3rd Grade, Nominal homework - Is this the norm?

[Anonymous]

That's certainly in line with how it was for my kids in ES. We had no TV or video games in the house. When they were done, they played outside with their friends, drew, played with legos. And always seemed to have their noses in a book that they read for pleasure. You know-- free time that allows kids to relax, have fun and be healthy and creative. They didn't suffer academically. Oldest is at TJ and has 4-5 hours of homework some nights-- after he gets home at 8 from sports. Spends way too many gorgeous Sundays doing 8-10 hours of homework. Younger one is applying to TJ, and stands as good a chance as anyone of being accepted. And will go from having what I think is reasonable homework to way too much.

There are studies showing ES homework is of minimal to no value. So take these years and let you kid be a kid. They will not be here forever, and you will reach a point where you can't do the traditional family Christmas outing because one kid has a group project, and the other has a debate tournament.

And there are are so many things they can do that have some educational value without being plug and chug worksheets. Send them outside to play. Leave the alone with puzzles and building toys and let them imagine. Take them to the library and Barnes and Nobles every chance you get, and make sure they always have things they find interesting to read. If there is something they are interested in-- science or drawing or music-- sign them up for an enrichment classes and take Family field trips. Join your School's Odyssey of the Mind team (these are awesome!) out FIRST/FLL teams or Science Olympias Team. Have them start the piano as a basis for future musical instruments.

Not all learning involves worksheets. And having time to play, dream, imagine and spend time with their family and friends is imporant too.

Just turn off and take away the screens.

[Anonymous]

We are at a highly ranked ES and our homework is similar. I have found that at the start of the year they tend to review before moving on to harder material.

My 4th grader is doing addition and subtraction but with 7-digit numbers; they have covered fractions, multiplication, and some division in prior years. My first grader has very basic math homework (counting, grouping) and a few spelling words to learn, plus 20 minutes of reading.

There is no other homework beyond reading for 30 minutes and occasional projects. The math worksheet takes about 10 minutes. I think 40 minutes/day of homework is absolutely reasonable for ES if not overkill. My kids read every day anyway so this isn't a struggle but if it was I would find this very hard to do 5 days/week.

I have found that if we ever felt we needed more the teacher has been willing to make recommendations/supplement. Before moving, have you tried asking for this?

[Anonymous]

OP, my kids are at a well-regarded private school and I felt the same way -- until 4th grade. That's when the homework level really ramped up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's certainly in line with how it was for my kids in ES. We had no TV or video games in the house. When they were done, they played outside with their friends, drew, played with legos. And always seemed to have their noses in a book that they read for pleasure. You know-- free time that allows kids to relax, have fun and be healthy and creative. They didn't suffer academically. Oldest is at TJ and has 4-5 hours of homework some nights-- after he gets home at 8 from sports. Spends way too many gorgeous Sundays doing 8-10 hours of homework. Younger one is applying to TJ, and stands as good a chance as anyone of being accepted. And will go from having what I think is reasonable homework to way too much.

There are studies showing ES homework is of minimal to no value. So take these years and let you kid be a kid. They will not be here forever, and you will reach a point where you can't do the traditional family Christmas outing because one kid has a group project, and the other has a debate tournament.

And there are are so many things they can do that have some educational value without being plug and chug worksheets. Send them outside to play. Leave the alone with puzzles and building toys and let them imagine. Take them to the library and Barnes and Nobles every chance you get, and make sure they always have things they find interesting to read. If there is something they are interested in-- science or drawing or music-- sign them up for an enrichment classes and take Family field trips. Join your School's Odyssey of the Mind team (these are awesome!) out FIRST/FLL teams or Science Olympias Team. Have them start the piano as a basis for future musical instruments.

Not all learning involves worksheets. And having time to play, dream, imagine and spend time with their family and friends is imporant too.

Just turn off and take away the screens.

I don’t understand why you would encourage your younger child to apply to TJ. So ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

We are in a top rated elementary school and homework for our third grader is 15 minutes of reading. I think there has been one math worksheet.

I love it. Homework has proved to be useless and they spend all day in school - give the kids (and parents) a break.

If you are worried about your kid being behind- there is a ton of stuff online to supplement.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why 4-5 hours of homework for teenagers is considered appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why 4-5 hours of homework for teenagers is considered appropriate.

