About to Give Up on First Grade Homework

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:M 1st grader has 1-2 sheets of homework a night and we don't let it slide. I sit with him while he completes his homework - and help only if he asks me. I don't think it's big deal! No way would I go against his teacher or school for that matter.

+1

We're in MCPS. I agree with the PPs that you're setting up good habits for later. Most of it is pretty 'simple' stuff, so I also agree with the PP who mentioned that if it's a struggle for your kid, it's worth figuring out why! Talk to the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first grader has a weekly planner. This helps. He usually has 6 pages of math, one book to read and write on, one short page to read and answer questions on, and 10 spelling words. He loves math and gets the 6 pages done in about30 min. The book was a fight for the first two months, but now he does it on his own rather quickly. It's all about making it part of a routine. It doesn't need to be fun or exciting.

For the record. This would not have been developmentally appropriate for my son at this age. Not every child can read in first. I do support some homework, particularly developmentally appropriate reading support, but your list would have killed us.

Said son does very well in school now (middle school). Not straight As, but more As than Bs.

Sorry if I didn't make it clear - that's a weekly list, not daily. The 6 pages of math aren't due until Thursdays but he gets it done Monday. The book reading and 3 sentences about it are due on Fridays, and he doesn't get it done until Thursday night. Having the homework for the entire week on Monday helps us plan the week and let's him know what is expected.

Yes, I got that. I like that your kid is getting it on Monday so that planning can get done - that is really important. I will say, though, that some kids are nonreaders in the fall of 1st grade. Spelling lists don't work when kids can't read.

[Anonymous]

DS is doing both regular math and Singapore math.. Unbelievable, along with Chinese homework, and English. Singapore math is excellent but I feel that it is too overwhelming- Asking kids every which way to figure out 2 + 3 = 5: Two plus Three equals five, ____ with adding on 3 more is ____ ; ____ take away 3 leaves _____, etc. all in one exercise. Is this what Asian countries do? No wonder their kids are smarter. I sometimes have to hand homework in late (we get packets) and skip some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is doing both regular math and Singapore math.. Unbelievable, along with Chinese homework, and English. Singapore math is excellent but I feel that it is too overwhelming- Asking kids every which way to figure out 2 + 3 = 5: Two plus Three equals five, ____ with adding on 3 more is ____ ; ____ take away 3 leaves _____, etc. all in one exercise. Is this what Asian countries do? No wonder their kids are smarter. I sometimes have to hand homework in late (we get packets) and skip some.

As I recall, in first grade Singapore math, this is fact families. 2 + 3 = 5, 3 + 2 = 5, 5 - 3 = 2, 5 - 2 = 3. Is that what you're talking about, or are you talking about something else?

[Anonymous]

I thought first grade HW was the worst year in terms of HW in MCPS. It was easily on hour of night which was insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought first grade HW was the worst year in terms of HW in MCPS. It was easily on hour of night which was insane.

Oddly, that makes me feel a bit better about our homework load. Everyone on here is talking one or two worksheets. My son has that, plus reading, plus spelling, plus Spanish, plus an online math drill. 30-45 minutes a night, Monday through Thursday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is doing both regular math and Singapore math.. Unbelievable, along with Chinese homework, and English. Singapore math is excellent but I feel that it is too overwhelming- Asking kids every which way to figure out 2 + 3 = 5: Two plus Three equals five, ____ with adding on 3 more is ____ ; ____ take away 3 leaves _____, etc. all in one exercise. Is this what Asian countries do? No wonder their kids are smarter. I sometimes have to hand homework in late (we get packets) and skip some.

We might be at the same school. I don't mind the homework although I don't remember getting homework in first grade and I went to school in an Asian country that's known for it's rigor especially in math. We did get drilled more in writing and math and there was a lot more worksheets than the kids get here.

We do the homework packets over the weekend; 5-6 pages. 1/2 Sat and 1/2 Sunday. DS has to do them before he's allowed to play video games, not a big deal. The 20 minutes of reading each in English and Chinese we don't do every night but DS is ahead in reading so I don't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought first grade HW was the worst year in terms of HW in MCPS. It was easily on hour of night which was insane.

Oddly, that makes me feel a bit better about our homework load. Everyone on here is talking one or two worksheets. My son has that, plus reading, plus spelling, plus Spanish, plus an online math drill. 30-45 minutes a night, Monday through Thursday.

That does not sound like public school. My DD has a similar homework load - math, Spanish, reading, spelling, a book report, some type of writing project and sometimes something else each evening, but she goes to private school. She easily manages this, but my son would not have. I sent him to public and worked with him to get through what was required of him. If your child is in private and the homework is too much, you can fix that by moving him to public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is doing both regular math and Singapore math.. Unbelievable, along with Chinese homework, and English. Singapore math is excellent but I feel that it is too overwhelming- Asking kids every which way to figure out 2 + 3 = 5: Two plus Three equals five, ____ with adding on 3 more is ____ ; ____ take away 3 leaves _____, etc. all in one exercise. Is this what Asian countries do? No wonder their kids are smarter. I sometimes have to hand homework in late (we get packets) and skip some.

We might be at the same school. I don't mind the homework although I don't remember getting homework in first grade and I went to school in an Asian country that's known for it's rigor especially in math. We did get drilled more in writing and math and there was a lot more worksheets than the kids get here.

We do the homework packets over the weekend; 5-6 pages. 1/2 Sat and 1/2 Sunday. DS has to do them before he's allowed to play video games, not a big deal. The 20 minutes of reading each in English and Chinese we don't do every night but DS is ahead in reading so I don't worry about it.

I'm curious to know which school does both regular and Singapore Math? Public or private?

[Anonymous]

^Public charter school.