NWMR: school-aged children's homework

fitmom82 · July 2014

Is anyone else dreading homework? DD gets pre-k homework occasionally, and usually enjoys doing it, but I'm really not looking forward to it when she's in in school and it's more excessive. I don't want my kids sitting in school all day just to come home and have to sit and do more school work. By the time they get home from school there isn't too much time left for family time or playing and being active, especially if I'm working late and can't pick them up right after school.

I'm actually a teacher myself. My principal wants us giving the students 2 hours of homework a day. As a teacher I don't have time to meaningfully grade all the classwork and homework, so often homework becomes more busy work than anything. I don't mind a science project or something that really requires extra time, but I feel like they're in school enough, how much work should really be expected after school? As a parent how much say do I get in this? I feel like if a parent came to me and told me they didn't want their child doing homework, I'd probably just excuse the child from the homework assignments, but I don't think that would be common? We'll probably be using public school, but even if we do Catholic school I don't know if I'll have much say.

Hope this doesn't sound ridiculous or that I don't value my children's education, I just want them to have a happy, well-rounded life. Do parents get any say in homework?

shannm · July 2014

Well, DS is the kind of kid who will probably love homework but I can see it being a challenge with DD. Have you specifically asked about homework philosophy in the schools that you are considering? DS attends a private that is play/exploration based and last year in kindergarten, didn't have any homework. There were a couple of projects that we worked on but not many. He probably won't get too much in first and second either because that is their philosophy. Having said that, we also use extended day care at the school and homework assistance is provided if needed.

MamaAllison · July 2014

If a parent told me their kid shouldn't be assigned homework I would be furious. For math it is important to practice the skills that we learned that day. Now I agree tons of homework in elementary school is ridiculous and sort of requires parental involvement, but once they get to middle school they should be able to manage on their own.

emberlee3 · July 2014

OP, what grade do you teach? Two hours sounds crazy, even for high school.

My son starts kindergarten next month. I believe the homework is almost nonexistent in the beginning, then goes to simple stuff that takes 20 minutes or less, 3 times per week.

jlaOK · July 2014

DS will be in pre-k this year and yes, I do sometimes wonder how I'm going to add homework onto our already busy schedules. I'm hoping that we won't have to worry about this too much at the beginning.

The way I figure it, starting "real school" will be sort of like bringing a baby to daycare for the first time. It will be hard at first and take some adjustment for the whole family but as soon as you find a routine that works it will just become second nature. At least I'm telling myself that.....

Any school age WM's have advice?

snicksnack · July 2014

I dread the stress of getting everything done but I see value in homework. Our teachers are great but our kid’s education is only as good as the time we can put into it I view it more as a partnership. My understanding from my teacher friends is the average is around 30 minutes per grade with a cap at around 2 hours or so around high school depending on how well they time manage projects, along with additional time studying for tests. Growing up homework was the first thing that was done afterschool my mom, who stayed home, made a snack and homework was done. Once I was finished I could play I plan to do the same with my kids. My hope is by the time they are in school I can get an afternoon nanny or we can alter our schedules in a way we are home with the kids and can get it done early. If I was a teacher I would be pretty upset if parents complained about homework I understand that kids are kids once but this is a time when they are learning machines and that should be harnessed. What I really dread are the crazy craft projects parents get stuck doing. I suck at crafts I sucked as a kid and I suck as an adult LOL. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

*sparky* · July 2014

Sorry - you don't get any say in this as a parent. I can't imagine that a teacher would excuse one child in a class from doing homework just because the parents work or don't think it's something they want their child to have to do. I do, however, believe that 2 hours of homework a night at the elementary school level is absolutely insane. DS will be going into 4th grade in the fall. So we have been dealing with hmwk for 4 yrs. 2nd grade was when it got a little more intense, with graded tests to study for, projects, etc. on top of regular nightly hmwk. Hmwk should compliment and reinforce what they are learning in school. It is also a chance for the parent to see what their child is learning and how they are doing with it. Asking for no homework is like asking not to be involved in your child's education. DS has to do his by about 6 pm - after that his mind is mush and it will take twice as long and he will end up in tears. The days he goes to after school care they do hmwk then and then we review it when we get home. We study for tests together.

litzo27 · July 2014

I was really thankful that DS1 did not have homework in K this year. When we would get home at 6 he would have an hour to play with his brother till dinner and frankly I really want them playing together for at least that little a day. I hope that in 1st grade he gets no more than 15 or so minutes a day. I would never ask the teacher to excuse my child from homework but I will encourage him to do at least a portion during Extended Day so that he has less to do at home (although I doubt that will work unless they actually supervise a time for it there, need to ask next year).

