Homework?

[houseelf]

Does your child have homework? Is it appropriate?

I've been lurking at CincyMoms.com where this topic is a source of much teeth gnashing and debate. I'm interested in hearing everyone elses' impressions and experiences.

I guess we're lucky. DS's school has a minimal homework policy. We get spelling words once a week and we're supposed to go over math facts on whatever operation our child is working on. We probably spend twenty minutes a week tops on homework. I honestly couldn't keep up if we had more. Our neighbor's son (also first grade) has about 30 minutes a night and it is a source of marital tension in that family as both parents work and one is attending night school as well.

Kelly

We have minimal homework. We had two bigger projects this year that I sort of have mixed feelings about, otherwise it seems appropriate. I agree, if there was more, I wouldn't be able to keep up and I'd probably pipe up.

We have spelling words, reading 20 minutes a day, and then "homework" 2x/week for 20 minutes. The homework is loosely defined. DD wanted to write a letter to Ranger Rick magazine so I counted that as homework. We are supposed to keep track of it on a sheet and hand it in. Keeping track of it is the hardest part.

IMO, a first grader doesn't need any more homework than that.

[Vanquisher]

We have way too much homework, and it is SO unnecessary and pisses me off. I hate it. I can't tell you how many meetings I have been in where this topic was discussed. Apparently, I am the only one who thinks my child is getting too much homework and that it is overwhelming. I always get funny looks and questions as to how this could be coming from me. My child always does his homework, has straight A's, is good, and has no problem with the material, so how could I possibly have issues with it? BECAUSE it is TOO MUCH!!!

We have about an hour a day. He is 3rd grade.

[Sheherezade]

We have more in higher grades. DS (5th) has about 60 minutes four days a week and 60 minutes over the weekends. He has a study hall each day (except Friday) and he is pretty good about finishing the work at school. Sometimes work comes home and takes...forever. That does get to me if I think it isn't worthwile. We tend to get "study guides" for upcoming tests in math and science (big practice packets) and projects for social studies. Writing has two assignments a week.

My second graders doesn't get much. She may have 1-2 things a week or nothing at all. In third grade here, the teachers have a homework "schedule" that goes out to the parent each week. The kids have a subject assigned each night with 15 minutes of work. Sometimes it is just "practice spelling" or it may be a math sheet. I think it is more about organization than the actual work. I'm pretty happy with our homework situation. I hear the honors classes have more work. I'm not sure if that's about learning -- or making the parents think the kids have it "tougher". I've heard that homework per se doesn't increase knowledge.

[houseelf]

I found this book at Barnes and Nobles a couple months ago and it got me a'thinkin' 'bout this:

The Homework Myth

http://www.amazon.com/Homework-Myth-Alf ... 973&sr=8-1

I'm going to sound like I'm a hundred years old here, but I didn't have homework until 6th grade and DH didn't until 7th. By some miracle, we both managed to obtain a few higher degrees between us.

I'm a little skeptical, I guess.

Kelly

The first grader that resides here comes home on Monday's with all the homework for the week.
It works out to be about 10 minutes a day. He does it all on Monday and has nothing to do the rest of the week, and it takes about 45 minutes to an hour. It usually spelling words, writing a sentence with the spelling words, doing a grammar page, a math page...then there is the reading books, but those are kid driven.
I think it is reasonable...I guess.

[alison]

I had lots of homework in gradeschool, from what I recall. I had Japanese school on Saturdays and we had homework to do over the week for it too. :bummer:

I had homework in grade school, but always finished classroom work early and then did my homework...yep, I was a geek!

Both boys come home with their homework for the week on Friday afternoon. It usually takes 2 hours total, but we break it up through the week. I think that it is the perfect amount, teaches them good work habits, but not too overwhelming. We also have a mandatory hour of reading individually before bed.

[SuzySunshine]

No kids myself but I don't remember ever having homework until I was at least in middle school.

[mommax3]

I don't remember having homework until about 5th grade, and even then it was very little and I tried hard to get it done at school. DH's experience was similar.

I don't think I have too much to complain about on the homework front. My 6th grader has homework about every day, but he processes stuff really fast, works independently, and it is rarely an issue. My 3rd grader has 20 - 30 minutes of homework 3 or 4 nights a week.


Sally