Encouraging good bookwork

Bookwork is an important element of Sparx Maths Homework because writing down workings and answers helps students to learn, is good practice for exams, and makes it easier for teachers to spot how to help a student. Sparx uses a unique system of bookwork checks to ensure students are writing down their workings.

Teaching students how to complete good bookwork before their first Sparx Maths Homework is vital to ensure that they get off to a good start and don't waste homework time getting stuck on these bookwork checks.

Set clear expectations

• Give students homework books so they have a clear place to record their homework answers and workings
• Show the bookwork video in class and model how to lay out workings:
  • Date each homework assignment at the top of the page
  • Draw one or two margins on each page to write the bookwork code in
  • Write each set of workings alongside the relevant bookwork code
  • Ensure answers are ticked or crossed as they are completed
• You could also ask students to stick our exemplar in their books, so they have something to refer back to if they’re not clear

See all of our student resources in our Explaining Sparx to your students article.

Highlight the positives of doing good bookwork

Make sure students are clear on the benefits of recording their written workings in Maths:

• Research shows that writing down workings aids mathematical retention
• It helps students prepare for written exams
• Writing workings as well as just inputting answers helps teachers identify mistakes and misconceptions
• Ensure reluctant students understand that completing their bookwork checks means their homework is finished more quickly. Familiarise them with the phrase ‘the more you pass, the less they’ll ask’ to help them learn that if they keep failing bookwork checks, they’ll get them more frequently!

Monitor and reward good bookwork

• Check the Hand in Page for the orange Bookwork check fail alerts and speak to students straight away if they are struggling
• Cast an eye over exercise books regularly (especially at the start of term) to identify where students might be struggling with their checks and support them where needed
• Consider offering additional positive rewards to students who demonstrate great quality bookwork, or setting up a "showcase wall" to model and recognise great work
• Peer review bookwork. Some Sparx schools use peer review to encourage and reward students for good bookwork. This not only helps students understand what good bookwork looks like and why, but can also help teachers to monitor bookwork quality and maintain high expectations. Some Sparx schools have even asked students to carry out spot checks of books during a lesson and to score different criteria like the layout, title, workings out, and self-marking