Excerpt from an article in The Sunday Times – 3rd February 2013 by Sian Griffiths
 

Noel Janis-Norton’s tips on how to do homework:

She recommends following her sacred homework rules, which are to be applied six days a week (Sunday can be a day off).
 

The rules are:

• Homework should be done at the same time every day.
• It should take an hour a night for primary school children (with a break every 15 minutes) and two hours a night if your child is at secondary school. Youngsters should not be allowed to work longer than this.
• On coming home from school, children should be allowed to have a short, active break, doing something such as playing catch or trampolining. Then they should complete their homework before being allowed to watch television, or to telephone or Facebook their friends.
• The homework area should be free of distractions, such as pets, younger siblings, TVs or computers.
   

If the rules are followed strictly, says Janis-Norton firmly, within two to three weeks they will work.
 

Once a child has settled to study, she has further suggestions. Every assignment can usefully be divided into three parts, she says.
 

First comes “the think through” — when you ask your child questions to ensure they understand the homework that has been set: how many pages should they write, should the answers be in full sentences or will one-word responses suffice, and so on.
 

Next your child should work alone to finish the task.
 

Finally comes the “improving” stage, where parent and child look through the work together.
 

Before you and your child each find two things that can be improved about the work, advises Janis-Norton, first find three things you can praise. Don’t just say vaguely: “It’s good.” Be specific about what has been written. “You might say, ‘Look, you wrote three facts about photosynthesis,’ ” she explains.
 

She’s keen on what she calls “descriptive praise”, which means biting back vague superlatives such as: “You are clever; well done.” Instead, parents should notice and mention every tiny step in the right direction. “So you might say, ‘Every letter in this word is sitting exactly on the line.’ ”
 

Calmer, Easier, Happier Homework is published by Hodder & Stoughton, £14.99
 

The group set up to spearhead the regeneration of Haddington Town Centre has announced a key stage in the project with the setting up a new Community Development Trust for the town.

HADDINGTON VISION GROUP SEEKS MEMBERS AND DIRECTORS FOR NEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST

The Haddington Vision Group is appealing to anyone interested in becoming a member of the new Trust to come along to a public meeting in the Corn Exchange on Monday 25 February at 7pm.  Those attending can join simply by completing a membership application and paying a £1 registration fee.  They will also be able to vote for the seven directors, currently being sought to lead the work of the Community Development Trust.
 
Anyone planning to join the Trust, and who is also interested in becoming a director, can find application forms and details of the requirements for the post on the Haddington Community Council website; the East Lothian Council website or at the John Gray Centre in Lodge Street, Haddington.

You can also download and print out the application to become a member of the HCDT here. If you are interested in becoming a Director on the HCDT Board, you can download and print out your application here. Please note that the Directors' Form needs to be completed in addition to the Members' Form.
 
All those interested should complete the application form, even if they had already identified their willingness to become a member or director at the Vision launch event held last autumn.  Completed application forms should be returned by Monday 11 February 2013, and those interested in becoming a director must be able to attend the public meeting on 25 February.
 
Chairman of the Haddington Town Centre Vision Steering Group, Alan Blackie, is asking everyone who is interested in building a new future for Haddington to get involved.
 
“The Community Development Trust is being established in response to public requests made at the Haddington Vision workshop events held last year,” explained Mr Blackie.  “This exciting project can only succeed with the support of the local community which is why we’re looking to as many people as possible to volunteer to join the Trust.   I’m confident too that we can attract the right people with the high level of commitment required to become directors, and to take forward the Vision project.”

Promoted on behalf of:

A Vision for Haddington
29 Court Street
Haddington
East Lothian
EH41 3AE
United Kingdom

On Thursday 7 February, students from Edinburgh College’s BA (hons) Dance will be providing a dance workshop to a group of lucky S1/2 drama pupils. The company is offering a day of workshops/ classes based on pieces in their repertoire, taught with technique and creativity at the heart of each session, followed by a performance in the afternoon of “Taking Flight 2013”. Taking Flight is visiting venues, schools and colleges in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as New York City! This package is absolutely free and we are proud to welcome Edinburgh College to Knox Academy.

The School Handbook for Session 2013/2014 is now available to view and/or download on this website in the Publications section.