How much homework on average in third grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also have a third grader in FCPC. Here's what Fairfax says: http://www.fcps.edu/about/homework.htm (I cut/pasted the applicable part below):

On average, daily homework across disciplines should not exceed:
Primary (Grades 1-2) = .5 hour

Upper Elementary (Grades 3-6) = 1 hour

Middle School Level (Grades 7-8) = 1.5 hours (30 minutes per core subject)

High School (Grades 9 - 12) = 2 hours *

* The amount of homework may be greater for students enrolled in GT, AP or IB classes.

That having been said, I believe our teacher at open house told us that if the kids are working for I think it was 40 minutes (really focused, undistracted working) and still don't have their work done, it's ok to stop. She said if they don't finish an assignment because of that, to write her a note explaining the situation. She said that homework is only meant to reinforce what is done in class and should not take too long.

This is pretty much what we tell parents (at least in 3rd and 4th grades, maybe others). We basically follow the "no more than 10 minutes per grade level" guideline. Homework should be able to be completed independently and if not, or it is taking too long, stop and let us know.

[Anonymous]

It's supposed to be review and practice. It's not supposed to be assigned a grade. It doesn't need to be much.

[Anonymous]

3rd grader, APS, reading only. 4 nights/wk have to log it. That's all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3rd grader, APS, reading only. 4 nights/wk have to log it. That's all.

Hello, Discovery parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. She is in GT, but still, she's still a kid. On average each week she gets...

- (weekly) spelling packet due at the end of the week (takes her about 1-1.5 hour total across the week)

- (nightly) math sheets, 2-3, that take a lot of thinking, not just practice problems

- 2-3 nights a week, reading homework that includes writing in a journal

- occasional, finishing up assignments not completed in class

- monthly, a book report project that includes a written report, an oral presentation and a creative project (last month this added up to about 4-5 hours over the month plus reading the book)

She also has the reading log and also does that at bedtime.

The things that involve writing and writing planning can take simply forever. (This is NOT her strong point.) She also has Girls on the Run (2 nights a week) and Girl Scouts (every other week).

It just seems to average out to a lot per night. I wish they would give it all on Monday or Friday and have it due the following week so we could choose how to break it up over the week.

Which school or high school pyramid is this in?

[Anonymous]

If she can't handle 3rd grade homework, you've got a problem.

[Anonymous]

I would say on average 30-45 minutes, BUT once you factor in all the tests (2-3 a week) studying adds an average of 20-30 minutes a night.

My 3rd grade experience was much less intense and yet I still miraculously made it through top undergrad and graduate programs. I'm afraid my kids will burn out long before college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My third grader has on average 45-60 minutes of homework a night and sometimes more. Because our school starts later than most, she does not get home until almost 4:15. Some nights she is doing homework until dinner, takes a break for dinner, and then continues homework almost until bedtime. She goes to bed early and needs a lot of sleep, so is in bed and lights out at 8:30.

Just wondering what is average for FCPS?

I'm in the 5th grade and we don't have that much. We barley get homework. I think that's a little ridiculous that she has to work all day till bedtime. But i'm not the only person you should talk to. You should ask the school board. But i'm just a 5th grader so yeah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she can't handle 3rd grade homework, you've got a problem.

Kids whose parents support busywork over evidence-based practices have a bigger problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. She is in GT, but still, she's still a kid. On average each week she gets...

- (weekly) spelling packet due at the end of the week (takes her about 1-1.5 hour total across the week)

- (nightly) math sheets, 2-3, that take a lot of thinking, not just practice problems

- 2-3 nights a week, reading homework that includes writing in a journal

- occasional, finishing up assignments not completed in class

- monthly, a book report project that includes a written report, an oral presentation and a creative project (last month this added up to about 4-5 hours over the month plus reading the book)

She also has the reading log and also does that at bedtime.

The things that involve writing and writing planning can take simply forever. (This is NOT her strong point.) She also has Girls on the Run (2 nights a week) and Girl Scouts (every other week).

It just seems to average out to a lot per night. I wish they would give it all on Monday or Friday and have it due the following week so we could choose how to break it up over the week.

I'm impressed by this. I feel like the writing requirements at the AAP center my kids attend is lacking. I remember having to do book reports and oral presentations in upper elementary, and that hasn't been my kids' experience. In 3rd grade my kids had more homework than fourth and fifth. I think in FCPS there was more math homework in 3rd because they covered 3rd and 4th grade math. Split the homework, some in the morning and some in the evening. I found the spelling was good for the morning. My kids did this. That gives more downtime in the evenings. Honestly, grades don't count at this point, so if the reading/reading log isn't done, it's not a big deal. Just make sure your DC is reading on the weekend. No need for either one of you to be stressed about 3rd grade homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she can't handle 3rd grade homework, you've got a problem.

The transition from 2nd to 3rd is often times the most difficult. My youngest has no homework this year in 2nd and I'm sure will have quite a bit in 3rd based on my older kid's experience. The step up in level of difficulty as far as math is also significant. I feel like they baby k-2, and then flip a switch in third. I don't think a child having challenges adapting to this is an indicator of a problem. OP's DC also seems to have a busy schedule outside of school, so she's probably also adapting to the time management requirements.

[Anonymous]

DS is in gen ed FCPS. He gets 1 math worksheet Mon- Thurs and they take an average of 5 minutes. He has word study Monday- Thursday. Monday takes him about 15 minutes and the rest of the week is about 5 minutes at the most. He is supposed to read 20 min a day but usually averages more depending if he is into a particular book. He reads before school while we get ready.

There have only been 1 or 2 projects this year that have been assigned over a couple of weeks for social studies and science. This has been the least amount of homework he has ever had. There isn't a lot of busy work but they expect him to study for tests and quizzes and he needs to retake anything he does not do well on the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is in gen ed FCPS. He gets 1 math worksheet Mon- Thurs and they take an average of 5 minutes. He has word study Monday- Thursday. Monday takes him about 15 minutes and the rest of the week is about 5 minutes at the most. He is supposed to read 20 min a day but usually averages more depending if he is into a particular book. He reads before school while we get ready.

There have only been 1 or 2 projects this year that have been assigned over a couple of weeks for social studies and science. This has been the least amount of homework he has ever had. There isn't a lot of busy work but they expect him to study for tests and quizzes and he needs to retake anything he does not do well on the first time.

Same here except even less. We don't have word study anymore in any grade. I'm not sue what else to do. No homework is being pushed everywhere. To the point where we are considering moving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say on average 30-45 minutes, BUT once you factor in all the tests (2-3 a week) studying adds an average of 20-30 minutes a night.

My 3rd grade experience was much less intense and yet I still miraculously made it through top undergrad and graduate programs. I'm afraid my kids will burn out long before college.

2-3 a week? We give maybe 3 a quarter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is in gen ed FCPS. He gets 1 math worksheet Mon- Thurs and they take an average of 5 minutes. He has word study Monday- Thursday. Monday takes him about 15 minutes and the rest of the week is about 5 minutes at the most. He is supposed to read 20 min a day but usually averages more depending if he is into a particular book. He reads before school while we get ready.

There have only been 1 or 2 projects this year that have been assigned over a couple of weeks for social studies and science. This has been the least amount of homework he has ever had. There isn't a lot of busy work but they expect him to study for tests and quizzes and he needs to retake anything he does not do well on the first time.

Same here except even less. We don't have word study anymore in any grade. I'm not sue what else to do. No homework is being pushed everywhere. To the point where we are considering moving.

Why would you want more?