How much afterschooling is too much?

[Anonymous]

I have been consistent with my kids doing extra math since K.
Now, it is clear that they need extra help in the language arts areas.
That would mean extra lessons every day in at least two subjects.
I follow the curricula in science and foreign languages and just reinforce what is being taught in school. But for math, I have a separate curriculum but try to go along with what is actually being taught in the classroom. Now, for language arts, I have been considering outside tutoring which would likely be a whole new approach (I think they need a new approach).
Is this too much? Does it label me as a tiger mom?
FWIW, they do very well in math, probably because of the extra support that I give them. That gives them a self esteem boost.

[Anonymous]

It's too much if it wears you out, or it wears the kids out, or it takes time away from other things you consider just as (or more) important. In that case, you need to set priorities.

But if it doesn't, and people call you a tiger mom -- well, let 'em. Why does it matter what they think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been consistent with my kids doing extra math since K.
Now, it is clear that they need extra help in the language arts areas.
That would mean extra lessons every day in at least two subjects.
I follow the curricula in science and foreign languages and just reinforce what is being taught in school. But for math, I have a separate curriculum but try to go along with what is actually being taught in the classroom. Now, for language arts, I have been considering outside tutoring which would likely be a whole new approach (I think they need a new approach).
Is this too much? Does it label me as a tiger mom?
FWIW, they do very well in math, probably because of the extra support that I give them. That gives them a self esteem boost.

How old are they? At some point, they are going to have to do it themselves and not be propped up by Mom.

[Anonymous]

Just have them read. That's the best thing you can do for "language arts" at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been consistent with my kids doing extra math since K.
Now, it is clear that they need extra help in the language arts areas.
That would mean extra lessons every day in at least two subjects.
I follow the curricula in science and foreign languages and just reinforce what is being taught in school. But for math, I have a separate curriculum but try to go along with what is actually being taught in the classroom. Now, for language arts, I have been considering outside tutoring which would likely be a whole new approach (I think they need a new approach).
Is this too much? Does it label me as a tiger mom?
FWIW, they do very well in math, probably because of the extra support that I give them. That gives them a self esteem boost.

Yes.

After school = enrichment. Sports, music, art...

But drill and kill on academic subjects? Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just have them read. That's the best thing you can do for "language arts" at home.

Yes, just have them read. Teach them to love words through recreational reading.

If they are older, let them pick out a journal which they write a bit in daily, but you don't read.

[Anonymous]

Why are you doing the math? Do they need it? Are you just creating easy A's and boredom, or do you have an actual content-based goal (like your kid is behind).

[Anonymous]

(esteem boost through mom "fixing" it -- doesn't work for me)

[Anonymous]

Yes to just reading!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been consistent with my kids doing extra math since K.
Now, it is clear that they need extra help in the language arts areas.
That would mean extra lessons every day in at least two subjects.
I follow the curricula in science and foreign languages and just reinforce what is being taught in school. But for math, I have a separate curriculum but try to go along with what is actually being taught in the classroom. Now, for language arts, I have been considering outside tutoring which would likely be a whole new approach (I think they need a new approach).
Is this too much? Does it label me as a tiger mom?
FWIW, they do very well in math, probably because of the extra support that I give them. That gives them a self esteem boost.

Yes.

After school = enrichment. Sports, music, art...

But drill and kill on academic subjects? Ugh.

+1. Unless your kid is behind, this is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been consistent with my kids doing extra math since K.
Now, it is clear that they need extra help in the language arts areas.
That would mean extra lessons every day in at least two subjects.
I follow the curricula in science and foreign languages and just reinforce what is being taught in school. But for math, I have a separate curriculum but try to go along with what is actually being taught in the classroom. Now, for language arts, I have been considering outside tutoring which would likely be a whole new approach (I think they need a new approach).
Is this too much? Does it label me as a tiger mom?
FWIW, they do very well in math, probably because of the extra support that I give them. That gives them a self esteem boost.

Yes.

After school = enrichment. Sports, music, art...

But drill and kill on academic subjects? Ugh.

I'm impressed that you are able to tell from the OP's post that the OP is doing "drill and kill".

[Anonymous]

NP. I'm surprised by so much outside tutoring and supplementing the curriculum (since K no less) and I'm Asian from Asia. OP sounds frightening.

[Anonymous]

Sucks to be those kids.

[Anonymous]

I found some of the responses a bit ridiculous. It's ok to work with your children outside of school. With huge public school class sizes, most children get very little individual attention. 15 minutes of math or reading at home a day is not considered child abuse, in fact I think it more like thoughtful parenting.

OP- if your children are doing well in math, then cut back on math and add reading in instead. For example- if your children were doing math for 15 minutes a day/4 days a week- then cut that down to only 2 days per week, and do reading 2 days per week. Or do math 2 days during the week, and do reading on the weekend.

I do make my children do math- 15 minutes 2 days per week, and reading aloud 15 minutes 2 days per week (in addition to the time my 2nd grader spends reading to himself.) Its allows me to help him with vocabulary works he may not know.

I also make my children practice music 15 minutes 3-4 days per week (I know it should be everyday, but sometimes we just don't get to it.)

They also play sports (one practice/one game per week.)

And even with all these activities they find LOTS of time to watch TV and play video games on the iPad, even during the week.

OP- I also won't worry about what other people label you as, it really irrelevant. No matter what you do as a parent, if you ask enough people, someone will tell you it is wrong. There is no absolute right way to parent, every child is different and every family situtaion is different.

[Anonymous]

1st grade mom:

We listen to audiobooks that are above grade level and talk about plot points, what we think will happen next. We work on writing--specifically, DC have been writing a photo journal as a gift for the grandparents this fall. I do talking word problems in math all the time and have put DC in charge of paying cash for things in stores and figuring out the change we should get back. We have music during the week too.

But I think of all of that as support for what is happening in school.

My true afterschooling ambition is Latin but we are a year or so away from starting that.