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#1
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first day of kindergarten and homework!
DS finished the first day of kindergarten yesterday. For his homework, he
had to write his name, color a house, write his address, draw a picture of someone he wants to talk on the phone with, write his phone number. It took about half an hour and he was exhausted. Afterward, we were supposed to read, but I wasn't going there. I was expecting homework, I thought maybe write one letter of the alphabet, but this is ridiculous. I told DH and he agreed, saying there many kids coming into kindergarten not even reading much less writing addresses. We happen to have a very long address, so it wasn't easy. Anyway, just venting. Today, there is more homework, but I tried to get some of it out of the way this morning before school so he is not overwhelmed after school. |
#2
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first day of kindergarten and homework!
"toypup" wrote in message m... DS finished the first day of kindergarten yesterday. For his homework, he had to write his name, color a house, write his address, draw a picture of someone he wants to talk on the phone with, write his phone number. It took about half an hour and he was exhausted. Afterward, we were supposed to read, but I wasn't going there. I was expecting homework, I thought maybe write one letter of the alphabet, but this is ridiculous. I told DH and he agreed, saying there many kids coming into kindergarten not even reading much less writing addresses. We happen to have a very long address, so it wasn't easy. Anyway, just venting. Today, there is more homework, but I tried to get some of it out of the way this morning before school so he is not overwhelmed after school. My kids didn't have homework in kindergarten until after winter break. And even then, what you describe sounds like a week's worth, not a day's worth. Bizby |
#3
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first day of kindergarten and homework!
On Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:38:49 GMT, "toypup"
wrote: DS finished the first day of kindergarten yesterday. For his homework, he had to write his name, color a house, write his address, draw a picture of someone he wants to talk on the phone with, write his phone number. It took about half an hour and he was exhausted. Afterward, we were supposed to read, but I wasn't going there. I was expecting homework, I thought maybe write one letter of the alphabet, but this is ridiculous. I told DH and he agreed, saying there many kids coming into kindergarten not even reading much less writing addresses. We happen to have a very long address, so it wasn't easy. Anyway, just venting. Today, there is more homework, but I tried to get some of it out of the way this morning before school so he is not overwhelmed after school. That's a lot of homework. After reading some threads here, I was expecting terrible amounts of homework, but E only had one assignment a week for Kindergarten. Nan |
#4
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first day of kindergarten and homework!
"toypup" wrote in message m... DS finished the first day of kindergarten yesterday. For his homework, he had to write his name, color a house, write his address, draw a picture of someone he wants to talk on the phone with, write his phone number. It took about half an hour and he was exhausted. Afterward, we were supposed to read, but I wasn't going there. I was expecting homework, I thought maybe write one letter of the alphabet, but this is ridiculous. I told DH and he agreed, saying there many kids coming into kindergarten not even reading much less writing addresses. We happen to have a very long address, so it wasn't easy. Anyway, just venting. Today, there is more homework, but I tried to get some of it out of the way this morning before school so he is not overwhelmed after school. Wow. I hope that is not going on in my son's kindergarten coming up. This would be Not Ok with me. |
#5
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first day of kindergarten and homework!
Hi -- You need to push back! I've looked up, over and over, studies relating to the value of homework. There appears to be little to no value for homework done prior to about 4th grade. What homework that is of value is reinforcement of work done in class. The recommended amount of homework for elementary school is no more than 10 minutes per night per grade. So, 2-5 minutes per night for kindergarten (maximum), 10 minutes for grade one, 20 for grade two, etc. There is a LOT of value to you and your child reading together for at least 20 minutes/night, gradually moving to having your child read independently for 20 minutes/night. The reading should be of anything your child enjoys, including comic books, cereal boxes and sports magazines. There is also a great deal of value to you seeing what homework is assigned so that you know what your child is working on during the school day, what he understands and what he doesn't. Finally,there is a lot of value to you playing number games with your son. Count things in different ways (ie, English, Spanish, as planets in order, as element in order ..) These kinds of games lead to numeracy the way that reading and talking lead to literacy. Do go in and discuss this issue with his teacher. Be firm that you will not require more than 5 or 10 minutes (that's distractable kid minutes, not 10 minutes of actual concentration) from your child, but you WILL make sure that homework is part of the daily routine. (That's so that you can show the flag as "supporting the teacher" while actually supporting your child.) My two cents, --Beth Kevles http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner. NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the AOL one if you would like me to reply. |
#6
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first day of kindergarten and homework!
"Beth Kevles" wrote in message ... Do go in and discuss this issue with his teacher. Be firm that you will not require more than 5 or 10 minutes (that's distractable kid minutes, not 10 minutes of actual concentration) from your child, but you WILL make sure that homework is part of the daily routine. (That's so that you can show the flag as "supporting the teacher" while actually supporting your child.) I would love to do this, but we all signed a contract saying we will support the teacher and homework assignments. I was worried about the homework load, but I was told it was similar at other schools here (thought they don't have contracts). The contract stated kindergarteners do 15 minutes, but no more than half hour. So, we did the half hour. I was hesitant to put DS in this school because of the contract, but IL's family really pushed for it. SIL teaches at a magnet school and said it was best to try him in it and we can always take him out if things don't work out, but it's hard to get him back in if we decline. MIL works with young children as a teacher's aide and she said all the kids are doing lots of homework these days and the amount of homework in the contract isn't necessarily what they would assign. Well, I think they meant every word of what they said in the contract. Anyway, I'm willing to see how DS adjusts to this. I know I don't like it much, but he's very much into stability and routine and he likes structure, one of the most positive aspects of the school. We're very lucky that he already knows how to read at a first grade level and he's been writing a little in preschool. I think breaking the homework up into little sessions today did help, so I will do that from now on. First grade homework is half hour to an hour. By third grade, it's 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Ugh. We'll have to see. One of my coworkers had three kids in this school. She had to fight them every night to do homework. If that happens, DS is out of this school. |
#7
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first day of kindergarten and homework!
