Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be such a vast difference in MCPS elem schools and homework and the new curriculum. We were told that there will be reading logs - 20 minutes each night and math logs. They said they won't be sending home worksheets. What are your kids doing?

reading 30 minutes a night

but NO HW other than that

We pulled her from private where she was overloaded with HW, which was IMO an extreme. But now, we've hit the other end of the spectrum.

What gives? I know you can twist the research around to support either side, but there is a thing as developing good work and study habits.

Ok then give your kid extra work to do.

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be such a vast difference in MCPS elem schools and homework and the new curriculum. We were told that there will be reading logs - 20 minutes each night and math logs. They said they won't be sending home worksheets. What are your kids doing?

reading 30 minutes a night

but NO HW other than that

We pulled her from private where she was overloaded with HW, which was IMO an extreme. But now, we've hit the other end of the spectrum.

What gives? I know you can twist the research around to support either side, but there is a thing as developing good work and study habits.

At our school second grade homework is 20 min of reading each night plus a homework journal assignment. Journal assignment is writing on mon/we'd and math tues/thurs. no spelling. I was told spelling is no longer taught-- supposed to come naturally with reading.

Anonymous wrote:I have a fourth grader. Homework? What homework? Everything is done in school with so much time to spare, my child reads his independent reading book most of the day. Not very challenging.

You do realize that a lot of educators don't really believe in homework?
Personally, my child needs the reinforcement, primarily to sharpen her focusing and concentration skills.
But having said that, there is more than one way to skin a cat and to educate one.
There are a lot of teaching/educating styles out there just as there are lot of different styles of learning.
I cannot assume that because I had tons of homework in 1976, that needs to be the way they do it in 2013.

4th grader brings home one math worksheet and usually some social studies work home every night. No spelling, no cursive (which he used to have last year).

4th grader:

math worksheet (sometimes this is completed during school, but mostly not)
spelling
20 min. independent reading and journal writing (3 sentences)

Anonymous wrote:I have a fourth grader. Homework? What homework? Everything is done in school with so much time to spare, my child reads his independent reading book most of the day. Not very challenging.

And what was the homework situation in fourth grade at that school in those halcyon days before 2.0 ruined everything?

I have a fourth grader. Homework? What homework? Everything is done in school with so much time to spare, my child reads his independent reading book most of the day. Not very challenging.

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be such a vast difference in MCPS elem schools and homework and the new curriculum. We were told that there will be reading logs - 20 minutes each night and math logs. They said they won't be sending home worksheets. What are your kids doing?

I have not noticed a vast difference pre-2.0 compared to 2.0 in homework. In fact I haven't noticed any difference. Second-grade homework is the weekly homework packet (including spelling), plus reading and math facts.

Sounds similar to pre-2.0 homework except missing a spelling list..do they not have spelling tests?

My 3rd grader:

Reading log
Writing assignment
Math
All given in Monday due on Friday
Teacher emailed links to online math resource for parents

Anonymous wrote:So far, reading log and one page math worksheet per night - third grader

We have the same thing.

3rd grader:
20 minutes of reading and a math packet per week (usually 2 pages Monday-Thursday).

I hate the math packet. Most of the time, it's far far too easy. Then, occasionally, they add a "challenge" question that is poorly written and way, way too hard.

Here is an example from last week:
"Tabitha is a building manager. The building has apartments numbered consecutively starting with 1. Each digit costs one dollar at the hardware store. Tabitha spends $282. "

The actual question had been forgotten! I told my son the question was: "How many apartments are there?", and walked him through the multi-step process. He was disheartened at the complexity of the answer.

I wish there could be more simpler, two-step word problems in between the basic additions and superduper complex stuff. What a dumb way to teach math.

So far, reading log and one page math worksheet per night - third grader

There seems to be such a vast difference in MCPS elem schools and homework and the new curriculum. We were told that there will be reading logs - 20 minutes each night and math logs. They said they won't be sending home worksheets. What are your kids doing?