School-Aged Children
Hard Homework
Is it just me or is homework getting harder and harder for kids these days? I mean, I'm all for having them challenged, but when the math is so confusing that I have to stop and read it over like 4 or 5 times, is my 2nd grader really supposed to be able to do it? My highest levels of math were college algebra and statistics but some of this stuff makes my head hurt. It's ridiculous! Am I the only one??
I do see that it tends to be mostly the math that's confusing "us". The language arts are easy for her.
-Rebecca
SAHM to 3 (soon to be 4)
L- 6/28/04
E- 11/8/08
R- 8/19/10
EDD - 2/15/2012
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Re: Hard Homework
I'm a 2nd grade teacher! For NY the state standards are changing and are asking a lot more of students. Unfortunately, in my opinion they are taking the fun out of school and focus too much on the state exams that are given. I try my best to make school as fun as I can...especially math! I always have my students playing math games. I would love to know the topic your child is learning in math!
I feel like the work load is bigger rather than more difficult.
My daughter is in 1st grade and we got her monthly homework packet yesterday and there were some many pages that they had to send home two packets because the staple would hold everything.
I teach 3rd and always make sure the homework is something the children can do on their own.
If you are finding that she is unable to do it, I'd let the teacher know.
I've taught at all levels, K-12, and I agree with this 100%!!! The way state standards and district curriculum's are written makes teaching math so much different and more challenging than when we were kids.
In one district I taught in I even offered after school classes for parents so I could show them the way I had to teach math. I did this after school session 3 times and each time my classroom was FULL with parents who wanted to learn. Not b/c they didn't know how to do the math, but b/c they were taught a different way and wanted to be consistent with the school and wanted to be able to help their children at home.
OP, I'd get in touch with your child's teacher, explain your frustrations and see what suggestions she makes. Most likely the teacher is following the curriculum and prob can't make too many changes to the assignment, but perhaps she can give you some info on how things are done or modify directions, provide examples, etc. GL!
I think that our current math curriculum makes it much easier for the students. It gives them a really solid number sense. However, the way they are taught is a total 180 from how their parents were taught..and how I was taught. For example, the US Algorithm (carrying) isn't even taught until 4th grade if you follow our given curriculum.
Our curriculum comes with a "Parent Handbook" that gives good examples of how students should show their work.
PP, what are you certified that you've taught K-12?
I'm certified K-8 general ed, K-12 ESL, and K-12 Literacy Specialist
My classroom experience was primarily in the elementary grades.
Our schools use Everyday Math too.
We use Everyday Math also but we just adopted the Common Core Standards and are finding the curriculum doesn't align very well with the new Standards...ugh.
I do agree though that the new methods teach the children WHY they are doing something, not just how to do it. It may take longer for the children to learn how to work with an algorithm, but they can explain every step along the way. A fair trade I think.