tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post3436439443192592112..comments2023-10-10T05:20:11.192-04:00Comments on Elementary, My Dear, or Far From It: Why I Hate HomeworkJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725549451973770515noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-89632895101433223022011-10-15T17:08:48.596-04:002011-10-15T17:08:48.596-04:00I know this is an older post, but I'm cleaning...I know this is an older post, but I'm cleaning out my feed reader and have had this starred for a while. I hate homework and grades as well and am often questioning these practices. Not that it's done much good but I keep plugging away at it. Thanks!teacherninjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07690406470351639188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-36590359472996123712011-05-02T22:30:41.943-04:002011-05-02T22:30:41.943-04:00My own children, in 5th and 3rd grades in metro DC...My own children, in 5th and 3rd grades in metro DC, have a phenomenal homework load. I hate it. They hate it. I do not give homework to my Pre-K students, although I have been urged to by some parents (!!). I send home a "share book" every night with every child, and that's it. However I've been thinking about telling parents that the homework is to turn off the TV.Launa Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03732938187019993335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-60876680996608623462011-05-01T20:52:54.051-04:002011-05-01T20:52:54.051-04:00Sneaker Teacher, I would definitely prefer weekly ...Sneaker Teacher, I would definitely prefer weekly homework (although we seem to have approached it that way in my house even though it isn't assigned that way). The flexibility to do it when it works best for us would be good. But, honestly, I'd still rather spend our time reading together, playing outside, talking about things, and just being a family than doing homework.<br /><br />Mrs. Tabb, Thanks! For me this blog has been a place to push my thinking and it has helped a lot.<br /><br />teach5, It sounds to me like you are expecting parents to read with kids (very worth the time) and offering them information about what the kids are learning so that they can support it. That sounds just about perfect to me.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04725549451973770515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-40417415583145550812011-05-01T18:46:43.817-04:002011-05-01T18:46:43.817-04:00I teach kindergarten in a title one school. I giv...I teach kindergarten in a title one school. I give homework. What I give is a weekly reading log, we ask the parents to read with their child for 20 minutes a day 5 days a week. With the reading log, I include a progressive list of the letters and words that the child should know as the year progresses. If they haven't master the letters, sounds and words, then the expectation is that the parents will provide additional help at home. The kids who don't do the homework, usually don't do the class daily work, are generally behind the rest of the class, and the parents aren't helping.<br />I give it because beyond what we do in class, homework is pretty much my only other option for some of these kids. I don't have any elusions that miracles will happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-4026664992853766282011-04-29T00:34:09.761-04:002011-04-29T00:34:09.761-04:00you've given me some things to think about... ...you've given me some things to think about... =) <br /><br />www.anotherdayinfirstgrade.blogspot.comLaNesha Tabb https://www.blogger.com/profile/11558302418148040359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-5795323936581800182011-04-27T22:37:58.418-04:002011-04-27T22:37:58.418-04:00Jenny,
We do use Everyday Math and I never, ever ...Jenny,<br /><br />We do use Everyday Math and I never, ever nag kids about homework or hunt down homework not turned in. We are having a tough time at our house over homework tonight. Our daughter is making herself miserable over it and won't let it go even though we have said that she could. Yet another reason to hate homework. Ugh...Jill Fischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13162764425985636884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-74362770184855064702011-04-27T22:00:41.967-04:002011-04-27T22:00:41.967-04:00I teach half day Kinder and we give weekly homewor...I teach half day Kinder and we give weekly homework. We are required to send home the math homework that goes along with our new math adoption, and we include an additional sheet to reinforce our weekly sight word and weekly sound. I send two math worksheets and one reading sheet per week and kids have it over a weekend so there is a lot of time to complete it. <br /><br />One reason I think homework is beneficial is that it helps parents who aren't able to volunteer or come to my classroom stay aware of what we are working on. The work is not hard and it is not that time consuming, but I know that as a result of having the work to do at home, parents are spending time with their kiddos and staying involved in their progress. I also think the weekly work provides more flexibility for busy families. I