*sparky* · July 2014

Sorry about the formatting of my post above - every time I post from my iPad I generate one long string of mush even though I typed it with paragraphs. I have no idea how to fix it.

carlab44 · July 2014

I have a DD going into 3rd and a DS going into kindergarten. We've had homework since kindergarten, but it generally is only 20-30 minutes per night. They don't get graded on it, but they do get credit for doing it (and once they get a certain number of credits they can either choose something out of the "treasure chest" or opt to eat lunch with the teacher). In 2nd grade there was one night each week where their homework prepared them for a weekly spelling test.

For those that have to work late and are worried about fitting it in, see if you can have your child finish their homework while in their after school care. Both of our kids will be going to the Boys & Girls Club twice a week next school year. They try to encourage the kids to do their homework right away, and then they get to play/hang out.

I will say that I enjoy the homework to a point. Keeps me more informed about what they are working on in the class, and how well the kids are understanding the content.

Mustardseed2007 · July 2014

My oldest is only 2.5 but this is an issue I think about a lot. I don't think parents have really any say in homework assigned, nor should they have too much say apart from maybe a very general sense.

I definitely had 2 hours of homework per night when I was in high school. Just sayin. But by then I totally handled it myself. I had a SAHM when I was growing up, though, and elementary and middle school homework was something I did without much supervision, but I did get home soon after school was over, whereas my kid is going to have to be in an extended day program.

The one near our home that picks up at the elementary schools around us does have a homework room, but there is no assistance or real supervision other than kids who have homework let the staff know they need to do homework, and then they all go into the quiet room to work on it until they are done (or until they say they are done).

We had a real problem with work getting done in the after school care's homework room with my niece and what my sister did was have a tutor come to the extended day program and help her out a couple times per week in the daycare's homework room. She never did figure it out completely though.

So if my kid isnt' driven to do homework in a homework room like that I really don't know what we'll do b/c with our jobs DH and I do not walk in the door with the kids before 6pm, and then we all have to eat, the kid have to have bathes. Etc. We'll see.

Maybe an afterschool nanny will be more of an option at that point. I actually do like that idea, but we'll have to see what we can afford when the time comes.

MommaP12 · July 2014

I am dreading the homework years. DS starts Kindergarten in August and I'm really praying that it's not much until about middle school. However, my BFF has a 4th grader and has told me about her homework and it's a brutal amount. Just before school ended she had to make a HARP that worked - with correct pitch and everything. WHAT?! I can't do that.

So yeah, I'm dreading these years since I work Full Time. My mom was SAHM so I just came home, had a snack and did it. Not sure how we'll manage if they are in after care, etc.

welly01 · July 2014

MommaP12 said:

Just before school ended she had to make a HARP that worked - with correct pitch and everything. WHAT?! I can't do that.

Whatt???! Pinterest better cover crap like that. I am the WORST creative person, ugh. @-)

fitmom82 · July 2014

I teach middle school, the principal wants 2 hours of homework, but I doubt they kids are assigned more than an hour.

As a parent, I just feel that I should get a say in it because if I want to use my time with my child to go to a park or for a walk or just hang out, that should be up to me. With my current school hours I will be able to pick the kids up from school, but I just don't feel like coming home after a long day just to supervise homework. It sounds like I'll have a while before I'll have to deal with this though so that's good.

yeah. · July 2014

I teach middle school and I rarely assign homework. I agree with you...if I can't do it with kids in school, it's not worth doing.

FWIW, there is no evidence that homework is good for kids (esp in elementary school)

krose0713 · July 2014

If you do find the homework is too much, I wouldn't think it would be appropriate to ask the teacher for less. That is what he/she assigned and all students should be expected to complete it. Perhaps looking into alternative schooling styles to better fit your needs might be a better choice. A private school near you might share you philosophy, or you could look into Montessori or charter schools.

Maybride2 · July 2014

You don't get to tell the teacher how much homework to give your child. I'm surprised to hear a teacher say that she'd actually listen to a whiny parent if they made such a request. Anyway - my oldest will be in 2nd grade this fall. He's had homework since Kinder. Yeah, it sucks because it's one more thing to fit into already busy weekdays, but you just make time. He does most of his homework while we're getting dinner ready. He's usually done in 20-30 minutes, often sooner. And I get to see the types of things he's doing at school, so it is helpful to me as well.

jellybean529 · July 2014

My DD had homework in kindergarten -- but her's was maybe, MAYBE 30 minutes/week. She usually got it done on Monday afternoon in her after school program. 2 hours a day seems excessive!

DallasLonghorn97 · July 2014

I have 3 kiddos (will be in 3rd, K and preschool). And yes, I dread homework. After having several conversations w/ other working moms - - it's dreadful to work a full day, come home and have to get dinner on the table, family time, reading time, etc not to mention homework. My nanny oversees most homework, so that is helpful, but there are times she doesn't understand (methods for teaching math in particular are VERY different). It's interesting that love and logic by Jim Fay doesn't support heavy amounts of homework for kids. I would much rather support year round school to increase learning that 10 hour days for 8 year olds!

Want a personalized experience?

NWMR: school-aged children's homework

Re: NWMR: school-aged children's homework

Choose Another Board

Search Boards