Homework

mum_of_four · 07-30-2010, 01:57 PM

What do you think about homework in general? Should kids be doing less, about the same, more, none, other?

Zoo · 07-30-2010, 01:58 PM

I used to think folks should just suck it up, it's part of school, but I dunno. We shouldn't bring our work home with us should we? And my family is freaking BUSY, it is a big deal when one of them has homework to do.

Stepher · 07-30-2010, 02:07 PM

Just from a student perspective.

For day to day stuff I think if students are being given a resonable amount of time to do the work in class but either arn't or having a hard time doing it, its not the worst thing to take it home. I think if the student is taking it home because of the later teachers should be giving them extra help and some extra support/guidance so they arn't going home and getting even more frustrated.

myrrah · 07-30-2010, 02:07 PM

I vote for no homework. We had very little homework this year and it was still too much. I resent it.

Zoo · 07-30-2010, 02:11 PM

I mean, I have 3 kids, 3 different schools, I work full-time. If the kids are in bed by 8 (the younger 2, anyway) it really doesn't leave a lot of time for it.

Mom2my2 · 07-30-2010, 02:11 PM

I vote for none! For how much my S/Ker had last year I'm a little worried about grade 1!!

whirlygirl · 07-30-2010, 02:15 PM

I voted none. At least none required by the school as an extension of the school day. I'm all for kids learning at home and in the community but I think for the most part it can be done in a way that is enjoyable and adds something to family time rather than takes away from it.

I value our family time over 'school work' while my kids are young... not to say I wouldn't be happy to help them work on a concept if they were having trouble understanding it at school but I'm not sure I'd want to just repeat the same lesson/teaching technique just because it's required.

million$momma · 07-30-2010, 02:26 PM

I don't mind homework, as long as it is worthwhile. We're not doing colouring for homework but I will read with my child and practise some sight words.

laurensmom · 07-30-2010, 02:27 PM

I voted other....so I will explain

I think that a certain amount of “homework“ is valuable IF it is an authentic learning experience for the child. For example, I think its important for a primary aged child to have reading homework. For them to be required to practice his/her “just right“ reading material, nightly, with a parent for a short period of time. It re-affirms what they have learned in school and helps them to become fluent, capable readers. I think that the amount of time required should really depend on the child's age. I ask my grade 1 students to read with a parent for 10 minutes nightly. It is their only homework.

For older students, I wouldn't think it inappropriate to require them to do some research, or gather some info/materials independently, outside of school hours in order to complete projects, essays, etc inside of school hours. I believe that homework of this sort should/would be given over a period of time with a deadline for it to be completed. Students thus could choose to complete it within the time frame but it allows flexibility in terms of being able to take a night or two off for other committments etc.

I do not believe in homework, for the sake of homework. I don't think that endless repetition of problems or endless memorization of facts is authentic learning, nor do I think that homework should monopolize a students after school hours.

JMO.

AuntPetunia · 07-30-2010, 02:28 PM

I was actually thinking about school this morning! It may seem odd, but I would almost prefer they took out the 'extra's' like phys ed and what not and just stuck to the classroom education. Get 'er done and let me do the fun stuff with my kids. I'll do the activities and the outings and the play. Or, make that stuff optional for after school.

I do see some value in homework. It does keep parents (in theory) in touch with what the child is learning and how the child is learning. Just not too much of it, please. Maybe 15min once or twice a week should cover it.

I reserve the right change my tune once they're all in grade school and I know what I'm talking about

bacon · 07-30-2010, 02:34 PM

I voted other. Which mostly means NONE, with the option of having it there for a bonus challenge.

