the final page of each Class Level’s curriculum document.  

Home learning

In addition to the Suggested Resources, students are provided at the beginning of each term with a grammar text.  Table 7 Independent Study and Home learning Resources lists each Class Level and the supplied text and/or online programme(s).

According to Hattie, home learning that involves rote learning, and practice or rehearsal of subject matter is best for student outcomes (d = 0.64). Therefore, it is suggested students complete the following home learning tasks:

• reviewing and consolidating class work (e.g. rereading notes);
• revising grammar (e.g. completing grammar exercises, writing example sentences/texts); and
• revisiting vocabulary (e.g. Quizlet, Spelling City, updating a vocabulary notebook i.e. new word, translation, lexis/word form, example sentence).

Additional home learning tasks that could assist in our intensive English programme could include:

• reading widely (e.g. library books, class readers, reading cards);
• watching TV programme (e.g. simplified news (Behind the News), other programmes of interest);
• practising writing skills (e.g. diaries, journals, essays);
• practising speaking skills (e.g. talking to homestay and other native speakers, preparing presentations, participating in co-curricular and clubs); and
• work on Prepared assessment tasks (see Approach to Assessment for further details).

In accordance with the John Paul College Senior School Handbook, on average, students in Class Levels 1 to 3 should complete 1 to 1.5 hours of home learning per day; those in Class Levels 4 and 5 should complete 2 to 2.5 hours per day.  Teachers should assist students in planning their time each day so that all home learning, assessment tasks and some extra study are completed in the allotted time.