Let's talk homework. - Page 2

[kmeyrick]

Originally Posted by mamapoppins

Okay, having hsed for six yrs, and now sending my DC to school next week,I have some concerns and questions.( FYI-DD is almost 12 ,going into 6th grade. DS is 7,goin into 1st grade.)

There seems to be some general rules about *how much* a DC should have as per their grade level. Got that.

But...when do you have them do it? At the school? Right when they get home? After dinner?
Do it right after school. Doing it at school often avoids fights and tears at home when your kids don't want to look at school work. You can also try the local children's library if it's nearby.
How much help do you give? A little? A lot? None at all?
Help them, but only for what they are having trouble with. Write a little note telling the teacher PRECISELY where they had trouble, otherwise we teachers have no way of knowing.

Do you ask them if they have homework? Do you allow them to do things-on the weekend for example-w/o finishing their homework ,first?
It's easy to fall into a procrastination habit. It depends on the circumstances, but make sure they do at least part of the homework before anything else. And yes, ask them if they have homework.

Anything I am forgetting, other newbies-PLEASE-chime in !

( I was just told by a friend of mine, whose DS is going into the 10th grade, and is in the IBS program, that she totally helps him with his big projects!!) Yikes! This DC had to APPLY and QUALIFY to get into the program-and his momma is helping him. That seems just not right imo.

TIA!

mp

The key to avoid homework fiascos, and I'm really aiming this at your 1st grader, is predictable, habit forming structure. Don't make it anxiety oriented, make it peaceful and painless. Don't spend more than 5-7 minutes on a problem they are struggling with- write a note to the teacher, assure your kid it's okay, and that he'll learn the concept soon enough.

Guide your sixth grader- tell her if she's missed the mark somehow and give her advice on how to improve, say, an essay, but SHE needs to do it all herself.

Good luck!

[Papooses]

I'm in a blended Masters program for Early Childhood Education. Last year Alfie Kohn visited my college. I love his books! I also do not allow homework for my daughter because she is only 6 years old. Her teacher was great about that last year. I do agree, however, that the major benefit of homework can be to foster healthy studying skills such as time management.

To me, it's not about the material but rather the experience. This means that when my DD's older half siblings stayed with us during the school week we made homework a family activity. The answers weren't really that important. At least not compared to a secure/sane homelife. Being together & accomplishing something that the kids could take with them the following morning was important.

Whether the kids are in public school or are homeschooling (which we do in the summers instead of camp) our "homework" type stuff is done together as a family, in the kitchen. If the activity or discussion continues on through the meal, so be it. At least we're being together as a family & the kids are still fulfilling their responsibilities at the same time. It's not cheating. I merely ask the extra questions that the might not yet know how to ask themselves. They still come up with the answers or they might decide to circle the problem & ask their teacher for help in the morning. In this way they're also learning better thinking skills.

No stress.

[debm]

I have found that when we have an activity that is going to take up most of the afternoon or evening its easier for us to pull up some chairs at school right when he gets out and sit and get it done. Otherwise I will let him do his own thing until evening rolls around and then he usually does it while I am preparing dinner.

[Marcee]

For my 12 year old (entering 7th grade): He does his homework around his sports practice schedule. If practice is after school he will do his homework after he gets home and has dinner. If it is a late practice (starting at 7-8pm) then he will get home play a bit, snack while he does homework, dinner, then practice. He has practice 5-6 days a week. Usually he has about 1.5 hours or so of work.

For my 10 year old (entering 5th grade): He comes home and plays and has a snack. He does some work before dinner and then his reading after dinner. During Baseball season his schedule is like my 12 year olds. Usually he has about 40 mins of work.

For my 8 year old (entering 3rd grade) He does the same as my 10 year old. During basketball season and soccer his schedule mirrors the 12 year olds. Usually has a page of Math and 20 minutes of reading.

Because of various practice schedules some home work is done in the car or at practice while we wait for coaches to get there.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

I agree with PP who suggested that finding a good routine and sticking with it is a major key.

Also, making homework a family activity is a good idea. Either DH or I sit near DS (and DD this year) while they work. Generally its our time to read a book or the newspaper. Frequently we have work to finish too. Even though we aren't "helping" I think it does make it easier for them. I know that DS tried to do homework in his room and gets completely distracted and feels like he is being shut away from the family -- that didn't work at all.

We also had a family rule that the TV got turned off during homework time so that DS didn't feel like he was missing something while he was working. This year will be easier because DD should have homework as well.

[spottiew]

I always did the bulk of mine after dinner. Needed that 'down time' first before settling into it and it gave me a solid block of pretty quiet time. The last thing I would want to do was come home, be full of energy, and want to do all that when I could be playing outside (something that couldn't be done later afterwards). If had most done by our family's TV time, I could then take a break and finish until bedtime. Somehow, I also had time to read all the time, but now I don't remember when that fit in. So based on my own experience, I wouldn't push it to be done early, as much as planning ahead when it will be done so that it does get done, but also so there is time for other things. Of course, with my kid being 3, I can't even imagine him doing any anytime soon anyway, but he would really be in charge of it.

Originally Posted by newclementine

As a teacher, my advice would be to organize your evenings so that the homework is completed before dinner.

[mata]

My 8 yo and 4 yo will have homework starting next week. I know my youngest will get a homework packet on Mondays and will need to turn it in on Friday. I'm not sure if dd#1 will need to turn it in on a daily basis or not. But I do prefer getting the homework out of the way as soon as possible, simply because I start to fade around 4 pm, have to make dinner, cleanup, etc. DD #1 would do it at 10 pm if I let her. I am not one who enjoys multitasking with something else while they do it-it annoys me to have to stop what I'm doing, so I'd rather make myself completely available. My oldest's has typically taken 20-30 minutes a night, including spelling drills. They'll do it by themselves first, and I'll check/show them corrections.

[quaz]

I'm also a believer in 'no homework' at young grades.

homework really is a good thing if the work is about reinforcing and processing skills learned in school. And sometimes bigger projects are, in part, about involving the parents.

My Kindergartener is a HIGHLY creative child. She is in school full day. It is utterly imperative that she has a strong down/play time in the evening. This is a child that drew for 3 hours a day for all of last year, and who over the summer was reading 2 hours a day.

The homework policy right now is 15-20 minutes a night, plus 20 minutes reading. There is no way on earth that I can take 40 minutes out of my dd's schedule each night. She would be a basketcase, without the ability to explore the items she needs to.

In our case, homework isn't a good thing. I do not think one can make blanket statements about homework being beneficial, especially considering data that shows it isn't.

Now, this week... my oldest was able to complete the entire packet in 30 minutes. I am not tracking what she reads b/c she still reads a good amount each day. Because it was only one night this week for homework... I am letting it go for now. If for any reason things get to excessive, we will do what items I feel are appropriate and that's it.

OP, my advice, is figure out what is best for your family, and try to stick with that level of homework and schedule... easy in young grades, probably impossible in late elementary and older.

I think we will make Tuesday night homework night... Monday, is the first day back of school, and that free play becomes critical... Tuesday she should be ready to do the packet.

Tammy

[guest^]

Again,thanks, mommas! I really appreciate the input from both a mom and mom/teacher perspective.