Can you ask that a child be exempt from homework?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think some people are missing the gist of my question. Yes, I do suspect my daughter has some sort of LD, but that's really besides the point. I'm wondering if on the elementary level, parents can request for their child to not receive homework for whatever reason they choose.

As at least 5 pps have noted: that's not all you're asking. Put on your thinking cap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think some people are missing the gist of my question. Yes, I do suspect my daughter has some sort of LD, but that's really besides the point. I'm wondering if on the elementary level, parents can request for their child to not receive homework for whatever reason they choose.

I have a child with ADHD and several profound LDs. He also has tics and is 2E. He has a boatload of issues that we have had to work through. In my world, it is perfectly fine and common for a parent and (sometimes a teacher) to say, Larla's homework should be limited to X minutes a night. If she does not complete it that amount of time, it is okay. You will not be the first, nor the last.

However, you seem to asking the wrong question. Not should my DD be allowed to has less homework, but why is my DD having so much trouble with so many things. If you can work to solve those issues, the homework piece will take care of itself. Right now you seem to be spinning your wheels and your and her efforts seem like they could be better focused and more efficient.

You also seem to be overly concerned with her grades. She is in ES. This is the cheapest time for kids to get bad grades or fail. It will not doom her. If your current effort is required to keep her grades propped up in ES (and denying her a deserved IEP), she will have trouble in MS and HS and beyond. Learning the strategies for her to be successful now will mitigate troubles later. Getting a full neuropsych evaluation now should help you identify which things need to be addressed first. You need to prioritize and work through the problems and not try to solve them all at once. You have the time. She has the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some people are missing the gist of my question. Yes, I do suspect my daughter has some sort of LD, but that's really besides the point. I'm wondering if on the elementary level, parents can request for their child to not receive homework for whatever reason they choose.

As at least 5 pps have noted: that's not all you're asking. Put on your thinking cap.

Yes, that's right I don't want her to take the weekly spelling test because i don't want her spending 15 minutes a day on words that aren't appropriate for her. I think that time could be better spent on me having her work on a different program that is more appropriate for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some people are missing the gist of my question. Yes, I do suspect my daughter has some sort of LD, but that's really besides the point. I'm wondering if on the elementary level, parents can request for their child to not receive homework for whatever reason they choose.

I have a child with ADHD and several profound LDs. He also has tics and is 2E. He has a boatload of issues that we have had to work through. In my world, it is perfectly fine and common for a parent and (sometimes a teacher) to say, Larla's homework should be limited to X minutes a night. If she does not complete it that amount of time, it is okay. You will not be the first, nor the last.

However, you seem to asking the wrong question. Not should my DD be allowed to has less homework, but why is my DD having so much trouble with so many things. If you can work to solve those issues, the homework piece will take care of itself. Right now you seem to be spinning your wheels and your and her efforts seem like they could be better focused and more efficient.

You also seem to be overly concerned with her grades. She is in ES. This is the cheapest time for kids to get bad grades or fail. It will not doom her. If your current effort is required to keep her grades propped up in ES (and denying her a deserved IEP), she will have trouble in MS and HS and beyond. Learning the strategies for her to be successful now will mitigate troubles later. Getting a full neuropsych evaluation now should help you identify which things need to be addressed first. You need to prioritize and work through the problems and not try to solve them all at once. You have the time. She has the time.

I can't afford the full Neuropsych evaluation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some people are missing the gist of my question. Yes, I do suspect my daughter has some sort of LD, but that's really besides the point. I'm wondering if on the elementary level, parents can request for their child to not receive homework for whatever reason they choose.

I have a child with ADHD and several profound LDs. He also has tics and is 2E. He has a boatload of issues that we have had to work through. In my world, it is perfectly fine and common for a parent and (sometimes a teacher) to say, Larla's homework should be limited to X minutes a night. If she does not complete it that amount of time, it is okay. You will not be the first, nor the last.

However, you seem to asking the wrong question. Not should my DD be allowed to has less homework, but why is my DD having so much trouble with so many things. If you can work to solve those issues, the homework piece will take care of itself. Right now you seem to be spinning your wheels and your and her efforts seem like they could be better focused and more efficient.

You also seem to be overly concerned with her grades. She is in ES. This is the cheapest time for kids to get bad grades or fail. It will not doom her. If your current effort is required to keep her grades propped up in ES (and denying her a deserved IEP), she will have trouble in MS and HS and beyond. Learning the strategies for her to be successful now will mitigate troubles later. Getting a full neuropsych evaluation now should help you identify which things need to be addressed first. You need to prioritize and work through the problems and not try to solve them all at once. You have the time. She has the time.

