Homework - anyone else in shock?

[Monkey]

Any year 1 parents here in shock at the sight of this year's weekly homework? Dd could not even do 1+1... It's going to be one long year... I was expecting one piece of homework per week, not per day!!!

[Pickle]

I remember being shocked when I first saw the homework for year 1 (my kids are now years 2 and 3) - you'll get used to it, and find yourself learning all sorts of newfangled ways to do maths :)

[Monkey]

Oh joy! Well, we'll just have to get on with it!

[Pickle]

I have found it useful as a bit of a guide as to what they are expected to be able to do, it's a good way to quickly pinpoint weaknesses. We usually do ours (I have two lots to supervise, it's a pain, I'll be honest!) straight after breakfast as I find trying to do it after a day at school is stressful for all of us.

[Monkey]

Agree - she did it (or at least tried to do it) at 6.00pm today, which was far too late. She was too tired. But hubby says it's all too rushed in the morning. I leave at 6.30am so can't help. We'll have to find a way.

[Pippa21]

Homework for young children is not necessary and does little to add to their learning IMO, it's just another tick-box exercise for teachers. They don't like setting it or marking it, and rather than letting children relax at home after doing their best all day, you become the 'bad-guy' by having to make them do it. Homework at this age is not learning, it is at best repeating what they already know. My daughter's infant school didn't set homework but rather used to send home suggestions which they could decide to do over half term holiday e.g. go for an Autumn walk, collect leaves to make a picture, try something new, make a cake, read something funny, and so it went on. We marked off the list the things we had enjoyed doing, and felt good about all the new experiences we had shared........ I am a Primary (and Secondary) teacher, believe me Homework is unnecessary, and not a legal requirement. If it is causing stress and the child is over-tired, just tell the teacher, it's one less thing for them to mark!

[bawdy-nan]

The thing that really helped us through the too much homework maths meltdowns was Maths for Mums and Dads http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maths-Mums-Dads-Rob-Eastaway/dp/0224086359

I agree with the insanity of so much homework when they're so little but a slow introduction over the primary years seems to have done wonders for my Yr 7's ability to organise themselves and work out what and how they need to do.

[keane]

What school is this? At my kids primary in year one they did only get homework once a week on a Friday to be in on Tues so it really wasn't very much!

[dollydaydream]

Hi

As I remember homework, the children are expected to do a little each day plus reading

but only for a certain amount of time i.e 20 - 30 mins max and for them not to struggle on

if they haven't finished. If they are spending to much time

trying to finish have a word with the teacher and come to some arrangement

for some children they will have finished in 15 mins others are struggling

after 45 mins. It is finding what is comfortable for your child.

Good luck

[crystal7]

Every day seems excessive! How are working parents supposed to cope? It's tricky to ask childminders etc to supervise home work which means for many children doing it before 7.30am or past 6pm is the only option. My daughter's school sets weekly homework. As a primary teacher I find daily homework baffling, added pressure for the kids and extra making for the teacher/TA!

[VanessaPMR]

Sorry to not be in agreement, but my little ones homework is something we enjoy together...guess who got her head shoved down the loo at school for being a nerd.. ;-)

I see it as a chance to keep on top of what she is doing at school and to understand her stage of development.

Mind you, homework takes no longer than 10 mins...so it's not a huge effort..if it was, I'm sure I'd also be looking for less.

V

[GinaG3]

We've just started year one and have not had a single piece of homework yet, although homework books will be handed out this week. If my daughter wants to do it thats fine by me, if she doesn't that is also fine with me. I will not be pushing her but I will gently encourage her and ask if she would like to do any together. For a 5/6/7 or older child to be asked to do homework (and get in trouble if its not done - as is the case with some schools) is completely beyond me. They spend 30+ hours a week in school, thats a full time job to you or me. We are tired after working a long week, what about them?!

[nunheadmum]

If it's a problem then definitely talk to the teacher and find out what their feelings are about it. We've only had weekly homework and even with that there were bad weeks. When I finally spoke to the teacher, they were really relaxed about it and said essentially that they give it as some parents really want it but if it's causing more grief than help, then don't stress about it and leave it. So now we give it a go but if it really isn't working, we let it go. Being more relaxed often helps to get more done.

I do gently remind my daughters as they get older (now yr 2 & 4) that if they haven't done it, the teacher (or TA in reality!) will notice - their wish to curry favour with the teacher often helps to get something completed!!

