KS1 Teachers - Homework Question
Discussion
Son is 5 and a bit and is in his 1st year of KS1, having started in teh January last year.
I think his homework for a kid of that age is too much, 10 mins of reading 5 times a week, a speling test he has to revise for once a week plus activity homework. Problem is, the 10 min reading usually lasts between 20 and 40 mins depending on his work avoidance technique that day.
Teacher says he is doing well, is at reading level 6 which seems a grade or two higher than most, so its not like he has or needs extra, they all have it.
I was concerned that he should be taught this stuff in school, not at home and then we he came home reciting bible stories, that made me very mad as thats the sort of stuff he could be taught in his own time, if we so wished.
Its becoming a point of arguement in our house between him and Mrs Maul as she does it most of the time. I just wondered if this level of homework was normal or just our school trying to please Ofsted by doing lots of extra stuff during the day. I'm also concerned he will be school weary by the time he is 6, after all, i'm sure I didn't get homework until I was about 10 (apart from spelling)
I think his homework for a kid of that age is too much, 10 mins of reading 5 times a week, a speling test he has to revise for once a week plus activity homework. Problem is, the 10 min reading usually lasts between 20 and 40 mins depending on his work avoidance technique that day.
Teacher says he is doing well, is at reading level 6 which seems a grade or two higher than most, so its not like he has or needs extra, they all have it.
I was concerned that he should be taught this stuff in school, not at home and then we he came home reciting bible stories, that made me very mad as thats the sort of stuff he could be taught in his own time, if we so wished.
Its becoming a point of arguement in our house between him and Mrs Maul as she does it most of the time. I just wondered if this level of homework was normal or just our school trying to please Ofsted by doing lots of extra stuff during the day. I'm also concerned he will be school weary by the time he is 6, after all, i'm sure I didn't get homework until I was about 10 (apart from spelling)
Perfectly normal. I'd get an opinion from my KS1 teaching other half but she left for work well over an hour ago and won't be back until 7:00 at the earliest. It's only a 15 minute drive away.
Homework is part of the deal with school, as a parent it's your job to help out and guide the homework session where necessary. Learning doesn't stop just because the child is at home - completely the opposite.
Homework is part of the deal with school, as a parent it's your job to help out and guide the homework session where necessary. Learning doesn't stop just because the child is at home - completely the opposite.
You are complaining due to having to do some reading with your son for 30 mins on an evening?
How many other kids are in the class? Are you expecting the teacher to spend half an hour one on one with every child?
I think that educating your child is not just down to your teacher, but also you.
How many other kids are in the class? Are you expecting the teacher to spend half an hour one on one with every child?
I think that educating your child is not just down to your teacher, but also you.
GKP said:
Perfectly normal. I'd get an opinion from my KS1 teaching other half but she left for work well over an hour ago and won't be back until 7:00 at the earliest. It's only a 15 minute drive away.
Homework is part of the deal with school, as a parent it's your job to help out and guide the homework session where necessary. Learning doesn't stop just because the child is at home - completely the opposite.
I quite agree, we support the school and class teachers a great deal too. However, how can they justify me helping to teach my son to read during the evenings whilst during the day they are teaching him bible stories? I will support and augment his learning, I won't teach him schoolwork whilst they teach him fiction.Homework is part of the deal with school, as a parent it's your job to help out and guide the homework session where necessary. Learning doesn't stop just because the child is at home - completely the opposite.
Not sure about how it compares to other Key Stages - but remember when I was a kid I had similar - reading every day for 10-15 mins - I can't remember the spelling tests until 6/7. This would be in the late 70's. Didn't do me any harm.
As I see it, that doesn't sound onerous - homework is to reinforce what is learned at school, not to replace anything they "should" be teaching kids. Too many kids are leaving school or reaching mid levels of education without the basics in places. Isn't learning to read with you son/daughter a really good way to bond?
As I see it, that doesn't sound onerous - homework is to reinforce what is learned at school, not to replace anything they "should" be teaching kids. Too many kids are leaving school or reaching mid levels of education without the basics in places. Isn't learning to read with you son/daughter a really good way to bond?