Our DS is a senior and up through this year never has had more than 10-15 minutes of hw most nights. We're fine with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's certainly in line with how it was for my kids in ES. We had no TV or video games in the house. When they were done, they played outside with their friends, drew, played with legos. And always seemed to have their noses in a book that they read for pleasure. You know-- free time that allows kids to relax, have fun and be healthy and creative. They didn't suffer academically. Oldest is at TJ and has 4-5 hours of homework some nights-- after he gets home at 8 from sports. Spends way too many gorgeous Sundays doing 8-10 hours of homework. Younger one is applying to TJ, and stands as good a chance as anyone of being accepted. And will go from having what I think is reasonable homework to way too much.

There are studies showing ES homework is of minimal to no value. So take these years and let you kid be a kid. They will not be here forever, and you will reach a point where you can't do the traditional family Christmas outing because one kid has a group project, and the other has a debate tournament.

And there are are so many things they can do that have some educational value without being plug and chug worksheets. Send them outside to play. Leave the alone with puzzles and building toys and let them imagine. Take them to the library and Barnes and Nobles every chance you get, and make sure they always have things they find interesting to read. If there is something they are interested in-- science or drawing or music-- sign them up for an enrichment classes and take Family field trips. Join your School's Odyssey of the Mind team (these are awesome!) out FIRST/FLL teams or Science Olympias Team. Have them start the piano as a basis for future musical instruments.

Not all learning involves worksheets. And having time to play, dream, imagine and spend time with their family and friends is imporant too.

Just turn off and take away the screens.

I don’t understand why you would encourage your younger child to apply to TJ. So ridiculous.

+1

[Anonymous]

We're at one of the best elementaries in APS and my 3rd grade daughter's homework is pretty minimal. I'm comfortable with how much she's learning.

[Anonymous]

For a third grader, 20 min of reading and a ten minute math worksheet that reviews what they are learning in class does not seem like a big deal. The main benefit, in my opinion, is to establish the habit of finding a time and place to do HW, getting it done (with none or minimal help from parents) and then actually turning it in. This establishes good school habits way before the HW load becomes more serious.

I say this as someone who has worked in elementary classes for years. If the teacher actually checks the HW (some do and some don't) it also gives them info on who isn't totally grasping the lesson quite yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a third grader, 20 min of reading and a ten minute math worksheet that reviews what they are learning in class does not seem like a big deal. The main benefit, in my opinion, is to establish the habit of finding a time and place to do HW, getting it done (with none or minimal help from parents) and then actually turning it in. This establishes good school habits way before the HW load becomes more serious.

I say this as someone who has worked in elementary classes for years. If the teacher actually checks the HW (some do and some don't) it also gives them info on who isn't totally grasping the lesson quite yet.

In FCPS hw in the elementary grades isn’t graded, or it at least isn’t supposed to count towards the student’s grade. I too have worked in the elementary classroom and what is observed in the classroom gives the teacher info on who isn’t totally grasping the lesson. HW may just tell you how they did with help from home, but I agree that hw should be able to be completed independently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's certainly in line with how it was for my kids in ES. We had no TV or video games in the house. When they were done, they played outside with their friends, drew, played with legos. And always seemed to have their noses in a book that they read for pleasure. You know-- free time that allows kids to relax, have fun and be healthy and creative. They didn't suffer academically. Oldest is at TJ and has 4-5 hours of homework some nights-- after he gets home at 8 from sports. Spends way too many gorgeous Sundays doing 8-10 hours of homework. Younger one is applying to TJ, and stands as good a chance as anyone of being accepted. And will go from having what I think is reasonable homework to way too much.

There are studies showing ES homework is of minimal to no value. So take these years and let you kid be a kid. They will not be here forever, and you will reach a point where you can't do the traditional family Christmas outing because one kid has a group project, and the other has a debate tournament.

And there are are so many things they can do that have some educational value without being plug and chug worksheets. Send them outside to play. Leave the alone with puzzles and building toys and let them imagine. Take them to the library and Barnes and Nobles every chance you get, and make sure they always have things they find interesting to read. If there is something they are interested in-- science or drawing or music-- sign them up for an enrichment classes and take Family field trips. Join your School's Odyssey of the Mind team (these are awesome!) out FIRST/FLL teams or Science Olympias Team. Have them start the piano as a basis for future musical instruments.