can definitely see the other side though.... it can also be a big source of stress for families who struggle with time or who value having their children do other activities after school.Sneaker Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11629970985456274562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-2274463208332132952011-04-27T21:47:30.650-04:002011-04-27T21:47:30.650-04:00Summers School, It's bad enough that we subjec...Summers School, It's bad enough that we subject our students to things we don't believe in (I'm thinking of standardized test after standardized test here) because the state and/or federal government requires us to. But then the parents and administrators also push us to do things we can't stand. I'm always impressed by how teachers manage to do what they have to without completely abandoning what they believe. It's pretty awesome.<br /><br />Kristen, The only homework I give my kids each day is to read (we send home guided reading books they've read) and to go to bed by 8. Every once in a while I'll ask them to count (by 5s, 10s, from 25-40 or something) but I don't send home any written homework. My administration has no problem with that, luckily for me. I do have parents voice concerns, but I explain that I expect the children to work really hard from the time they get to my classroom until they go home and that once they leave I believe they need time to play and to spend with their families. I am always willing to recommend workbooks parents can get for their kids if they feel strongly their child needs something more. I've never had a parent get upset about this. Most seem pretty happy once I say I want their child to have time with them. Good luck!<br /><br />Miss Wilfong, It sounds like the homework you are giving is exactly what we hope families are already doing. I expect students to read each night and send books home with them, but I love the idea of making reading with parents (with either one doing the reading) part of their homework, especially at the beginning of the year.<br /><br />Jill, You use Everyday Math? My daughter brings home those pages each day. As homework, they aren't too bad. I will admit that often her homework doesn't get done and at the end of the week (or a couple of weeks) she'll pull a bunch out of her backpack and do them. She doesn't mind doing them, we just have other things going on most evenings as a family. Her teacher is not concerned, fortunately.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04725549451973770515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-49236106943752631512011-04-27T20:57:15.861-04:002011-04-27T20:57:15.861-04:00I completely agree with your views on homework. Un...I completely agree with your views on homework. Unfortunately, I am required to give the math homework that goes along with our math program. Thankfully, it is usually very short and generally not "busy work". I would still prefer not to have to send it home, though. I do try to complete it in class with the students sometimes as way to minimize what gets sent home.Jill Fischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13162764425985636884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-64484778150348358882011-04-27T20:24:06.326-04:002011-04-27T20:24:06.326-04:00I teach kindergarten, and unfortunately we do give...I teach kindergarten, and unfortunately we do give homework...however, our homework focuses more on parents spending time with their children. For example, part of our homework is for parents to read 3 books to their child per week and document the books that they read. We recognize the importance of reading together, and we want it to carry into the home as well. As the year progresses, we encourage the students to read the books to their parents. They love the idea of reading a story to their family.Mrs. Beachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10911212687784234229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-35286887921301899022011-04-27T19:38:25.268-04:002011-04-27T19:38:25.268-04:00I am now, after 13 years, debating the idea of hom...I am now, after 13 years, debating the idea of homework. I give it, and I give a lot in some people's mind. I used to give a lot more til a parent complained that it was too much for her with a new baby. Most parents expect it, so I give it. What do you tell parents? Your principal? I would love to not give homework next year, but I feel I need something to go home to show the kids are practicing something outside of the classroom. Ideas?Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316414969705949993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10378966.post-63267160594826307402011-04-27T10:32:37.310-04:002011-04-27T10:32:37.310-04:00I agree, completely. I hate homework too. The on...I agree, completely. I hate homework too. The only time I really want to give it is if a child <i>hasn't</i> done the work during the day and instead elected to not work. However, parents and administration here get upset if there isn't <i>some</i> homework. So I assign it. Then, we grade it in class. That's it.Summers Schoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12798816042783988336noreply@blogger.com