The Homework Battle!

[spotty_dog]

Heidi, I requested Alfie Kohn's book from my local library to start boning up on this. I love getting a good breadth of information on the subject, and I'll track down the other two books probably through ILL. I also reserved all of Rafe Esquith's books. They don't speak directly to the homework issue, but he's not a huge fan of the homework practice, yet his fifth-grade students are amazingly high achievers. His latest book is written for parents, with ideas on how to give them life skills like valuing punctuality, using time well, being thoughtful and humble, and more. I'm really looking forward to that one.

[PrincessFiona]

I have to say that enough parents here locally got their knickers in a twist last year to cause some revision to the homework policy in the elementary grades. Going against the grain is hard, but ... it might be worthwhile.

Kris

[AmeliePoulain]

It sounds great and well written, although a bit lengthy. I found myself rushing through it. I would change just 2 things. If it is a formal letter I would not use "a lot" use "many" or "a great deal" "a considerable amount" I'm not good with words, you can probably think of others. Also, where it says my husband "too"... I would rewrite the sentence in order to use "neither" or "nor" instead? Or maybe it doesn't matter and I hope you don't take offense. My friends tell me I'm a grammar Nazi :/ I found a mistake in Oprah's favorite translation of Anna Karenina, ElleUK mispelled gynecological in an article about vaginal cosmetic surgery this month, but maybe I'm wrong and the UK spells things differently. A museum in TX used "it's" instead of "its" in the description of a work of art a few months ago and I had to tell them. We all make mistakes, I do all the time! I'm no grammar Nazi but it bugs me when it's something done by professional writers or in print when you would think they pay proof readers.

[AmeliePoulain]

I kept thinking about this and had to ask my sister, she's an elementary school teaher, this was her response: District policy tells about homework. CCISD policy is 15-20 mins a day. Can't be anything too difficult, has to be something they can do independently.

[Thirteen]

Any response from A's teacher yet?

[BonBon]

District policy may dictate homework volume, but surely it's up to individual teachers what's assigned. We are VERY fortunate this year, but last year my DS was assigned a ridiculous amount of homework and it was mostly busywork. And of course, if your child takes longer than X amount of time to finish it, it's the fault of the child. Sorry, but no first grader should be settling down for an hour every night, especially with homework that requires parental involvement.

Heidi, I'm hoping you get a positive response but I think it's unlikely. Perhaps the teacher will be willing to take a closer look at what's assigned and perhaps revise it. G's homework this year is great - a single page of math problems (5 min), spelling (5 min), and 10 min of reading. SO much more doable than last year!!!!

[DCJenn]

Here is our homework: (everything is in Spanish)

Monday: write each vocabulary word twice, do the monday math worksheet (one page- double digit addition including two or three word problems), read 20 minutes
Tuesday: write sentences using the first eight vocabulary words, tuesday math worksheet, read 20 minutes
Wednesday: write sentences using the last eight vocabulary workds, wednesday math worksheet, read 20 minutes
Thursday: parents are to do a mock spelling test (I also do a quiz on definitions because I'm cruel and heartless), have them write three sentences that are dictated by the parents (teacher written), and read 20 minutes.
Weekends- read 20 minutes each night.

The GT program also has homework but it's not every week. (they only go to GT lab once a week)

The fact that everything is in Spanish and we don't speak Spanish (as a family) means that I'm on google translate every day. It helps with my pronounciation since I approach everything like it's French.

Jenn

The fact that everything is in Spanish and we don't speak Spanish (as a family) means that I'm on google translate every day. It helps with my pronounciation since I approach everything like it's French.

Jenn

The awesome thing about Spanish is that it's really pronounced like it's spelled, so if you learn how the letters are pronounced, you *should* be able to wing it for the most part.

[Phoebe]

We don't have ANYTHING like that. We get workbook questions applicable to the current lesson (last week was continents and oceans). We'll get a couple workbook pages of math if they didn't / weren't able to finish it in class. We don't get a set packet of "here is the crap to complete, do it." The *only* real frustration/irritation to me is w/3rd grade spelling b/c the teachers try to make it "fun", so give them about 15 different activities they can choose from for their 3x's / week spelling practice. Most of those involve spelling out loud, and Q is a kid who can spell well when writing it down, but when saying it out loud he mixes the letters up 9 times out of 10. It usually ends up in a "let me test you - see you know the words" kind of thing, and Q gets stuck on "but we HAVE to choose from these activities". I only have 2 school age kids, I can see the frustration being multiplied and untenable w/4.

This sounds a lot like our school's homework. Each grade gets 10 minutes per grade level as a baseline. 2nd grade gets 20 minutes per night. Teachers in each grade collaborate to give out the same homework.

[DCJenn]

Jenn-

Here's an example- Vive. In French, it's Vivvvvvvvvvv. In Spanish it's ViVAY. I can't wrap my head around it!

