[roomformore]

We moved over the summer and our daughter is now in a new school. She is in third grade and has been having tons of homework. Tonight we had an hour and a half of homework. It is not just her because the neighbor girl(same class)had to borrow the book and we all ended up doing it together because it was so hard to figure out. I mean this is 3rh grade! I have heard other Mothers complaining and one day we were walking out and a boy behind us said to his mother that he wishe he had "Mrs. So and So"(my daughters teacher)and she said "no you don't I heard she gives lots of homework". I turned around and said yeah she does and she said a Mom was compaining to her about how much homework and had asked her how much her son had and she said hardly any. This lady was an aide of some sort too. She was quick to point out she really liked my daughters teacher but was glad her son didnt get him. I want my daughter to continue to like school and hate to complain but this is getting old. She gets this much homework about 3 nights a week plus she had a big test today and a spelling test tomorrow. We were so busy with homework we didnt even study the spelling. Is this excessive? What would you all do?

[Howdy]

I suppose you could talk to the principal. My local elementary school started (this school year) a new limited-homework policy for the younger grades. I got the impression that someone (the principal?) had instructed all teachers of the lower grades to cut back or eliminate homework.

The teacher my 3rd grade foster daughter had, decided to assign only reading homework, and it wasn't too much, it was 20 minutes a night, four nights a week.

One of my coworkers has the same situation in her kids' school (it is in a different county than mine) this year, but she isn't happy about it, she thinks her kids should get more homework!

I wonder if there are any studies about amounts of homework appropriate for the different ages. If so, that might influence the teacher?

[roomformore]

Yeah I would be interested to know if there is such a study. I really think and hour and a half 3-4 nights a week in excessive. I guess I will try talking to the teacher but I just hate to do that. I don't want to be the only one complaining. I think 20 minutes a night is enough at this age. I mean what are they doing all day in school?

[Jenna599]

our foster son is in 2nd grade and getting insane amounts of homework for a 7 year old. he brings home on avg 3-4 worksheets, plus any he diddnt finish in class (motivation to lose them on the playground afterschool!) he was having real trouble finishing so much work, most nights it would take us close to 2 hours because of his learning delays, attention span and the fact that he is a 7 year old boy who has spent the past 7 hours sitting at a school desk!!! i spoke to his teacher and we finally worked out a plan for him, she circles the problems or questions on the worksheet she wants him to finish (usually about 1/4) of the work, so that he gets some from each subject, but it takes less than an hour now.

another method ive seen teachers use is to give out the weekly math homework monday night and assign a small section each night so they end up with 10 -12 math problems instead of 50.

i would start a "homework" journal and write down what time she starts her homework, weather or not she takes breaks and for how long and what time she finishes and be sure to note things like 'it was too late to study spelling words when she finished her history" after a week or two have a teacher confrance and bring that notebook, it may just be that the teacher really doesnt realize how long it takes them to do this homework... even the ones that dont doddle.

just think.... at least you can dust off that old long division file youve got stored in your brain somewhere... cant wait for triganomatry!!! lol
-jen

[Cheryl62]

I think this is a trend everywhere. My kids go to an American school overseas, where we're posted, and my 3rd grade daughter gets a good bit of homework too. 20 minutes of reading a night (minimum - she wants to do more so the teacher will be "happy at her"), usually about 30 minutes worth of math, about 15-20 minutes of spelling homework, and often some writing assignment as well. I don't remember having nearly that much homework at her age! Even my little guy in 1st grade has homework 4 days a week, but it usually is only 30 minutes or so. I swear, if I were still working full time, there's no way we'd get it all done before they were too pooped after dinner to do it.

The school also has after-school activities that are strongly encouraged - which means my little guy gets home around 4, and my 3rd grader closer to 5 (they both leave for school at 7:30 - a LONG day, IMO). The activities are neat stuff - like gymnastics, music, art, karate -- they love it, and want to do something almost every day, because their friends all do - but I have to set limits, because homework is impossible on those days - they're just too tired. I really do appreciate all the opportunities they have - but sometimes I think we're overloading our kids. Difficult choices...and hard to find the balance!

[kllee4]

When I taught 3rd grade, I tried to be realistic about the amount of homework that my students could finish and finish WELL each night. I always felt that instead of assigning "busy" work for the students to do, I could accomplish the same thing by planning ahead. For instance, teachers who assign problems #1-15 on a page really could find out how much the students understand by assigning maybe 4 or 5 problems. This way, a teacher could make sure that the students are practicing this at home (since it should have been taught during the school day in more detail AND there is usually so much more that needs to be assigned in other subjects).

I would personally mention it to the teacher first but to keep her from becoming defensive, try to word it from your child's perspective and simply explain how difficult it is becoming for her and your concern that you feel that she may not be performing at her best with so much to do. I always appreciated parents who came to me first so that I could approach it head on without having my principal involved. If things don't change, then I would go to the principal about your concerns.