[bodsier]

As far as I am aware homework at that age is not compulsory. It could depend on the school but check. Even so, if it`s too much for your child, due to tiredness or indeed otherwise, you could just ask the school if she has to do it and state your reasons for not doing it, if you so choose, or at least reducing it.... there are all sorts of ways to do the work in a fun way without sitting down with pen and paper. if you are worried about her falling behind perhaps you can do it that way, if you feel she can catch up when she is ready, then leave it alone altogether? It depends on your viewpoint as well as the school, ....I think we have more of a say at these early stages, so worth investigating

[bluesuperted]

Pippa21 totally agree with you. Will be boycotting all homework (and letting the teacher know) when the time comes. A love of reading and family time will be my priorities for the time I get at home with my son. My husband is a primary school teacher and in full agreement with this plan, find it very telling that so many teachers feel homework is not necessary for such young ages. Sincerely hope there is no homework when my just 4yo starts reception tomorrow!

[crystal7]

bluesuperted Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Pippa21 totally agree with you. Will be boycotting

> all homework (and letting the teacher know) when

> the time comes. A love of reading and family time

> will be my priorities for the time I get at home

> with my son. My husband is a primary school

> teacher and in full agreement with this plan, find

> it very telling that so many teachers feel

> homework is not necessary for such young ages.

> Sincerely hope there is no homework when my just

> 4yo starts reception tomorrow!

Well said Bluesuperted!

[uncleglen]

My children used to come home with a tin of words within 2 weeks of starting at age 5. They had to learn the words which were in a book that they were expected to read in school. We had no problem with this as the school they attended had/has an excellent reputation.

We seemed to have time for all the 'family' things- swimming 3 times a week, table tennis, visiting relatives (incidentally the grandparents were very good at engaging the children in numbers games, word games etc.)

Unless you can get all the other parents in the class to boycott, or complain, about the hw, your child is going to 'fall behind'...

Also bear in mind that there are a fair few parents out there who are using tutors and Kumon at an early age.

[Monkey]

Wow I am not alone! Thanks everyone! The rest of the homework seems fine (though time consuming), it's only the maths that seems a bit hard. Agree that it's a good way to assess their levels and work out what they can and cannot do. Also agree that it's overkill at this stage and potentially useless too... Looking at the bright side, I have done more with her in two days than my parents did with me in 18 years...

[SE22mum]

it probably is worth talking to the teacher and getting their view. some teachers have very specific reasons for setting it. when my son was in year 2 the teacher explained clearly that they wanted the children to do their homework on their own as one reason was to see how much they remembered when not in school - i.e. not with parental help. they also advised not letting a child spend more than 20 mins on a task. the teacher didn't actually mark it, the TA just flagged up if there were problems. if your daughter is finding it difficult best to talk to the teacher about setting something more realistic.

[Monkey]

Thanks se22mum, I had not thought about that. Perhaps she's supposed to do it completely alone. Will speak to teacher. Thanks!

[snowboarder]

My little boy has just started year 1 and so far has only brought home his reading book - he did get simple homework last year (phonics, numbers etc) which I initially felt fairly ambivalent about but he was really excited when he got it - loved to do it mostly and loved to show off what he had learnt at school. So we went with it as much as possible. Actually find it harder to get him to read to me...tell me that's a boy thing..?!?

[bluesuperted]

Just saw this article from the Australian press which supports much of what myself and some previous posters have said:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/why-kids-are-better-off-without-homework/story-fni0cwl5-1227032684827?nk=6c14a922c22168503aa9a80d2d2b017b

Some of the key points include: Increased primary school homework linked to decreased national student achievement, no academic benefit, a 'direct relationship between time on homework and increased anxiety, depression, anger, and other mood disturbances among students', and increased family conflict...

[tiddles]

hear hear Pippa21. Couldn't agree more.

[verds]

Interesting to see... we're at the other extreme. One piece of homework so far and still no reading book sent home.

There was a learning objective of counting to ten, which I find a little bit modest as they learned that at nursery. I'm trying to do lots of stuff like learning the 50 tricky words they're supposed to know in the new curriculum and reading chapter books together as they're more interesting, but would love a bit of encouragement from school too!

[Elfy]

My son's school (Rosendale) has a policy of no homework apart from reading. The head-teacher is absolutely resolute about this and can quote lots of educational research to support it. I must say I am relieved. My son doesn't seem to be suffering compared to his peers at other schools and the teachers can concentrate on what's going on in the classroom. I do think that homework is sometimes set by teachers because they think the parents expect it rather than it actually having any benefit.

We start formal education at a young age in the UK compared to lots of other places...sending a 6 year old home with homework after a full day at school just seems too much.