I hate homework.

[Anonymous]

Middle school kid.

Honestly, my kid is not getting too much homework. He is getting reasonable assignments in reasonable quantities.

It might be the death of me. How is it possible for a kid to stall that much? Why does he have to make every little thing into a big ordeal. How do I get through his thick head that smart (which he is) means nothing without the effort?

Actually, no advice please. I just want to vent and vent right now.

[Anonymous]

Does he stall because he is lazy, fearful of failing, fearful of a challenge, ... what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does he stall because he is lazy, fearful of failing, fearful of a challenge, ... what?

I want to say "because he is a lazy PITA."

I think most of the problem is that he is 13, hence my statement that I really just want to vent.

[Anonymous]

I hear ya. I have a six year old--SIX YEAR OLD--in first grade (AAAAH!) who puts up a fight with very reasonable homework (not onerous, not "busy work, just 5-10 minutes a pop).

Can't wait to see how this evolves as she moves on up.

Oy.

[Anonymous]

Homework is actually counter-productive. It takes kids away from things like reading for pleasure plus the sheer amount leads them to plow through without thinking about the material. The next trend will be away from all this homework but my kids will be too old to benefit.

[Anonymous]

Homework is actually counter-productive. It takes kids away from things like reading for pleasure plus the sheer amount leads them to plow through without thinking about the material. The next trend will be away from all this homework but my kids will be too old to benefit.

I can see how this argument might make sense for early elementary school kids, but middle school? Kids in middle school are starting to do more complicated math (pre-algebra, algebra, or geometry). They're reading more complex books, writing essays and research reports. They might be studying a foreign language where they need to practice vocab and verb conjugations at home. I get that some people have issue with kindergardeners coming home with a bunch of worksheets, but it is developmentally appropriate for middle and high schoolers to have homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Homework is actually counter-productive. It takes kids away from things like reading for pleasure plus the sheer amount leads them to plow through without thinking about the material. The next trend will be away from all this homework but my kids will be too old to benefit.

Bullshit. You can't learn a foreign language without some homework.

There should always be a balance, but some homework is definitely in order.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear ya. I have a six year old--SIX YEAR OLD--in first grade (AAAAH!) who puts up a fight with very reasonable homework (not onerous, not "busy work, just 5-10 minutes a pop).

Can't wait to see how this evolves as she moves on up.

Oy.

Well all I can say is you get back what you put in. I am ahead of you. The more you invest in good study habits, the better off you will be. But it totally and completely sucks. It is the worst part of parenting.

[Anonymous]

Well, it's not any better here with a senior either, OP. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle school kid.

Honestly, my kid is not getting too much homework. He is getting reasonable assignments in reasonable quantities.

It might be the death of me. How is it possible for a kid to stall that much? Why does he have to make every little thing into a big ordeal. How do I get through his thick head that smart (which he is) means nothing without the effort?

Actually, no advice please. I just want to vent and vent right now.

we went thru this in 7th. My DC is better this year in 8th. Not sure why; maybecause we fought the battles last year.

[Anonymous]

Sucks. Totally sucks. Thanks for the commiseration.

Honestly. There isn't a thing inthe world wrong with the assignments he has had to do this week. He just needs to buckle down and do it!

[Anonymous]

Not to worry you, but procrastination and stalling are classic signs of ADHD. I did that as a teen overloaded with homework, DH still does it all the time for everything, and DS too.
DD is the only who is NOT diagnosed and - surprise - blasts through her assignments!

I would learn about ADHD and observe your son carefully.

[Anonymous]

PP again - I meant the inattentive version of ADHD, not the hyperactive.

[Anonymous]

Every student I know is in the same boat, even the straight-A students. If it is not the last minute, nothing gets done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear ya. I have a six year old--SIX YEAR OLD--in first grade (AAAAH!) who puts up a fight with very reasonable homework (not onerous, not "busy work, just 5-10 minutes a pop).

Can't wait to see how this evolves as she moves on up.

Oy.

Well all I can say is you get back what you put in. I am ahead of you. The more you invest in good study habits, the better off you will be. But it totally and completely sucks. It is the worst part of parenting.

My experience exactly. I am so glad I took the time and energy to help my kids develop good habits even if the content was a waste of time. And, my experience is that once I established the house expectations with the oldest, the rest was a piece of cake. I have kids for HS to first grade and the biggest issue I have with the younger ones is what time it must be done, not if or how much of it.