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What happens in MCPS (and others) if your child does not do the homework,
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Anonymous
| Just I suspected. |
Anonymous
|
correction:
Just as I suspected. |
Anonymous
Why, the average parent doesn't have the patience, preserverance or skill set to teach their own children elementary mathematics but once kids develop the reading bug their appetites much more easily drive them without much input from parents. Translation: much easier and cheaper to overcome poor or no training in reading in school. When the very schools and teachers are failing in giving children a strong foundation in mathematics (to cure phobias about math that limit their future subject selections in science, engineering and technology down the road), parents naturally get antsy and seek remedy -- tutors and the like. |
Anonymous
I agree, but I wonder if the tutors and the freaking out by parents is helping or hurting. Is it feeding the math phobia or curing it??? My DD had math phobia and wasn't very good at it. We worked with her a bit, but mostly played up how awesome math is (i.e. her Grandmother works in a math related field, told her all of the things math is good for, etc.). She is doing better this year -- and her teachers noted how enthusiastic she is about math and how hard she is working. Now I feel we can work in the extra help without it being a grind for her because it's something she WANTS to be good at. |
Anonymous
After reading this thread it seems the folk that get upset are the parents and teachers who disagree with others who give their elementary children more math homework than 10 min/grade. It seems those parents that don't follow this prescription are not upset; they simply keep on doing what seems to work for their child and gets results. My take, do what works for your child. Some need supplemental work (home work, work outside of the class, whatever you want to label it) at home others do not. The goal is an educated child with a basic and solid foundation in Math ... not whether a child is doing more or less than 10 min of homework per grade outside of the classroom at home. Families will do what is necessary for their own child regardless of whether some teacher sends the child home with homework or not. |
Anonymous
| I believe that access to the internet has put more parents in reach of more information and thus the school systems are under so much scrutiny now. Back when we were in school, parents just went along. |
Anonymous
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What's the message you are sending if you say:
* Homework is for the kids who aren't as good as you.... I agree the kids get too much, and yadda yadda yadda. It really isn't so simple to just not do the homework. Sometimes, the assignments are part of the next day's class activities (grading together, evaluating each other's sentences... If you just don't do the homework as a policy, you kid doesn't get to participate in that stuff. If your kid is as able as you say, the work won't take long. Skipping some is fine, but skipping all of it teaches a lot of bad lessons. And, all our kids have outside activities. The two you list doesn't sound like such a great burden. |
Anonymous
I do not think anyone is sending a message that homework is for the kids who aren't as good as you. I assure the best kids do quite a bit of homework. I guess it comes done to what you define as homework? Academic and intellectual activity (outside or in house tutors like parents) done at home counts as homework in my book. Work assigned by the school teacher is also homework, some of it is optional, some of it counts for your grade. If the child wants to optimize his grade in the latter circumstance he or she will do the required homework. Much of this type of work may not represent an important component of the overall grade. Just depends on the ground rules. I know there are children who skip homework ...or put in weak effort...for some work that mamy appear as busy work (cutting,coloring and pasting for some young kids is a pasttime they have moved beyond). The kids instead will get to reading their favorite novels or work on fractions instead. I see nothing wrong with selecting the latter option as long as you understand the rules and accept the consequences. |
Anonymous
Remember when we [as students] calculated our OWN grades? |
Anonymous
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I think the Internet has brought a transparency that's just begun to level the playing field.
No one has a monopoly on information. It's a good thing. |
Anonymous
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10 minutes per grade level in elementary school seems to be a join recommendation by the NEA (teachers union) and the national PTA.
Right and that's arbitrary because it's got to be 10 minutes on AVERAGE. My child would finish his homework super fast but other parents would complain that their children were doing 10 hours of homework a week when it felt like much less for DC. (DC is no genius, he's just a fast reader and writer.) So folks cannot take this to the minute, they have to allow for their children's abilities etc. |
Anonymous
What do they have to back this up? |
Anonymous
What do they have to back this up? http://www.nea.org/tools/16938.htm How Much Homework Do Students Do? Survey data and anecdotal evidence show that some students spend hours nightly doing homework. Homework overload is the exception rather than the norm; however, according to research from the Brookings Institution and the Rand Corporation (see the Brown Center 2003 below). Their researchers analyzed data from a variety of sources and concluded that the majority of U.S. students spend less than an hour a day on homework, regardless of grade level, and this has held true for most of the past 50 years. In the last 20 years, homework has increased only in the lower grade levels, and this increase is associated with neutral (and sometimes negative) effects on student achievement. How Much Is Appropriate? The National PTA recommendations fall in line with general guidelines suggested by researcher Harris Cooper: 10-20 minutes per night in the first grade, and an additional 10 minutes per grade level thereafter (e.g., 20 minutes for second grade, 120 minutes for twelfth). High school students may sometimes do more, depending on what classes they take (see Review of Educational Research, 2006). What are the benefits? Homework usually falls into one of three categories: practice, preparation, or extension. The purpose usually varies by grade. Individualized assignments that tap into students' existing skills or interests can be motivating. At the elementary school level, homework can help students develop study skills and habits and can keep families informed about their child's learning. At the secondary school level, student homework is associated with greater academic achievement. (Review of Educational Research, 2006) What’s good policy? Experts advise schools or districts to include teachers, parents, and students in any effort to set homework policies. Policies should address the purposes of homework; amount and frequency; school and teacher responsibilities; student responsibilities; and, the role of parents or others who assist students with homework. |
Anonymous
| More policy than rigorous science. Thanks. |
Anonymous
Oh for crying out loud. There's not really going to be rigorous science backing up these kind of time recommendations. We don't even have rigorous science backing up basic math instruction and curriculum in the elementary schools. |