I am so over homework

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need to help your kid with his homework?
Unless there is a problem they should be doing it on thier own, statting in kindergarten.

Not so fast. I help my kids when they have exhausted all they know. Sometimes the instructions are not that clear when they are in school nor does the work look the same when they get home. A little more explanation, a little more reasoning goes a long way. Give them similar examples to use and guide them without answering the questions out right. This challenges them to think more. No parent wants to have their child go to school without the homework being done. If you don't help them then you may appear as not caring and if you don't care enough to help them who will?

Then the teacher is not giving correct homework. Homework is meant to be practice. I'm a teacher and don't understand why other teachers send work home and expect the parents to teach. I get that we have common core and such, but homework has gotten out if control. There are studies out there if you want to look for them that show homework in ES is unnecessary and doesn't help the way teachers think it will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does homework really help to educate students?

I see the value in research, term papers and studying for tests, but I question the value of having homework every night. Have there ever been studies done on the educational results of every evening homework versus free study in preparation for assessments?

We've had situations when the homework load was so great our children had little or no time to study for tests. We've even had situations when teachers have assigned lengthy homework assignments the night before a major test that was unrelated to the material being tested the following day.

Sometimes, I wonder if the idea of homework is more for the purpose of teaching structure than content.

Any thoughts?

I think there's value in homework; repetition tends to make concepts stick. I do think that the amount of homework is often over the top and counter-productive however.

It reinforces the concepts. It also puts students on the spot for delivering their end rather than letting them get away with just sitting in class daydreaming all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, Homework SUCKS! Even if you are not helping them it still SUCKS!

In middle school my son can have anywhere from 2-4 hours of homework. Teachers all plan tests for the same day, because it is logical due to end of marking period. We have weekend homework that has destroyed Sunday night family dinners. My extended family use to get together but nobody can because of homework.

My son has sports 2 nights a week. So from 5-6:30, home at 7pm. That means after a snack he is working from 8-10 on homework. Then he is up at 6am for whatever he did not get done.

I have to help him with Math because the way the teachers teach it is hard to understand. I got an email from the teacher that my son failed a math test, 8 chapters. I taught him all 8 chapters in 1 hour and he retook the test and got a 88. That is pathetic. He had no clue for 4 weeks what the teacher was teaching. They of course blame the kid for not trying when he comes for help.

They had to build a castle that looked like one they learned in history using anything they wanted. That project took 4 hours every Saturday for 4 weeks, 16 hours. If it were an art project I would get that he is learning how to work with clay or something else but what did he really learn. Patience, maybe.

So you had no idea for 8 chapters' time that your son was struggling? He didn't tell you? He had no homework coming home showing it, etc? Seems like there was a disconnect for sure but I don't think your son is without some responsibility to speak up and tell you he was struggling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need to help your kid with his homework?
Unless there is a problem they should be doing it on thier own, statting in kindergarten.

Not so fast. I help my kids when they have exhausted all they know. Sometimes the instructions are not that clear when they are in school nor does the work look the same when they get home. A little more explanation, a little more reasoning goes a long way. Give them similar examples to use and guide them without answering the questions out right. This challenges them to think more. No parent wants to have their child go to school without the homework being done. If you don't help them then you may appear as not caring and if you don't care enough to help them who will?

Then the teacher is not giving correct homework. Homework is meant to be practice. I'm a teacher and don't understand why other teachers send work home and expect the parents to teach. I get that we have common core and such, but homework has gotten out if control. There are studies out there if you want to look for them that show homework in ES is unnecessary and doesn't help the way teachers think it will.

If you're a teacher then you should know how you were taught is nothing like how today's kids are being taught. I'm not familiar with your curriculum but I have found that teachers are told now to cover more material in a shorter time span. Last year my kids school had four marking periods, now its three. Students don't bring text books home like they used to because past students wrote in or lost books. They have students reading a story and the kids are supposed to take some notes to write about the story when they get home. UHH? Really? The kids can't hear the story because the kids talks low and they can't bring the book home. Take notes, heck they are in fourth grade not college. I had to tell my son to take notes because the teacher didn't instruct them to do so nor do they even know how to do it accurately. My son had a science project (he's in 4th grade) and needed to write a report. When I told him he had to include references he looked at me like I had two heads. The teacher never told the class how to write a report and what to include. Even though the hand out showed a reference section. In the past the teachers covered a lot of material in a longer time frame. This allowed teachers to make their own lesson planned because they knew what to cover and by when. Now the lesson plans are created for them and there is no swaying from it. So you now have get it if you can and if not go else where for help. Which means Kumon, Sylvan Learning Center, etc.