Every class has keeners that like to do homework... don't take that all away from them.

mum_of_four · 07-30-2010, 02:35 PM

My vote was none. I've had my share of homework battles. When I haven't seen my kids all day, the last thing I want to do is start nagging as soon as they get home from school to do their homework. And in one instance, it was fine, she did the work as soon as we got home. And in the other instance, it turned into an evening long struggle that ends with both of us upset and frustrated. How is that helping anyone? But if your kids are involved in any extracurricular activities, it means that homework needs to get done as soon as you get home. Then rush around and get dinner ready, then out the door for whatever activity you're doing. It's stressful for everyone! I would much prefer my kids to come home from school, relax and do whatever until dinner, then do whatever after dinner, without the constant ghost of homework haunting us.

We often talk about work-life balance for adults. It basically translates as not taking your work home with you and letting it interfere with your family life. Yet, what is homework?!

For interests' sake: story of a school in Barrie that banned homework.

Barrie school bans 'unfair' homework - thestar.com

dashenka · 07-30-2010, 02:42 PM

I put other, because I have no idea how much homework kids get here/now.

I actually think a little bit of homework is a good idea, but it needs to be useful homework - re-affirming what's been learned, some personal research, writing a story etc. It also allows the children to revise things for themselves, at their own pace, be that quicker or slower than the rest of the class.

I also think that, for the most part, the children should be doing this on their own, otherwise it's just moving the supervised environment of the classroom to the dining table, and they don't learn the valuable skill of learning to work independently. I've seen and hear of so many science projects that are essentially completed by the parents rather than the children, and I question what the child learns from this? I'm not saying that they shouldn't have access to help or guidance if they get stuck, but to be left to try and figure it out themselves first, surely that's the idea - for the child to figure it out and learn, not the parent?

I know that a lot of universities are having issues with students who are unable to work on their own. They're actually finding that homeschooled children are better at learning on their own, because this is the sort of thing they do all of the time.

So, yes I think a little homework is important, building up over time, so a 6 year old would have 15 minutes a day, a 10 year old 30 minutes, a 15 year old up to an hour, something like that.

I didn't get any homework until I was 11, and it started at about 30 minutes to an hour every night, and went up over high school, and then up again at university. It was a big shock. I can't imagine how much of a shock it would be to get to university and suddenly have to start.

AuntPetunia · 07-30-2010, 03:14 PM

Dashenka, that happened to me! I rarely had homework through elementary school, only special projects in highschool and then BAM like a load of bricks I got hit with it all in university. Quite an adjustment. But through school I was quick and had a lot of 'independent study' time to do my own thing, so that helped me out in uni.

*allie* · 07-30-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laurensmom

I voted other....so I will explain

I think that a certain amount of “homework“ is valuable IF it is an authentic learning experience for the child. For example, I think its important for a primary aged child to have reading homework. For them to be required to practice his/her “just right“ reading material, nightly, with a parent for a short period of time. It re-affirms what they have learned in school and helps them to become fluent, capable readers. I think that the amount of time required should really depend on the child's age. I ask my grade 1 students to read with a parent for 10 minutes nightly. It is their only homework.

For older students, I wouldn't think it inappropriate to require them to do some research, or gather some info/materials independently, outside of school hours in order to complete projects, essays, etc inside of school hours. I believe that homework of this sort should/would be given over a period of time with a deadline for it to be completed. Students thus could choose to complete it within the time frame but it allows flexibility in terms of being able to take a night or two off for other committments etc.

I do not believe in homework, for the sake of homework. I don't think that endless repetition of problems or endless memorization of facts is authentic learning, nor do I think that homework should monopolize a students after school hours.

JMO.

I agree.
I don't mind assignments with a week to complete them or something. I also don't mind helping my kids if they don't understand something or want ot look at it further. But I know it will come where they're given basically just busy work and I won't make them do it and I will have to explain to the teacher you can't punish my child for work not done outside of school hours - those hours, *I* am in charge.

I value family time over school. I believe in education being important, but don't think school is the only part of education. And I don't think school or education are the only things around. There's family time and just relaxing and sleep and meals and friendships.

I also don't think just because a kid can't complete it in school, they should have to do it after at home. Maybe they're slower at reading or writing and it takes them longer - why does that mean they have to have an extended work day? Seems unfair.