Believe me, if you feel this way, then I can almost guarantee that other parents are feeling the same way, so don't feel bad doing what you feel is necessary for your child. The goal is that each child become successful and parents must be the advocates for their child. A lot of teachers (myself included) are perfectionists who feel that it is really difficult to cram everything that the students are expected to learn as well as keep up with the state, county and individual school mandates that dictate where the students should be at any given time. With accountability, larger class sizes, less support personnel, increased paperwork and low pay, we truly do our jobs because we love working with kids and want them to be a success.

Good luck to all the parents who are struggling with this. I have four sons from the 3rd up to the 10th grade and I am experiencing the same thing. One quick hint that I think someone else mentioned: If your child does not get a chance to finish everything, write the teacher a note explaining what happened. This will be very helpful to the teacher, and may keep your child from losing their recess or they may have the opportunity to finish some of it during classtime if it is mandatory. Have a good school year!

kllee

[roomformore]

Klee4: It was so nice to hear a teacher's perspective. I will definately talk to the teacher first. I hadnt even thought of going to the principal yet. Another thing that is hard is my daughter was top of her class at her old school and at this new school she is still one of the best readers but they learned things in second grade that she didnt(like cursive)so she is doing a great job catching up but the excessive homework does not leave us with any extra time to reinforce or practive her writing or to just go over what she did that day. This school is much more advanced(my son had to stay back in kind. because he was not reading) than our own school. I am just thankful she was in the top of her class at the old school or she would really be struggling. I really appreciate all the advice everyone.

[roomformore]

I should have said actually my son got held back for getting frustrated at the work but he actually could read some **** and Jane and knows his alphabet and numbers and write his name. At the old school that was all you needed to go into first grade. He was so upset at having to go back to kindergarten. When we moved we didnt even think about this school mayber being harder....................

[kamamsm]

This is one reason why we decided to home school years ago. If you're going to spend two- four hours a day/evening getting ready for school, going to & from school, & doing home work studying for tests, learning reading words etc. why not stay at home and do it there to begin with?

[TaylorKluck]

Originally posted by kamamsm
This is one reason why we decided to home school years ago. If you're going to spend two- four hours a day/evening getting ready for school, going to & from school, & doing home work studying for tests, learning reading words etc. why not stay at home and do it there to begin with?

Not everyone home schools because it just doesn't fit every personality or home situation.

We moved to New York last year and find the schools place much more emphasis on homework. In our old state we used homework as a small reinforcement for the students and to keep the parents updated on the curriculum. Here, my first grader has handwriting, spelling, math, reading and a very shory humanities-type assignment to complete every day, it averages to probably a bit over an hour for her to complete. She gets home at 4, does her homework, eats dinner, goes to her sports activity and has maybe 30 minutes, if that, for down time before bed. I think it's crazy but she seems to thrive and does even more extra work in the morning. I think the work load is excessive but I haven't complained because she seems to be thriving. I guess I just don't understand why so much homework needs to be done when the children are in school for 6 hours a day.

[leenab]

We homeschool Raj right now and the difference is AMAZING. He's really learning so much and isn't stressed out about it. O came home from school today with HOMEWORK. He's only 3 1/2 yrs old and has homework. I asked why it wasn't done in school today. His teacher said they want the parent's to help with it. I just don't get it. If I'm sending him to school why isn't he learning there. Preschool, is not at all academic, pretty much a place to play. But until adoption that's where he'll be.

Kamamsm, do you still homeschool? How many children do you have? Do you use a specific cirr? Or an online school? Please pm me. I'm looking for something for Raj as we're finishing up his kindgergarten work in the next few months and will start 1st grade work in January.

Thanks,
LeenaB

[kamamsm]

TaylorKluck I didn't mean to suggest everyone should home school. I realize it isn't the life for everyone. We love it. I just meant that people go to outrageous lengths for the public school system. Folks hardly have a life with their children because they spend hours doing home work etc. But I know that not all people can (or should) home school.

[TaylorKluck]

Originally posted by kamamsm
TaylorKluck I didn't mean to suggest everyone should home school. I realize it isn't the life for everyone. We love it. I just meant that people go to outrageous lengths for the public school system. Folks hardly have a life with their children because they spend hours doing home work etc. But I know that not all people can (or should) home school.

I hear what you're saying and respect your opinion. I, too, had thought of homeschooling and actually offered both children the opportunity to be homeschooled. Both decided that the positives of being in a classroom was appealing and it actually does better suit their personalities.

I responded with my statement that not every child/family was in a position to homeschool based on your statement:
" If you're going to spend two- four hours a day/evening getting ready for school, going to & from school, & doing home work studying for tests, learning reading words etc. why not stay at home and do it there to begin with?"

The 'why not stay at home' was what I was responding to not your opinion on homeschooling. I think homeschooling is a viable and positive choice if it suits the family and the child.