Therefore you have to help your kids. I agree its excessive but remember be careful what you ask for. We want to compete nationally so we throw out all we have learned in the past and know how other countries teach their kids just to implement testing. As if somehow a test is the only way of measuring a child success. That wasn't how I was taught and I went on to become an engineer. We allowed our educators to implement these strategies to somehow justify we are doing better by test scores. I know I covered a lot here and sure will get some type of feedback but its what I have seen in my sons school and it was just in a short time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, Homework SUCKS! Even if you are not helping them it still SUCKS!

In middle school my son can have anywhere from 2-4 hours of homework. Teachers all plan tests for the same day, because it is logical due to end of marking period. We have weekend homework that has destroyed Sunday night family dinners. My extended family use to get together but nobody can because of homework.

My son has sports 2 nights a week. So from 5-6:30, home at 7pm. That means after a snack he is working from 8-10 on homework. Then he is up at 6am for whatever he did not get done.

I have to help him with Math because the way the teachers teach it is hard to understand. I got an email from the teacher that my son failed a math test, 8 chapters. I taught him all 8 chapters in 1 hour and he retook the test and got a 88. That is pathetic. He had no clue for 4 weeks what the teacher was teaching. They of course blame the kid for not trying when he comes for help.

They had to build a castle that looked like one they learned in history using anything they wanted. That project took 4 hours every Saturday for 4 weeks, 16 hours. If it were an art project I would get that he is learning how to work with clay or something else but what did he really learn. Patience, maybe.

What time does your son get home from school? I presume its between 2-3. If so, there is a window of opportunity before 5 to do some homework unless you have to run out and do something else on a daily basis. Does your son procrastinate? This too may lead to longer time doing homework. It may not be the case I'm just asking. I have know other parent who are in the same boat as you and they don't have their kids in sports. Welcome to the new way of teaching. Sucks but this has become our reality since schools have adopted new standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk with the headmaster/teachers. It is better for the kids to do homework themselves without parental help. Better for everyone.

Signed ... a teacher & parent!

It's MY KID. If MY KID asks for help from me, then MY KID should get help.

While I get your concept, you are going on the premise that all teachers can teach. I have three teenagers, one college-aged, one senior, and one 8th grader. I'm here to tell you that all teachers cannot teach. Some should not be teaching at all. So I will continue to help MY CHILD when he/she asks for help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need to help your kid with his homework?
Unless there is a problem they should be doing it on thier own, statting in kindergarten.

Not so fast. I help my kids when they have exhausted all they know. Sometimes the instructions are not that clear when they are in school nor does the work look the same when they get home. A little more explanation, a little more reasoning goes a long way. Give them similar examples to use and guide them without answering the questions out right. This challenges them to think more. No parent wants to have their child go to school without the homework being done. If you don't help them then you may appear as not caring and if you don't care enough to help them who will?

Then the teacher is not giving correct homework. Homework is meant to be practice. I'm a teacher and don't understand why other teachers send work home and expect the parents to teach. I get that we have common core and such, but homework has gotten out if control. There are studies out there if you want to look for them that show homework in ES is unnecessary and doesn't help the way teachers think it will.

If you're a teacher then you should know how you were taught is nothing like how today's kids are being taught. I'm not familiar with your curriculum but I have found that teachers are told now to cover more material in a shorter time span. Last year my kids school had four marking periods, now its three. Students don't bring text books home like they used to because past students wrote in or lost books. They have students reading a story and the kids are supposed to take some notes to write about the story when they get home. UHH? Really? The kids can't hear the story because the kids talks low and they can't bring the book home. Take notes, heck they are in fourth grade not college. I had to tell my son to take notes because the teacher didn't instruct them to do so nor do they even know how to do it accurately. My son had a science project (he's in 4th grade) and needed to write a report. When I told him he had to include references he looked at me like I had two heads. The teacher never told the class how to write a report and what to include. Even though the hand out showed a reference section. In the past the teachers covered a lot of material in a longer time frame. This allowed teachers to make their own lesson planned because they knew what to cover and by when. Now the lesson plans are created for them and there is no swaying from it. So you now have get it if you can and if not go else where for help. Which means Kumon, Sylvan Learning Center, etc.

Therefore you have to help your kids. I agree its excessive but remember be careful what you ask for. We want to compete nationally so we throw out all we have learned in the past and know how other countries teach their kids just to implement testing. As if somehow a test is the only way of measuring a child success. That wasn't how I was taught and I went on to become an engineer. We allowed our educators to implement these strategies to somehow justify we are doing better by test scores. I know I covered a lot here and sure will get some type of feedback but its what I have seen in my sons school and it was just in a short time.