TedMaul said:
I quite agree, we support the school and class teachers a great deal too. However, how can they justify me helping to teach my son to read during the evenings whilst during the day they are teaching him bible stories? I will support and augment his learning, I won't teach him schoolwork whilst they teach him fiction.
Bible stories = moral code. Nothing wrong with it?I am a committed aethiest but went to 2 church schools (CofE) and I would suggest most kids can tell the difference between a moral story and and absolute truth. There is plenty in the bible that gives kids a guide as the the right way to behave without them having to believe in god - or organised religion.
Edited by plg on Monday 4th October 09:02
TedMaul said:
GKP said:
Perfectly normal. I'd get an opinion from my KS1 teaching other half but she left for work well over an hour ago and won't be back until 7:00 at the earliest. It's only a 15 minute drive away.
Homework is part of the deal with school, as a parent it's your job to help out and guide the homework session where necessary. Learning doesn't stop just because the child is at home - completely the opposite.
I quite agree, we support the school and class teachers a great deal too. However, how can they justify me helping to teach my son to read during the evenings whilst during the day they are teaching him bible stories? I will support and augment his learning, I won't teach him schoolwork whilst they teach him fiction.Homework is part of the deal with school, as a parent it's your job to help out and guide the homework session where necessary. Learning doesn't stop just because the child is at home - completely the opposite.
Most schools teach some aspects of religion. Junior will be learning Bible stories this term and maybe having aspects of the Qur'an explained next term etc. Why not let him be educated in all areas of religion and let him make up his own mind as to whether he believes in it, rather than imposing your beliefs?
doogz said:
Who's morals?
Christian morals. What's to say the OP agree's with them?
Assuming it's a non-denomination school, that's out of line.
You think most 5 year olds can tell the difference between truth, and a moral story, when it's something that's coming out of their teachers mouth?
I see your point, and it does in part depends on the school - even "non denominational" schools must provide collective worship still with a "Christian character". Christian morals. What's to say the OP agree's with them?
Assuming it's a non-denomination school, that's out of line.
You think most 5 year olds can tell the difference between truth, and a moral story, when it's something that's coming out of their teachers mouth?
(http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/atoz/c/collectiveworshippolicy/)
It's a Statutory Duty of the school.
elster said:
You are complaining due to having to do some reading with your son for 30 mins on an evening?
How many other kids are in the class? Are you expecting the teacher to spend half an hour one on one with every child?
I think that educating your child is not just down to your teacher, but also you.
How many other kids are in the class? Are you expecting the teacher to spend half an hour one on one with every child?
I think that educating your child is not just down to your teacher, but also you.
There was a woman on TV the other day who had moved nursery schools and was delighted that the new one had taught her child nursery rhymes. I think that says a lot about some current parents.GKP said:
Most schools teach some aspects of religion. Junior will be learning Bible stories this term and maybe having aspects of the Qur'an explained next term etc. Why not let him be educated in all areas of religion and let him make up his own mind as to whether he believes in it, rather than imposing your beliefs?
Why not secularise religion out of schools completely? I really don't agree with it personally, it's beyond the remit of schools and education I think. Learn about it as a subject (i.e. what different religions are 'about') but not as something that should be believed in.elster said:
TedMaul said:
GKP said:
Perfectly normal. I'd get an opinion from my KS1 teaching other half but she left for work well over an hour ago and won't be back until 7:00 at the earliest. It's only a 15 minute drive away.
Homework is part of the deal with school, as a parent it's your job to help out and guide the homework session where necessary. Learning doesn't stop just because the child is at home - completely the opposite.
I quite agree, we support the school and class teachers a great deal too. However, how can they justify me helping to teach my son to read during the evenings whilst during the day they are teaching him bible stories? I will support and augment his learning, I won't teach him schoolwork whilst they teach him fiction.Homework is part of the deal with school, as a parent it's your job to help out and guide the homework session where necessary. Learning doesn't stop just because the child is at home - completely the opposite.