"toypup" wrote in message m... "Beth Kevles" wrote in message ... Do go in and discuss this issue with his teacher. Be firm that you will not require more than 5 or 10 minutes (that's distractable kid minutes, not 10 minutes of actual concentration) from your child, but you WILL make sure that homework is part of the daily routine. (That's so that you can show the flag as "supporting the teacher" while actually supporting your child.) I would love to do this, but we all signed a contract saying we will support the teacher and homework assignments. Ok, I'm having a very difficult time getting past this ... you had to sign a contract? What will they do if you don't ... not send homework (insert sarcasm ) There is no way in hell I would sign a contract that was not enforceable. It's complete bull pucky IMO. Now .. they could send a letter home stating the "rules" of homework I would be happy to sign that I received such a letter ... but in no way would I contract w/ anyone for something like this. Then again, I don't take signing contracts lightly. I was worried about the homework load, but I was told it was similar at other schools here (thought they don't have contracts). The contract stated kindergarteners do 15 minutes, but no more than half hour. So, we did the half hour. I was hesitant to put DS in this school because of the contract, but IL's family really pushed for it. SIL teaches at a magnet school and said it was best to try him in it and we can always take him out if things don't work out, but it's hard to get him back in if we decline. MIL works with young children as a teacher's aide and she said all the kids are doing lots of homework these days and the amount of homework in the contract isn't necessarily what they would assign. Well, I think they meant every word of what they said in the contract. Anyway, I'm willing to see how DS adjusts to this. I know I don't like it much, but he's very much into stability and routine and he likes structure, one of the most positive aspects of the school. We're very lucky that he already knows how to read at a first grade level and he's been writing a little in preschool. I think breaking the homework up into little sessions today did help, so I will do that from now on. First grade homework is half hour to an hour. By third grade, it's 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Ugh. We'll have to see. One of my coworkers had three kids in this school. She had to fight them every night to do homework. If that happens, DS is out of this school. |
#8
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first day of kindergarten and homework!
Hi -- Based on the homework load, I'd be looking VERY carefully at this school to see if it's actually teaching the skills you want your son to learn. Do they learn to think and critique? To assess their own work and progress? Do they teach via all the senses or just through the verbal conduit? Do they have any focus on social and emotional development? I probably would not send my child to a school that sounds like what you've described. Even if you've signed a contract, I'd go in and discuss the goals of the homework with the teacher. If you look on the web -- I don't have my bookmark list with me at the moment -- you'll find solid studies about the value of homework. There really is NO evidence for homework being valuable in kindergarten! Find the studies, then discuss the general homework policy with these studies in hand. Rouse the rest of the parents!!! Finally, if the expectation is 15-30 minutes/night, then IMMEDIATELY st a strit 15 minute limit and do your best to help your son concentrate for those 15 minutes. Do first any homework that you think e really needs to do in order to learn. (In our house we do math problems first, for example, and spelling only if there's time.) I hope you manage to resolve this. The school is really out of line. --Beth Kevles http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner. NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the AOL one if you would like me to reply. |
#9
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first day of kindergarten and homework!
toypup wrote:
First grade homework is half hour to an hour. By third grade, it's 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Ugh. We'll have to see. One of my coworkers had three kids in this school. She had to fight them every night to do homework. If that happens, DS is out of this school. And he will probably resist with both feet, even if he hates the homework. They tend not to want to change, they like their friends, they understand the environment. It becomes a rather heartbreaking choice. Isn't the handwriting already on the wall with them claiming up to 1.5 hours of homework a night for 3rd graders? Best wishes, Ericka |
#10
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first day of kindergarten and homework!
"Ericka Kammerer" wrote in message news toypup wrote: First grade homework is half hour to an hour. By third grade, it's 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Ugh. We'll have to see. One of my coworkers had three kids in this school. She had to fight them every night to do homework. If that happens, DS is out of this school. And he will probably resist with both feet, even if he hates the homework. They tend not to want to change, they like their friends, they understand the environment. It becomes a rather heartbreaking choice. Isn't the handwriting already on the wall with them claiming up to 1.5 hours of homework a night for 3rd graders? You're right. When I signed the contract, one of the things IL's were trying to tell me was that what is written isn't always what is done. DH's family is full of teachers, so I figured maybe they were right. Also, they stressed that what takes one student half an hour may take DS 5 minutes. Apparently, it also takes DS half an hour. Anyway, DS will resist now or later, because he is very much into routine, doesn't like change, etc. He likes his school, the few days he's had of it, so if we change, I would make the change at the end of the year, so that the change coincides with the change in grades. Having changed schools regularly as a child, I found starting a new school easier if I started at the beginning of the school year. Like I said, though, I'm not sure if that would make a difference. I have heard that they do lots of homework at our local school. |
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