Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is doing both regular math and Singapore math.. Unbelievable, along with Chinese homework, and English. Singapore math is excellent but I feel that it is too overwhelming- Asking kids every which way to figure out 2 + 3 = 5: Two plus Three equals five, ____ with adding on 3 more is ____ ; ____ take away 3 leaves _____, etc. all in one exercise. Is this what Asian countries do? No wonder their kids are smarter. I sometimes have to hand homework in late (we get packets) and skip some.

We might be at the same school. I don't mind the homework although I don't remember getting homework in first grade and I went to school in an Asian country that's known for it's rigor especially in math. We did get drilled more in writing and math and there was a lot more worksheets than the kids get here.

We do the homework packets over the weekend; 5-6 pages. 1/2 Sat and 1/2 Sunday. DS has to do them before he's allowed to play video games, not a big deal. The 20 minutes of reading each in English and Chinese we don't do every night but DS is ahead in reading so I don't worry about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought first grade HW was the worst year in terms of HW in MCPS. It was easily on hour of night which was insane.

Oddly, that makes me feel a bit better about our homework load. Everyone on here is talking one or two worksheets. My son has that, plus reading, plus spelling, plus Spanish, plus an online math drill. 30-45 minutes a night, Monday through Thursday.

Anonymous wrote:DS is doing both regular math and Singapore math.. Unbelievable, along with Chinese homework, and English. Singapore math is excellent but I feel that it is too overwhelming- Asking kids every which way to figure out 2 + 3 = 5: Two plus Three equals five, ____ with adding on 3 more is ____ ; ____ take away 3 leaves _____, etc. all in one exercise. Is this what Asian countries do? No wonder their kids are smarter. I sometimes have to hand homework in late (we get packets) and skip some.

Anonymous wrote:I thought first grade HW was the worst year in terms of HW in MCPS. It was easily on hour of night which was insane.

Anonymous wrote:DS is doing both regular math and Singapore math.. Unbelievable, along with Chinese homework, and English. Singapore math is excellent but I feel that it is too overwhelming- Asking kids every which way to figure out 2 + 3 = 5: Two plus Three equals five, ____ with adding on 3 more is ____ ; ____ take away 3 leaves _____, etc. all in one exercise. Is this what Asian countries do? No wonder their kids are smarter. I sometimes have to hand homework in late (we get packets) and skip some.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first grader has a weekly planner. This helps. He usually has 6 pages of math, one book to read and write on, one short page to read and answer questions on, and 10 spelling words. He loves math and gets the 6 pages done in about30 min. The book was a fight for the first two months, but now he does it on his own rather quickly. It's all about making it part of a routine. It doesn't need to be fun or exciting.

For the record. This would not have been developmentally appropriate for my son at this age. Not every child can read in first. I do support some homework, particularly developmentally appropriate reading support, but your list would have killed us.

Said son does very well in school now (middle school). Not straight As, but more As than Bs.

Sorry if I didn't make it clear - that's a weekly list, not daily. The 6 pages of math aren't due until Thursdays but he gets it done Monday. The book reading and 3 sentences about it are due on Fridays, and he doesn't get it done until Thursday night. Having the homework for the entire week on Monday helps us plan the week and let's him know what is expected.

Anonymous wrote:M 1st grader has 1-2 sheets of homework a night and we don't let it slide. I sit with him while he completes his homework - and help only if he asks me. I don't think it's big deal! No way would I go against his teacher or school for that matter.