Homework and Independent Learning – Mulberry Academy London Dock

As your child progresses through their time at secondary school, they will be expected to develop the skills of independent learning and efficient study techniques. These skills not only help them succeed academically but also build their ability to solve problems, manage their time, and become lifelong learners. In order to support this, Year 7 learn about retrieval practice, which involves actively recalling information from memory to strengthen learning. One effective strategy within this framework is Look, Cover, Write, Check. The guidance below aims to support families in understanding these concepts and how they can support their child’s development in these areas.

MULBERRY ACADEMY LONDON DOCK Nov 2024-514A7737

What is Retrieval Practice?

Retrieval practice is a learning strategy that encourages students to actively recall information from memory rather than just reviewing notes or textbooks. By doing so, they strengthen their memory and understanding of the material. Research shows that retrieval practice is a highly effective way to reinforce learning and improve long-term retention.

During retrieval practice, students are encouraged to:

Think actively about the material they have learned.
Retrieve information from their memory, which helps to consolidate learning.
Practise recalling information in different ways (e.g., through questions, quizzes, or summaries).

At Mulberry Academy London Dock, students have been provided with a Knowledge Organiser folder that includes a selection of subject-specific knowledge organisers. These organisers will be built upon throughout the year to help students consolidate and deepen their understanding of key concepts. Each student also has a purple book, where they are expected to complete three pages of retrieval practice each week. This retrieval practice is an essential part of reinforcing their learning and improving long-term retention. Their purple books will be checked every Tuesday by form tutors to ensure that progress is being made. Additionally, students may be assigned sections of their subject knowledge organisers to learn as part of their regular homework. To further reinforce their learning, sometimes in selected lessons, students will take a weekly quiz based on the information they have studied, helping them test their recall and solidify their knowledge.

What is Look, Cover, Write, Check?

The technique we are working on currently with students is called Look, Cover, Write, Check. Look, Cover, Write, Check is a practical technique within the broader strategy of retrieval practice. This method is especially useful for helping students remember vocabulary, key facts, or concepts they need to learn. It involves the following steps:

Look: The student looks at a piece of information, such as a word, fact, or definition, to understand it fully.
Cover: The student then covers the information so that they can no longer see it.
Write: The student tries to write down or recall the information from memory.
Check: Finally, the student uncovers the information to check if they recalled it correctly.

This process helps students engage actively with the material, testing their recall and identifying gaps in their knowledge. Repeating this cycle multiple times leads to stronger retention and a deeper understanding of the content.

How parents and carers can support their child’s Independent Learning and Retrieval Practice

As a parent or carer, you play a crucial role in supporting your child’s independent learning and their use of retrieval practice techniques. Here are some ways you can help:

1. Create a Study-Friendly Environment:

Set up a quiet, well-lit space for your child to study where they can focus without distractions.
Encourage regular study routines to help them develop good habits.

2. Promote Active Learning:

Encourage your child to use retrieval practice techniques such as Look, Cover, Write, Check to help them learn and retain information.
Remind them that learning is about actively engaging with the material rather than passively reading through notes or textbooks.

3. Model Independent Learning:

Set goals for your own learning (whether it’s reading, problem-solving, or learning a new skill).
Show how you plan, organize, and reflect on your learning to reinforce the importance of these skills.

4. Encourage Self-Reflection:

After studying, ask your child how they feel about their learning. What did they find easy or difficult? Where do they feel they need to improve?
Help them identify areas they need to work on and set new goals based on their reflections.

5. Practise Look, Cover, Write, Check Together:

Set up a regular time to practise the Look, Cover, Write, Check method with your child, especially for subjects that involve memorization (such as languages or vocabulary).
Offer encouragement and celebrate their progress, no matter how small.

6. Provide Positive Reinforcement:

Praise your child’s efforts in learning and retrieving information, especially when they show persistence even if they make mistakes.
Remind them that mistakes are a natural part of learning and are opportunities for improvement.

By understanding and supporting your child’s use of independent learning strategies and retrieval practice techniques like Look, Cover, Write, Check, you help them develop valuable lifelong skills that will serve them well in school and beyond. Encouraging active engagement with their studies will not only boost their academic performance but also foster a sense of confidence and ownership over their learning process.

Together, we can ensure that your child grows into a motivated, capable, and independent learner who is well-prepared for the future.

MULBERRY ACADEMY LONDON DOCK Nov 2024-514A7209

How is Independent Learning structured at Mulberry Academy London Dock?

We know that students make outstanding progress when they consolidate the learning they do in the classroom with independent learning and homework. Our independent learning schedule supports students in developing powerful learning skills and study habits.