I can't afford the full Neuropsych evaluation

Go to wrightslaw.com and read up on how to ask for an evaluation from your school. The school does it for free. Then read up on how to get an independent evaluation done that is paid from by the school, if you have problems with the one done by school employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some people are missing the gist of my question. Yes, I do suspect my daughter has some sort of LD, but that's really besides the point. I'm wondering if on the elementary level, parents can request for their child to not receive homework for whatever reason they choose.

As at least 5 pps have noted: that's not all you're asking. Put on your thinking cap.

Yes, that's right I don't want her to take the weekly spelling test because i don't want her spending 15 minutes a day on words that aren't appropriate for her. I think that time could be better spent on me having her work on a different program that is more appropriate for her.

So stop saying "all I want is an exemption from HW". You also apparently want her exempt from spelling tests and activities relating to her school's spelling words. And you don't want the school's math curriculum either. So time spent in class on math HW review and a activities you'll want exempt. And really you probably don't want to bother with the classroom math work at all. And you probably want the school to provide some alternative enrichment for her during spelling and math class time. You haven't suggested how the teacher will evaluate or grade her in math and spelling. Oh, and you don't want her non-participation and lack of HW to be reflected in her grade.
So really, think about what it is you want and need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some people are missing the gist of my question. Yes, I do suspect my daughter has some sort of LD, but that's really besides the point. I'm wondering if on the elementary level, parents can request for their child to not receive homework for whatever reason they choose.

As at least 5 pps have noted: that's not all you're asking. Put on your thinking cap.

Yes, that's right I don't want her to take the weekly spelling test because i don't want her spending 15 minutes a day on words that aren't appropriate for her. I think that time could be better spent on me having her work on a different program that is more appropriate for her.

So stop saying "all I want is an exemption from HW". You also apparently want her exempt from spelling tests and activities relating to her school's spelling words. And you don't want the school's math curriculum either. So time spent in class on math HW review and a activities you'll want exempt. And really you probably don't want to bother with the classroom math work at all. And you probably want the school to provide some alternative enrichment for her during spelling and math class time. You haven't suggested how the teacher will evaluate or grade her in math and spelling. Oh, and you don't want her non-participation and lack of HW to be reflected in her grade.
So really, think about what it is you want and need.

And you very clearly did not read any of my previous posts. I do not expect ANY kind of special curriculum for her nor do I expect the teacher to do any additional work. I do not feel the spelling words she gets is appropriate for her. They do not work with the words in the class and even if they did, I wouldn't have a problem with her doing it. I do not want her to spend time AT HOME studying these words for the quiz. I would rather have her do a spelling program of my choice at home. The teacher wouldn't have to do anything. She could read a book while the other kids are taking the test or just go along and take it as well if that would be easier, as long as the grade is not held against her.
As far the math, as I previouslpy explained, I teach her the same math they do at school. The teacher requires 20 minutes a night of practice on the IXL website. There is another website I have found that I prefer that gives her more instruction than IXL and I would rather she do that. I NEVER said anything about wanting some kind of "alternative Enrichment " during school. Why don't you read through the thread before jumping to conclusions and making attacks?

[Anonymous]

OP - You will need to homeschool if you want to choose curricula and ask for exemptions from grading. I believe that you know your child best and that you can tailor work to more closely match her needs. But I have never heard of a school that welcomed that type of parent "partnership."
- A homeschooler

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - You will need to homeschool if you want to choose curricula and ask for exemptions from grading. I believe that you know your child best and that you can tailor work to more closely match her needs. But I have never heard of a school that welcomed that type of parent "partnership."
- A homeschooler

There is a child in my daughter's class who is above grade level in n math and works on Khan Academy the entire time other kids are doing math (per parent request). What I'm looking to do seems like a lesser request than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some people are missing the gist of my question. Yes, I do suspect my daughter has some sort of LD, but that's really besides the point. I'm wondering if on the elementary level, parents can request for their child to not receive homework for whatever reason they choose.

As at least 5 pps have noted: that's not all you're asking. Put on your thinking cap.

Yes, that's right I don't want her to take the weekly spelling test because i don't want her spending 15 minutes a day on words that aren't appropriate for her. I think that time could be better spent on me having her work on a different program that is more appropriate for her.

