Student can start reading straight away, after their Sparx Reader Test (SRT) or after their training book if no SRT is set. In order to read and earn SRP for homework, you'll need to create a homework plan.
Creating a homework plan
Creating a homework plan
Go to the Hand-in page
Choose your class
Click Create Homework
Choose 'No, start from a blank plan' if this is your first homework plan or you only want one for a specific class.
Set your homework details:
Number of weeks
Start date
Hand-out day and time
Hand-in day and time
SRP target
Untick any weeks in the homework plan where you do not want homework set e.g. holidays
Choose if you want to apply this plan to multiple classes. (Please note, however, that classes with pre-existing homework for this period won’t be selectable to prevent conflicts.)
Click Save
Copying an existing homework plan
Copying an existing homework plan
When setting up homework for a class, you can base it on an existing plan. This is particularly useful for when you are setting up the homework plans for your classes at the start of the new academic year.
Go to the Hand-in page, select your class and choose "Create new homework".
At the top of the screen, there is a dropdown where you can choose an existing homework plan to use.
Details will automatically populate with the selected plan's settings
Review and adjust any settings as needed
Choose additional classes to apply the plan to if desired
Click Save
Note: You cannot select classes that already have homework scheduled during the plan's timeframe.
Editing homework plans
Editing homework plans
If you would like to make changes to a homework plan for a class, you can edit the plan on the Hand-in page.
Editing the whole plan
Editing the whole plan
Editing a homework plan will replace every homework in the plan that has not yet been started. You will also lose any edits you have made to individual, upcoming homeworks.
To edit a homework plan:
Click 'Edit homework' at the right-hand side of the page, then click 'Edit homework plan'.
Make your desired changes to the homework plan.
Check the plan to ensure homework weeks match what you expect.
Click 'Save'.
Editing individual homework weeks
Editing individual homework weeks
If you would like to make changes to an individual homework for a class (for example to extend the hand in date to fall after a holiday), you can edit the homework on the hand in page.
To edit a homework:
Click 'Edit homework' at the right-hand side of the page, then click 'Edit homework with the week number'.
Click on the setting that you want to edit - 'SRP', 'date' or 'hand-in time'.
Click on 'Submit'.
Ending a plan early
Ending a plan early
If you would like a homework plan to end early, you are able to do this for a class on the Hand-in page under 'Edit homework'.
Go to the week you would like the homework to end from. Click 'Edit homework'.
Click 'End homework plan from here'.
You will then be warned of what homework plans will be affected by this change.
Click 'End plan' to confirm changes.
Tips for effective homework scheduling
Tips for effective homework scheduling
Consider these factors when planning your homework schedule:
Keep hand-out and hand-in days consistent across the school or year group
Thursday hand-ins tend to show better completion rates
Avoid Friday hand-ins as these typically have lower completion rates
Choose different days to other Sparx systems homework due dates to avoid overwhelming students
Allow a day between hand-in and new homework being set for follow-up with students
Include a weekend between hand-out and hand-in to give students more time
Untick holiday weeks if you do not want homework set
We recommend setting 300 Sparx Reader Points (SRP) per week.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set fortnightly homework instead of weekly?
Can I set fortnightly homework instead of weekly?
No, Sparx Reader is designed around weekly homework to help build regular reading habits.
Can I apply a homework plan to multiple classes at once?
Can I apply a homework plan to multiple classes at once?
Yes, when creating or copying a plan you can select multiple classes to apply it to, as long as they don't already have homework scheduled for that period.
What happens to previous homework when I edit a plan?
What happens to previous homework when I edit a plan?
Any homework that students have already started won't be affected. Only future, unstarted homework will be updated.
I forgot to stop homework in the holidays in future weeks, can I update my plan?
I forgot to stop homework in the holidays in future weeks, can I update my plan?
Yes, you can edit your plan and untick future homework, where applicable, for each class.
How do I change the homework for a class to Optional?
How do I change the homework for a class to Optional?
You can change a homework week to zero SRP, and this will make it Optional.