Unrealistic HW expectations for 1st grade? - Page 2

[emilysmama]

Originally Posted by Galatea 

... but they don't have the students write down what they have to do.  The effect is that we and ds1 are in a constant state of confusion as to what we are supposed to be doing, and it ends up being HW for us, not ds1. 

I think this is your biggest problem.  Your kid gets home, and can't remember what to do.  The memory doesn't come back until the following morning while getting ready for school.  No wonder you guys are stressed!  If the other kids can't write or read yet, then I guess that is why they aren't filling writing down what they have to do each day. 

However, your child can read and write.  So I suggest that you talk to your teacher and tell her that you can support her better if she can have him write down a few words each day about what he has to do for the following day.  If you can convince the teacher that it is in her best interest to use your son as a written communication channel, and that it will actually mean less work for her, then that will make your life easier.

You can even provide a spiral notebook and call it his planner.  I think this will make things less stressful for two reasons.  First, as soon as your ds gets home (or during the car ride home), you can have him read the list to you, and he can explain what it is he has to do.  Eventually, he will learn to do it automatically without being told and that will encourage him to take more initiative in remembering what he is supposed to do.  He'll be more likely to remember the instructions when he is fresh out of school, than the following morning. Second, depending on how much attention he paid while the teacher was delivering her instructions to the class about what to do on the homework, he might be able to explain exactly what he is supposed to do, if you ask him to remember right after school, and not say, a couple hours after that.  Some kids can do it, some kids can't.  My kid happens to be able to, and my dd's friend can't.  If my kid couldn't, then I wouldn't hesitate calling another kid's parent after school to clarify, because another kid's parent would undoubtedly know and finding out would save me a lot of grief.

[melissa17s]

Wow, um, my 4th grader does not have that much homework.  He gets 20 minutes reading and about 5 writing about what he read, maybe a math worksheet, and then cello practice for 15 minutes.  Last year our district changed the way we do spelling, so not repetitive practicing for either dc.  

Dd is in 1st and her homework is 1 reading book a night.  She has to keep a log and can add books that she reads for fun or that we read to her.  She has to turn in 1 a month (30 books) usually we turn in 2.  No required homework otherwise.  Some kids get homework, though, if they are not finishing their school work during school.  

[LuckyMommaToo]

Wow -- DS only has one "assignment" a night, either spelling or math. It alternates. Last night was spelling (do six sentences). Tonight math (three pages of geometry, but there are only 3-4 questions per page). It rarely takes longer than ten minutes. Fifteen, tops. I would stop if it took longer than that. (And FWIW, we adore his teacher and he is "advanced.")

No reading logs here.

I was surprised to find that a lot of parents put pressure on the teacher to assign more homework. Seriously. In first grade. I would probably schedule a conference with the teacher to discuss. She may be willing to scale back.

-e

[Galatea]

Update - I watched dh help ds1 with his HW.  Dh was making him rewrite it for spelling mistakes and messy writing.  The worksheet just had small spaces to write the reading comprehension answers b/c for most of the kids, they are just dictating and the parents are writing it, so he was having a hard time writing neatly without the 3 line paper.  Dh didn't know that.  He also didn't know that they are told just to write it down and not fuss too much about proper spelling.  Now I think I know why it is taking him so long!  Ds1 also doesn't like the reading comprehension - he loves the math, though, so that goes quickly.  I am going to try to be the one who helps with the HW b/c I think dh is being way too tough on him.

[whatsnextmom]

That makes a lot of sense. If the other kids are dictating then certainly let your son do the same... plus, I find a lot of value in dictation. It allows the child to actually say what they are thinking as opposed to being limited by the words they can write. It's also  normal to see a lot of invented spelling at this age. It's better the child TRY to use a higher vocab when writing and spell poorly than stick only to the 1st grade words they've studies. Cutting out the writing, re-writing, looking up words... that will cut half the time right there!

[blessedwithboys]

This is why we just opt out of HW.