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Homework

Now that we are back in the groove with school, we are dealing with two kids who need to get homework done each week.

For Hannah, homework is writing about 20 spelling words out each day (known as Look Cover Write Check), completing 2 sheets of activities, and reading for 10 minutes. Meg has a reader, four or five words to write, and a sheet – usually with some tracing, and circling.

Luckily both girls do it with no arguments, and have worked out that if they do all of it on Monday (including all the spelling words), then they have the rest of the week free. I get that they are supposed to do it over the week, but quite frankly I don’t care. My aim with homework is to get through it with as little angst as possible.

The truth is I am not a fan of homework for primary kids. Never have been. They are so little, so after school they need time to play, and relax, and just be. I am happy for them to have a reader or do some reading, but the rest (to me) seems like something that they are given because parents expect homework.

Despite my misgivings, I make sure that the girls do their homework each week. I want them to feel that we value and support their education, and their teachers. But boy is it hard to squash those misgivings down.

What are your thoughts about homework? I would love to know what others think and do.

Linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT

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Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    March 15, 2013 at 6:52 am

    I have mixed feelings….I am also a primary teacher (early childhood) and hate that things have been 'sped up' up here in QLD. Our old preschool system was great. However, I do see the advantage in 10 – 20 mins a day of reading and sight words (as long as parents stop after 20min max for littlies) as it sets up great routines for down the track, parents also have an idea how their little person is going and it can be very exciting to see them develop their reading skills. Ian Lillico (a former principal from WA who specializes in boys' education)has a wonderful homework grid that my son did last year, it incorporated home jobs and physical activity and was just great. I also have to admit I hate to see how many activities children are now dragged to after school. Some of my littles have an activity every afternoon! Surely 1 day a week or one activity would suffice. Oh for the simple life again, my husband is always saying lets move 300 km's west of Ayers Rock for a quieter life 🙂 Emma

    Reply
  2. Jan says

    March 12, 2013 at 11:42 am

    I was a teacher and hated being obliged to set it because of school policy. Now I'm a grandmother and see my grandchildren struggling after school when they really need to be out getting exercise and some fresh air in their lungs. One of the schools has draconian checking every day and the 8 year old loses half her lunchtime every day till undone work is finished. This does not act as an incentive for her at all.

    Yes, reading is necessary but too often it turns into a chore to be raced through and got out of the way. Reading should be a joy and an entrance into an world of delight, not something which needs to be done because, "Miss says we have to do it."

    Reply
  3. EssentiallyJess says

    March 12, 2013 at 11:01 am

    I'm fairly indifferent most times. It's usually only about ten minutes work a day, and they don't tend to complain too much.
    This week though, we have a homework assignment that I think is a bit much. There just seems to be little time given to it.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    March 12, 2013 at 10:49 am

    I think if you are an Australian cricketer it is advisable to do it

    Reply
  5. havealaughonme says

    March 12, 2013 at 3:44 am

    I'm totally with you Jo, my Prep seems to have so many sight words she has to memorise and learn it's crazy! But we try, but as soon as she gets bored/grumpy I stop. For a girl who is not even 5 yet, school is tiring enough. She does love the readers though and does also have an online Bug Club thing she enjoys. 10 minutes a day is all I aim for 🙂

    Reply
  6. Janine says

    March 12, 2013 at 2:13 am

    Hate it. It's socially unjust (kids without committed parents don't have a hope of competing). Then you have the parents who are too involved in the school projects and it bears no reflection of the child's work. Kids need downtime, they need the space to relax, dream and play. In today's world many kids aren't getting home until after 5.00pm then it's straight into arguing over homework before tea and bath. It causes undue stress on families. I'm also not a fan of it in the early years of highschool – the school my girls go to has had a stringent (and at times overwhelming) homework policy. It has impacted heavily on their enjoyment of school. Now with one daughter in Year 10 (when things should start to get a bit more serious) they are burnt out. Just yesterday one of daughter's friends was in tears in Art because she can't cope – she was getting up at 4.00am to try to get everything done! I could go on and on but I'll stop now. I did write a blog about it a while ago http://shambolicliving.com/2012/03/16/homework-an-exercise-in-futility/

    Reply
  7. Eleise Hale says

    March 12, 2013 at 1:51 am

    I am with you. I think reading should be done every day but the rest of the time, they should be active and playing. There is plenty to learn in their environment.

    Reply
  8. Housewife in Heels says

    March 12, 2013 at 1:22 am

    My boys aren't at school yet, so I've not had to deal with homework. But I'm with you- I'm not a fan, especially in primary school. I like your attitude 'get through it with as little angst as possible'.

    Reply
  9. Rhianna SG says

    March 12, 2013 at 12:51 am

    I am torn between it. I have never been a fan because most of the stuff that was sent home seemed a bit pointless. However when my eldest started middle school without any homework skills I started to see how starting young wasn't such a bad idea.

    Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses #teamIBOT

    Reply
  10. Kirsty @ My Home Truths says

    March 11, 2013 at 11:22 pm

    I completely agree with you Jo and I do exactly the same thing. I have misgivings about homework too, which is amplified as my 2 school-aged kids are on the autism spectrum which makes homework just a little bit more complicated. Luckily our school doesn't make homework mandatory so if things do get too much one week we do have the option to have a rest but I am trying to get them into a routine of getting it over and done with! Nice to know I am not alone in my misgivings about homework!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Jo

I'm a city girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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Hi, I’m Jo

City girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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