Not all learning involves worksheets. And having time to play, dream, imagine and spend time with their family and friends is imporant too.

Just turn off and take away the screens.

I don’t understand why you would encourage your younger child to apply to TJ. So ridiculous.

This also illustrates children who are doing well in school. Not those that need additional help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why 4-5 hours of homework for teenagers is considered appropriate.

Our DS is a senior and up through this year never has had more than 10-15 minutes of hw most nights. We're fine with that.

These are the parents that are fighting to have less homework. Really 15 minutes of homework in high school is not appropriate. Neither is 4 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's certainly in line with how it was for my kids in ES. We had no TV or video games in the house. When they were done, they played outside with their friends, drew, played with legos. And always seemed to have their noses in a book that they read for pleasure. You know-- free time that allows kids to relax, have fun and be healthy and creative. They didn't suffer academically. Oldest is at TJ and has 4-5 hours of homework some nights-- after he gets home at 8 from sports. Spends way too many gorgeous Sundays doing 8-10 hours of homework. Younger one is applying to TJ, and stands as good a chance as anyone of being accepted. And will go from having what I think is reasonable homework to way too much.

There are studies showing ES homework is of minimal to no value. So take these years and let you kid be a kid. They will not be here forever, and you will reach a point where you can't do the traditional family Christmas outing because one kid has a group project, and the other has a debate tournament.

And there are are so many things they can do that have some educational value without being plug and chug worksheets. Send them outside to play. Leave the alone with puzzles and building toys and let them imagine. Take them to the library and Barnes and Nobles every chance you get, and make sure they always have things they find interesting to read. If there is something they are interested in-- science or drawing or music-- sign them up for an enrichment classes and take Family field trips. Join your School's Odyssey of the Mind team (these are awesome!) out FIRST/FLL teams or Science Olympias Team. Have them start the piano as a basis for future musical instruments.

Not all learning involves worksheets. And having time to play, dream, imagine and spend time with their family and friends is imporant too.

Just turn off and take away the screens.

I don’t understand why you would encourage your younger child to apply to TJ. So ridiculous.

Where does this say we are encouraging DC2 apply to TJ? We have a strong base school, and I think she would do very well there. She does two extracurriculars extensively, and they have great teams in both. She plays an instrument, and they have a strong music department. And I am not one of those parents who thinks TJ gets you into a higher ranked college-- although it might help if you have a niche interest you want to pursue in HS and continue at a specific college. But in general, I think you w
end up in the same place.

This is a kid who has seen her older brother at TJ, been there hereself for events, and knows exactly how much work it takes to succeed there. And knows that even with all that hard work, there are Bs on report cards and Fs on quizzes. She knows what she is getting herself into, and she very badly wants to attend anyway. Because TJ has special facilities and labs and classes in an area of STEM that she has wanted to do since she was six. And that the base schools do not offer. This is a very focused kid who has known her path in life from a young age.

We are not encouraging her to apply. The extent of her prep is the ACT Aspire practice book I bought her because she asked. Which she can use to take a few practice tests if she wants No prep classes. No curated resume. We are allowing her to apply, because this is her high school experience, and her life and her dream, and she would be going in with her eyes wide open about the good and the bad.

And we would send DC 2 with the same understanding that we sent DC1. That TJ is a one year trial. If,at the end of freshman year, the kid doesn't want to be there, or we as parents feel it is harmful, the kid returns to the base school, no questions asked. Not as a punishment. And not as a failure. But because TJ was just not the right fit for every smart kid. We think the school has been good for DC1. Not perfect. But a very good decision. He was very clear at the end of his freshman year that he wanted to stay. For DC2, we will see if she gets in, and see if she choose to go, and see if she chooses to stay, if we get that far.

TL;DR. Some kids apply to TJ because that is what they want. And you parent your kids, I'll parent mine.

As for 3rd grade homework, worksheets are not the only way kids learn. And in FCPS, homework will come soon enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why 4-5 hours of homework for teenagers is considered appropriate.

Our DS is a senior and up through this year never has had more than 10-15 minutes of hw most nights. We're fine with that.

These are the parents that are fighting to have less homework. Really 15 minutes of homework in high school is not appropriate. Neither is 4 hours.

We aren’t fighting for less homework. Where did you get that? It’s just the way it has played out.