Students are given a full week to complete their homework. Students should complete their homework earlier than the deadline to give them time to speak to their teacher if they need any support with the homework.

The table below outlines the expectations we have for Year 7 students’ independent learning and homework this academic year:

Independent Learning Task	Where should students complete the work?	How long should the task take?	When is the task due?
Sparx Science	Completed online at https://sparxscience.com/	1 hour per week	Due every Friday
Sparx Maths	Completed online at https://sparxmaths.com/	1 hour per week	Due every Thursday
Sparx Reader	Completed online at https://sparxreader.com/	1 hour per week	Due every Monday
Languagenut	Completed online at https://www.languagenut.com/en-gb/	20 minutes per week	Due every Tuesday
English written homework	Completed as a booklet and kept in the student’s independent learning folder.	45 minutes per week	Due in a set English lesson each week communicated by your child’s English teacher
Humanities written homework	Completed as a booklet and kept in the student’s independent learning folder.	45 minutes per week	Your child will write in their homework into their independent learning folder
Retrieval practice & revision	Completed in students’ purple retrieval books and kept in the student’s retrieval folder.	45 minutes per week	Due every Tuesday
Reading for pleasure	Completed at home or in the school library.	15 minutes per day	Students should read every day

If your child fails to complete their weekly independent learning, they will be issued with a detention. This detention will provide your child with an opportunity to be supported in catching up with any missed independent learning to ensure that their learning does not fall behind their peers.

If your child would prefer to complete their homework at school, they can access school laptops in the library after school each day apart from Wednesday. School laptops are also available for silent independent work until 4.20pm in classroom L324 every day.

Key Stage 3 Suggested Reading List

Alongside the reading that students do in their lessons, reading for pleasure is an important part of students’ experience at Mulberry Academy London Dock. Students read for ten minutes in the afternoon and are expected to read for at least fifteen minutes every day.

The following reading list includes challenging and thought-provoking texts that will help inspire a lifelong love of reading. Students who have read all twenty texts by the end of Year 9 will be well prepared for the challenges of their Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 curriculum.

Modern Fiction

No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton – A young Syrian refugee discovers hope and belonging through ballet in the United Kingdom.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness – Conor, a boy struggling with his mother’s illness, is visited by a mysterious monster who tells stories that help him face the truth about grief and loss.

Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah – Alem, a boy fleeing civil war in Ethiopia and Eritrea, struggles to find safety and belonging in the UK.

Anita and Me by Meera Syal – Meena is a young British-Indian girl growing up in a small English village in the 1960s. When her new friend Anita arrives, Meena experiences the ups and downs of friendship, culture, and fitting in.

Thief! by Malorie Blackman – a twelve-year-old girl named Lydia who is unfairly accused of theft when she is caught in a strange storm that takes her to the future.

Dystopia, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman – A powerful story set in an alternate society exploring issues of racism and injustice.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman – Lyra and Will travel between different worlds, facing dangerous enemies and discovering secrets about power and freedom.

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve – In a future world, cities move on giant wheels and fight each other for resources. A boy and girl team up to stop a dangerous plan.

The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum – Maggie feels invisible in her strict society, where everyone has a set role. When she starts to question the rules, she discovers secrets that change everything.

The Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins – In a future society, teens are forced to compete in a deadly televised fight to the death, as a means of control by the government.

Non-Fiction

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank – The real diary of a Jewish teenager hiding from the Nazis during World War Two.

Prisoners of Geography (Illustrated Young Readers Edition) by Tim Marshall – A fascinating look at how physical geography shapes global politics, adapted for younger readers.

I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition) by Malala Yousafzai – The inspiring story of Malala, a Pakistani girl who defied the Taliban and became an international advocate for girls’ education.

You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed – A motivational book encouraging a growth mindset through real-life examples and science.

The Little Book of Philosophy by Rachel Poulton – An illustrated, accessible introduction to big philosophical ideas, thinkers, and moral questions.

Classic Texts

Animal Farm by George Orwell – Farm animals overthrow their human master and form a society based on equality—until corruption takes over.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett – A lonely orphan girl transforms herself and others when she discovers a hidden garden on a Yorkshire estate.

The Hound of the Baskervilles (and other Sherlock Holmes stories) by Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes and Watson investigate a legendary ghostly hound and the curse haunting a noble family in Devonshire.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – Bilbo Baggins, a shy hobbit, is pulled into a dangerous quest to help a group of dwarves reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – A young scientist creates life, but the creature he brings to life becomes a figure of tragedy and rejection.