I'll give you feedback. What you wrote here is true, well-stated, and there will be haters, because .... truth is hard to take.

Well done PP, well done! Truly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, Homework SUCKS! Even if you are not helping them it still SUCKS!

In middle school my son can have anywhere from 2-4 hours of homework. Teachers all plan tests for the same day, because it is logical due to end of marking period. We have weekend homework that has destroyed Sunday night family dinners. My extended family use to get together but nobody can because of homework.

My son has sports 2 nights a week. So from 5-6:30, home at 7pm. That means after a snack he is working from 8-10 on homework. Then he is up at 6am for whatever he did not get done.

I have to help him with Math because the way the teachers teach it is hard to understand. I got an email from the teacher that my son failed a math test, 8 chapters. I taught him all 8 chapters in 1 hour and he retook the test and got a 88. That is pathetic. He had no clue for 4 weeks what the teacher was teaching. They of course blame the kid for not trying when he comes for help.

They had to build a castle that looked like one they learned in history using anything they wanted. That project took 4 hours every Saturday for 4 weeks, 16 hours. If it were an art project I would get that he is learning how to work with clay or something else but what did he really learn. Patience, maybe.

Even if your son did ask the teacher for help, it probably would not have helped because they were not teaching in a way that was reaching him. You did. To the person who asked why you had no idea your son was struggling before the teacher notified you. That's simple to answer. Some kids are not as forthright and schools now are actually telling the kids NOT to go to the parents for help. Make sure you tell your child that he is to come to you when he is struggling, though he probably already knows, given he got that 88. Good for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Homework SUCKS! Even if you are not helping them it still SUCKS!

In middle school my son can have anywhere from 2-4 hours of homework. Teachers all plan tests for the same day, because it is logical due to end of marking period. We have weekend homework that has destroyed Sunday night family dinners. My extended family use to get together but nobody can because of homework.

My son has sports 2 nights a week. So from 5-6:30, home at 7pm. That means after a snack he is working from 8-10 on homework. Then he is up at 6am for whatever he did not get done.

I have to help him with Math because the way the teachers teach it is hard to understand. I got an email from the teacher that my son failed a math test, 8 chapters. I taught him all 8 chapters in 1 hour and he retook the test and got a 88. That is pathetic. He had no clue for 4 weeks what the teacher was teaching. They of course blame the kid for not trying when he comes for help.

They had to build a castle that looked like one they learned in history using anything they wanted. That project took 4 hours every Saturday for 4 weeks, 16 hours. If it were an art project I would get that he is learning how to work with clay or something else but what did he really learn. Patience, maybe.

So you had no idea for 8 chapters' time that your son was struggling? He didn't tell you? He had no homework coming home showing it, etc? Seems like there was a disconnect for sure but I don't think your son is without some responsibility to speak up and tell you he was struggling

No. Parents should not hoover like a helicopter. He eventually told me but we only had 1 night to study... plus all the other homework, so he failed the test and I taught it on the weekend, in the middle of the day, when he was not exhausted or stressed. No I don't look at his homework unless the he or the teacher asks me to. Really? You check your child's Algebra homework? His responsibility is to work it out with the teacher who made appointments with him and never showed up. It's Lame!

I would say, did you meet with the teacher at lunch? He would say he didn't show up. The teacher admitted to missing the appointments. They are overworked some are just not good at being teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Homework SUCKS! Even if you are not helping them it still SUCKS!

In middle school my son can have anywhere from 2-4 hours of homework. Teachers all plan tests for the same day, because it is logical due to end of marking period. We have weekend homework that has destroyed Sunday night family dinners. My extended family use to get together but nobody can because of homework.

My son has sports 2 nights a week. So from 5-6:30, home at 7pm. That means after a snack he is working from 8-10 on homework. Then he is up at 6am for whatever he did not get done.

I have to help him with Math because the way the teachers teach it is hard to understand. I got an email from the teacher that my son failed a math test, 8 chapters. I taught him all 8 chapters in 1 hour and he retook the test and got a 88. That is pathetic. He had no clue for 4 weeks what the teacher was teaching. They of course blame the kid for not trying when he comes for help.

They had to build a castle that looked like one they learned in history using anything they wanted. That project took 4 hours every Saturday for 4 weeks, 16 hours. If it were an art project I would get that he is learning how to work with clay or something else but what did he really learn. Patience, maybe.