J.

You just say all the letters! That's why I love it!!

[madeintaiwan]

I kept thinking about this and had to ask my sister, she's an elementary school teaher, this was her response: District policy tells about homework. CCISD policy is 15-20 mins a day. Can't be anything too difficult, has to be something they can do independently.

Our district policy states 10 minutes per grade level of homework. It is always review and something that can be done on their own. In fact, teacher policy has always stressed the importance of homework being an independent activity with minimal, if any, help from the parent. And if the child is having trouble, have them write a note and the teacher will help them with it the next day. My kids finish their homework way under the alloted time. Particularly my 5th grader who is "advanced." Busy work for a highly intelligent child should take them no time to get through it.

I firmly believe that a little practice/refresher doesn't hurt anyone. Do it, finish it, and be done with it. Life is FULL of undesirable have to's. If you don't do the assignments, you don't get a grade.

Jenn, enVision Math must be a new concept for the entire state of Kansas as our district just launched it too. I love it!!

We have general instruction, but we also have reading groups that are broken down into ability. Each group is assigned a book to their reading ability in which they do lessons with their individual groups. Same lesson, different books. My daughter receives class instruction and is also pulled out for reading assistance as well as speech.

I sign and initial papers EVERY.DAY. It doesn't bother me. It takes a minute or two, maybe. My 5th grader reads an hour every single night, a requirement by me. And I read to my 1st grader for at least 20 minutes each night. Perhaps it's my Asian upbringing in which even though my mother was absent due to working, education and the process of being educated [which success is believed to be achieved through hard work and practice, not genetics] was highly valued and I had workbooks that I did in addition to my school work and I read every night as well. Even during the summer time. You could say my mother was a tiger mom. Whatever. Perhaps I deal with BS better because of it. I still played outside. Ate dirt. Broke my arm. Took ballet and played the clarinet.

I believe that study habits and work ethic are NOT made over night. You can't expect a child to suddenly do homework after 7 years of no homework.

I don't think it's the job of the PUBLIC education system to make individual education plans for every student. That is what private education is for, maybe, although private school would tell you, if you don't like it, go somewhere else. Perhaps home schooling would be best. Erik went to private school K-12 and he had a CRAPTON of homework. It never prevented him from daily activities. And he never felt bothered by it.

It is obvious that the "system" isn't working for you. Public school's purpose is to teach the masses. And in the masses there are children who need review and practice. There are children who come from homes where if their parents weren't required to sign something every day then they would take no part in their child's education otherwise. I can see why home schooling has become popular in the last decade or so. If the teacher isn't able to fulfill your request, perhaps home schooling may be a great option for you.

[Vanquisher]

I don't know if I understand the rationale behind all the take your child out of public school and pay for private school or homeschool opinions.

There are 15 kids in my daughters class. It is the "gifted" class. Not all the kids in the class are gifted, but all are above average, and all of the gifted kids are in the class. She is one of the gifted students, and because she is gifted and tested gifted, automatically has an IEP.

This year I paid well over $6000 in property taxes just for the public school portion. I have no desire to pay an additional $15,000/year to send her to Windermere Prep. I believe in a public school education. My husband and I both came from public school. 3 of the 4 of our parents taught in public schools. Public schools have more variety and availability of classes. My daughter loves her friends, and her friends go to this school. She takes the bus to and from school everyday. If she went to private school, I would be responsible for getting her there and back daily.

I have a job. I work full-time and then some. I cannot homeschool my daughter for a variety of reasons that being one.

However, because I disagree with a homework policy, one of these two options should be better suited for me? When someone disagrees with a policy of some sort, they should just suck it up and do nothing? Is that truly what we want to teach our kids? "Life sucks, and there is nothing you can do about it. Continue to do everything that other people want you do do for the rest of your life without having any opinions of your own. Trying to bring about any kind of change is futile."

Yes, there are things we all have to do that we don't want to do. My kids have chores and responsibilities that they have to do, and that I make them do regardless of their fondness for them or lack thereof.

I feel; however, that the policy of schools to dictate what I do in MY home with MY children in MY freetime is unjust.

I got a short not back from the teacher, and we will have some further discussion. Homework is only 10% of Alexia's grades. If she get's all B's because of this in the 2nd grade, it isn't going to keep her out of the ivy leagues, if she so desires.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Homework is only 10% of Alexia's grades. If she get's all B's because of this in the 2nd grade, it isn't going to keep her out of the ivy leagues, if she so desires.

True story! Glad that it's such a small amount that it won't really impact her grade (regardless of the final outcome).

[diggitydot]

G & T programs are not created equally. When DD1 and DD2 were both being tested, my sister was telling me about her district's BS program. It essentially just threw extra busy work at the kids faster than other classes, but did not cover more challenging material. She strongly discouraged truly G & T students from it because they'd burn out instead of staying interested and engaged.