So stop saying "all I want is an exemption from HW". You also apparently want her exempt from spelling tests and activities relating to her school's spelling words. And you don't want the school's math curriculum either. So time spent in class on math HW review and a activities you'll want exempt. And really you probably don't want to bother with the classroom math work at all. And you probably want the school to provide some alternative enrichment for her during spelling and math class time. You haven't suggested how the teacher will evaluate or grade her in math and spelling. Oh, and you don't want her non-participation and lack of HW to be reflected in her grade.
So really, think about what it is you want and need.

And you very clearly did not read any of my previous posts. I do not expect ANY kind of special curriculum for her nor do I expect the teacher to do any additional work. I do not feel the spelling words she gets is appropriate for her. They do not work with the words in the class and even if they did, I wouldn't have a problem with her doing it. I do not want her to spend time AT HOME studying these words for the quiz. I would rather have her do a spelling program of my choice at home. The teacher wouldn't have to do anything. She could read a book while the other kids are taking the test or just go along and take it as well if that would be easier, as long as the grade is not held against her.

As far the math, as I previouslpy explained, I teach her the same math they do at school. The teacher requires 20 minutes a night of practice on the IXL website. There is another website I have found that I prefer that gives her more instruction than IXL and I would rather she do that. I NEVER said anything about wanting some kind of "alternative Enrichment " during school. Why don't you read through the thread before jumping to conclusions and making attacks?

Your daughter NEEDS specialized instruction because she has undiagnosed learning disabilities. You may be right that the way they are trying to teach your daughter isn't working for her = so ask for the neuropsych exam and work WITH the school to find ways that will.

The advice above about how to request the school do a neuropsych was right on target. I think you are doing your daughter a serious disservice continuing as you are. The school doesn't know she is failing because you are propping her up, and you don't know exactly what her challenges are or how best to remediate them.

Also most insurance will cover a neuropsych exam if you have it done through a hospital.

[Anonymous]

Op, when you say she doesn't qualify for anything because her grades are good, are you just assuming that or have you actually requested and received an iep evaluation and she has been found not qualifying?

I really think you'll both be better off if you stop worrying about what will and won't count for her grades and start figuring out how to get her the help she will need to be successful without all sorts of alternate plans and hoops and programs

[Anonymous]

I have a 4th grader with learning differences and a 504 plan, and I definitely pick and chose what we work on outside of school. The teachers don't care about the 504 and have no interest in accommodating us with alternative or less homework (or even accommodating in the classroom), so I just figure it out myself and blow them off when they send home notes about homework not getting done. I could care less what they think since they care less about how my DC learns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4th grader with learning differences and a 504 plan, and I definitely pick and chose what we work on outside of school. The teachers don't care about the 504 and have no interest in accommodating us with alternative or less homework (or even accommodating in the classroom), so I just figure it out myself and blow them off when they send home notes about homework not getting done. I could care less what they think since they care less about how my DC learns.

A 504 plan will never get you alternative or less homework anywhere - you absolutely need an IEP for that.

504 = accommodations (seating, breaks, assistive technology)

IEP = individualized or specialized instruction or modified curriculum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4th grader with learning differences and a 504 plan, and I definitely pick and chose what we work on outside of school. The teachers don't care about the 504 and have no interest in accommodating us with alternative or less homework (or even accommodating in the classroom), so I just figure it out myself and blow them off when they send home notes about homework not getting done. I could care less what they think since they care less about how my DC learns.

A 504 plan will never get you alternative or less homework anywhere - you absolutely need an IEP for that.

504 = accommodations (seating, breaks, assistive technology)

IEP = individualized or specialized instruction or modified curriculum

What about a reduction in work? could that be covered under a 504 or does that fall under an IEP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, when you say she doesn't qualify for anything because her grades are good, are you just assuming that or have you actually requested and received an iep evaluation and she has been found not qualifying?

I really think you'll both be better off if you stop worrying about what will and won't count for her grades and start figuring out how to get her the help she will need to be successful without all sorts of alternate plans and hoops and programs

Last year her gifted teacher (yes, she is in gifted, her test scores were 98%, go figure) requested an eligibility meeting at the school. It was never put on the schedule. When I asked the principal, he said they weren't going to schedule the meeting because her grades are too high. I should also mention, she reads above grade level (on her own, not through any help on my part) so I really don't think she would qualify for an individualized instructional program, however her spelling is horrid.