Even if your son did ask the teacher for help, it probably would not have helped because they were not teaching in a way that was reaching him. You did. To the person who asked why you had no idea your son was struggling before the teacher notified you. That's simple to answer. Some kids are not as forthright and schools now are actually telling the kids NOT to go to the parents for help. Make sure you tell your child that he is to come to you when he is struggling, though he probably already knows, given he got that 88. Good for you.

True. I am lucky, I have taught Math in the past. It was easy. But for other parents, not so much. In a normal situation this child would have never learned the concept. It was FOIL of quadratic equations.

[Anonymous]

Asian parent here: helping my children with their homework - not doing it for them - is part of my responsibility as a parent.

My parents did it for me, their parents did it for them.............

I want my children to excel to the best of their ability. Homework is part of that process.

Now flame away about tiger moms, etc!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Asian parent here: helping my children with their homework - not doing it for them - is part of my responsibility as a parent.

My parents did it for me, their parents did it for them.............

I want my children to excel to the best of their ability. Homework is part of that process.

Now flame away about tiger moms, etc!

Its just a different philosophy. My job is to teach my children to be independent learners, how the system works, how to get help from the teachers, how to study, how to learn that each teacher is different and 1/2 the battle is just figuring out what the teacher wants.

Homework is their job, not mine and if they don't get it they need to figure out how to get it without mom's help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Talk with the headmaster/teachers. It is better for the kids to do homework themselves without parental help. Better for everyone.

Signed ... a teacher & parent!

It's MY KID. If MY KID asks for help from me, then MY KID should get help.

While I get your concept, you are going on the premise that all teachers can teach. I have three teenagers, one college-aged, one senior, and one 8th grader. I'm here to tell you that all teachers cannot teach. Some should not be teaching at all. So I will continue to help MY CHILD when he/she asks for help.

You can stop screaming at me. I don't claim that kid belongs to anyone else.

Our school explicitly states that homework is for the kid and if they can't do it they are to talk with the teacher the next day - no shame in it. Of course, a little guidance here and there from a parent is fine. But if parents significantly coach the kids on homework, how can the teachers know whether their lessons are successful and the kids are learning as a result. It is not rocket science.

As for your claim that there are rotten teachers out there - have you spoken with them? With the headmaster? I think a lot of times, the parents don't understand why the homework was given or what it is intended to do, and a brief chat with the teacher would clear up a lot. Feedback from parents to teachers is essential if homework is becoming stressful. That is definitely not what the teacher wants.

Stop feeling persecuted and start talking with the teacher and helping the kid become independent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Talk with the headmaster/teachers. It is better for the kids to do homework themselves without parental help. Better for everyone.

Signed ... a teacher & parent!

It's MY KID. If MY KID asks for help from me, then MY KID should get help.

While I get your concept, you are going on the premise that all teachers can teach. I have three teenagers, one college-aged, one senior, and one 8th grader. I'm here to tell you that all teachers cannot teach. Some should not be teaching at all. So I will continue to help MY CHILD when he/she asks for help.

You can stop screaming at me. I don't claim that kid belongs to anyone else.

Our school explicitly states that homework is for the kid and if they can't do it they are to talk with the teacher the next day - no shame in it. Of course, a little guidance here and there from a parent is fine. But if parents significantly coach the kids on homework, how can the teachers know whether their lessons are successful and the kids are learning as a result. It is not rocket science.

As for your claim that there are rotten teachers out there - have you spoken with them? With the headmaster? I think a lot of times, the parents don't understand why the homework was given or what it is intended to do, and a brief chat with the teacher would clear up a lot. Feedback from parents to teachers is essential if homework is becoming stressful. That is definitely not what the teacher wants.

Stop feeling persecuted and start talking with the teacher and helping the kid become independent.

Since when is anyone's kid your litmus test? Someone's kid fails and, yay, we have identified a bad lesson.

There is no persecution here. You are forgetting who you work for, who pays your salary. Hint: it's not the school or the government....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does homework really help to educate students?

I see the value in research, term papers and studying for tests, but I question the value of having homework every night. Have there ever been studies done on the educational results of every evening homework versus free study in preparation for assessments?

We've had situations when the homework load was so great our children had little or no time to study for tests. We've even had situations when teachers have assigned lengthy homework assignments the night before a major test that was unrelated to the material being tested the following day.

Sometimes, I wonder if the idea of homework is more for the purpose of teaching structure than content.

Any thoughts?

I think there's value in homework; repetition tends to make concepts stick. I do think that the amount of homework is often over the top and counter-productive however.

I know just how you feel. I hate those damn lazy daydreaming kids too!
It reinforces the concepts. It also puts students on the spot for delivering their end rather than letting them get away with just sitting in class daydreaming all day.