I am on my third kid in MS and would have to agree that it depends on two things - the school and the classes. A magnet program might be more rigorous, as would HS classes in MS. But generally speaking, the MS curriculum does not lead to kids feeling so overwhelmed.

If your child is struggling this much, maybe you want to consult the school counselor and set up a meeting to figure out why this is so difficult. Also, be sure not to miss parent teacher conferences which are in less than two weeks. You may also want to consider whether your child is suffering from anxiety or something else that is making school so difficult.

I'm sorry your child is feeling this way.

Can people state what schools they are referring to? It would be much more meaningful to this conversation.

What school is giving homework? Just wondering since mine has none.

Anonymous wrote:My child is in 6th, but I think it depends on the classes they are in. My friend’s child never has homework and my child has homework most nights and weekends. It’s not unbearable amounts, but it is steady. The level of their classes are completely different.

+1 I think it depends on the school/class. My child is also in 6th grade and has homework for math, Spanish and science almost every day. Has homework usually once a week for Tech/engineering elective. Also needs to study for Spanish, Science and World History (in Spanish) assessments/tests every 3 weeks. Definitely not coasting, but it is not overwhelming and block scheduling helps manage the time. Advanced English seems like a coasting class--seems to finish work in class and puts in no effort.

My kid gets about 1 math worksheet per night which he does in the “free period” (which seems to go by different names at each middle school). I really suggest you talk to your child’s counselor because your child may be unecessarily spinning her wheels (which is totally common), and an adult giving her some guidance about time management, study strategies, etc may help.

Not at my child’s school. An hour or less per night. Is it one particular class?

I think it depends on school. For our progression with both kids it was very consistent—3rd grade, 8th grade, 10th grade were the workload shifts. But others in different schools have said 7th and 9th. Strangely 7th was one of the easiest at our middle but I know it is not the same at every school. And in 8th both kids had homework in most classes every night, which was not the case previously for Social Studies, Science and English up to that point. Math and Language almost always had homework but talking about 15 minutes nothing significant.

My child is in 6th, but I think it depends on the classes they are in. My friend’s child never has homework and my child has homework most nights and weekends. It’s not unbearable amounts, but it is steady. The level of their classes are completely different.

My child has about an hour of homework a night plus studying. Some nights she gets overwhelmed- especially when she has multiple assessments the next day. Otherwise the amounts seem reasonable.

If your child is very overwhelmed, I would definitely reach out to the counselor. Also, make sure that your child does not have an undiagnosed LD that is making the work more challenging.

Occasional math worksheet here, the rest gets finished in SOAR (NBMS).

My child has had one homework assignment this entire quarter. It was in World Studies.

Anonymous wrote:It is a lot of work, so much and the pacing is like... we got to keep moving. He is getting discouraged. IMO the fundamentals are not taught solid enough to warrant this kind of pace and level of activities. They are kids still right??

But I keep reading on DCUM that middle school is not enough work and the pacing is too slow?

What specific problems is he having?

What school? What program? Usually folks are in here complaining that the middle school current is too slow and boring.

Anonymous wrote:It is a lot of work, so much and the pacing is like... we got to keep moving. He is getting discouraged. IMO the fundamentals are not taught solid enough to warrant this kind of pace and level of activities. They are kids still right??

Like how much work are talking about?

It is a lot of work, so much and the pacing is like... we got to keep moving. He is getting discouraged. IMO the fundamentals are not taught solid enough to warrant this kind of pace and level of activities. They are kids still right??