what did we get ourselves into?

[Anonymous]

Ok, tell me this will get better. 2nd week of school, DC fresh in 3rd grade AAP. Math homework today took an hour and 15 minutes. Has been like this from day 1. A lot of tears, wailing "I'm so stupid". DC likes his teacher and claims the math class at school isn't hard but i'm not sure how much he's really getting in the class; he didn't seem to have any idea how to approach today's problems. I've never supplemented schoolwork, guess it's time to start... and yes, DC tested into the program with no additional help from me, so it's not that i somehow pushed him into a place that's not for him... Are you people all getting math tutoring for your kids? Isn't it a bit crazy?

[Anonymous]

No math tutors ever, math homework in third grade aap took a few minutes/night. Can you give us an example of the homework? It is hard to see if it is the homework itself or something else. Is your child typically a dawdler?

[Anonymous]

How was 2nd grade homework? I mean, in quantity and time to do.. Are you at a center or a local level IV? Might help to advise.. It's early but please answer these- might be able to share experiences to hopefully help..

[Anonymous]

Our AAP hw (3rd grade) has only been 10-15 min. Principal said if it's more than 30 min to stop.

[Anonymous]

Our 3rd grader came home from center yesterday wide-eyed over an encounter with "Fourth Grade Math". However, from the description it seems to have been a classroom exercise to introduce working with large numbers and other concepts to come later. Homework so far has been fun math card games, 10 minute worksheets and reading. I'm guessing it'll ramp up soon and that much will be made clear at open house next week.

[Anonymous]

No, we didn't prep to have DC admitted. No we have not had tutors yet (oldest is in 8th). I'm sure your child will settle in. Talk to teacher if you're concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, tell me this will get better. 2nd week of school, DC fresh in 3rd grade AAP. Math homework today took an hour and 15 minutes. Has been like this from day 1. A lot of tears, wailing "I'm so stupid". DC likes his teacher and claims the math class at school isn't hard but i'm not sure how much he's really getting in the class; he didn't seem to have any idea how to approach today's problems. I've never supplemented schoolwork, guess it's time to start... and yes, DC tested into the program with no additional help from me, so it's not that i somehow pushed him into a place that's not for him... Are you people all getting math tutoring for your kids? Isn't it a bit crazy?

Email the teacher and let her/him know.

(My kids never had math tutors. Oldest is in high school and the other two are in 6th and 8th grades.)

[Anonymous]

Dear OP. The beginning of 3rd grade AAP (last year) was brutal. The transition from 2nd grade non-AAP, basically babysitting, was hard. We settled in after a few weeks and ended the year with a bang. The homework wasn't hard, just more of it and I had to help DC stay organized. No problems yet in 4th AAP. Good luck!!!

[Anonymous]

What I was told by more than one teacher is that while I can review the homework, not to help. The teacher needs to know who is struggling and on what.

[Anonymous]

I would let the teacher know how long it is taking..

[Anonymous]

Never heard of tutors for aap. Contact the teacher. He shouldn't be in there if he needs a tutor.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We're in a highly regarded center, if that's relevant for anything... Maybe it's just the fact of having homework playing into it. We've hardly had anything during the first 3 years - all in the same school, btw. Anyway, thanks to everybody. We'll hang in there and if things won't improve, talk to the teacher. DC might have some attention issues as well, which in my view are not unusual for an 8 year old boy, but who knows.. yes, will talk to the teacher. Thanks again to all of you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No math tutors ever, math homework in third grade aap took a few minutes/night. Can you give us an example of the homework? It is hard to see if it is the homework itself or something else. Is your child typically a dawdler?

Same experience here. All homework together took only about 10 minutes/night.

DC is in 4th this year and seems to be the same so far. Teacher said she doesn't give a lot of homework actually so yeah!

[Anonymous]

AAP or not homework shouldn't take more than 30 minutes at most in third grade. Ours in the AAP center for all grades was usually 10-20 minutes for all subjects not including reading. Sometimes it was a bit longer if they were doing projects. Something sounds wrong. Sounds like you need to talk to the teacher. You don't want to start out with DC (and you) hating it. It shouldn't be that way.

[Anonymous]

My son just doesn't like doing homework. He can do it fast, but instead, it takes him hours. He survived 3rd grade, did wonderful in the classroom and tests, but homework was a disaster. This year it is the same unfortunately. I wish there was not homework. He is fine studying for tests, but homework is such a pain.