ETA, its not one evening, its five evenings a week, which is actually quite alot imo.
Edited by TedMaul on Monday 4th October 09:29
Engineer1 said:
Reading is essential, the fact 10mins work takes 40 is your problem, the schools want supportive parents as without supportive parents children won't learn as they pick up that their parents couldn't care less about education.
Agree, which is why we do it all and attend all the fund raising events, my wife is on the school fundraising committee and I am campaigning for better 6th Form provision in the area. She also helps out at school as an upaid classroom assistant now and again.We care alot, which is why I asked the question whether its normal or not!
TedMaul said:
I think his homework for a kid of that age is too much, 10 mins of reading 5 times a week, a speling test he has to revise for once a week plus activity homework. Problem is, the 10 min reading usually lasts between 20 and 40 mins depending on his work avoidance technique that day.
I can see why you seem concerned 
Surely it's part of your role as a parent to help out with your childs education, and a couple of hours a week is hardly the end of the world.
My daughter is 10 months old - I spend every available minute of time that I can with her from the minute I walk in the door, until she goes to bed. I cherish the time I spend with her, and try to make play both fun and as educational as possible.
Reading: the best habit a kid can have, and the earlier they get it the better IMHO. Reading makes all the other learning possible so finding a way to make it fun for him is essential. Do you just use the books the school send home? Try taking him to choose some books he enjoys listening to or reading, perhaps try an audio book for when you are not there so the habit is kept? I think schools can get a bit PC and there are lots of great books available which schools don't have. I have 5 great nieces and nephews and they get books for every present.
Make the effort mate, it will pay you back many fold. I know they feel tired after school so you may have to change the timing of the reading. My kids used to like reading just before bedtime, and it was a 'treat' to be allowed to stay up for an extra 30 minutes, but they had to read with us and then have 10 minutes of TV before bed.
I (and my ex-wife) read with my kids every night from the moment they enjoyed hearing a story. That progressed to a bit of them reading simple books, to them reading to us nightly, and eventually them reading for themselves. Right into their teenage years they kept the habit and they both still read for pleasure and work now. I am not saying the book habit is the sole reason for their successes but both have gone on to good jobs requiring them to continue reading (doctor and English Lit PhD student).
Ah - homework. One of my pet hates.
It will get worse I'm afraid.
My Son is now in secondary school, and gets at least an hour a night of homework - sometimes 2-3 hours.
kids are supposed to be outside playing, especially at primary age. 10 mins of reading before bedtime is more than enough. But when they also bring home an hour+ of other homework it gets a bit beyond a joke.
It will get worse I'm afraid.
My Son is now in secondary school, and gets at least an hour a night of homework - sometimes 2-3 hours.
kids are supposed to be outside playing, especially at primary age. 10 mins of reading before bedtime is more than enough. But when they also bring home an hour+ of other homework it gets a bit beyond a joke.
doogz said:
I see, i didn't realise that. I disagree with it completely though. But, is it worth marking your child out as different by stopping them taking part in these things? I'm not sure.
I agree - not worth the aggro for the child. Having seen a few of them, those that I have seen are so "watered down" and generic in "Christian character" - ie. they are moral tales that everyone would probably agree with (not stealing, helping those in trouble, respecting differences, etc) that it would be hard to call them Christian per se... more "good conduct that would fit 90% of societies, Christian or not.I wouldn't worry too much about the teaching of religion. They teach an overview of all mainstream religions at primary school which IMO is a good thing. Your child will definitely take your own view though, so rather than saying 'religion - it's all a load of rollocks' to your child (not suggesting you would), let them understand that it's an important part of many peoples lives and actually very interesting and thought provoking (even though it is mainly a load of rollocks .
Just wait till he does sex education, and everyone is either a gay, or lesbian or both!
.Just wait till he does sex education, and everyone is either a gay, or lesbian or both!
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
Ah - homework. One of my pet hates.
It will get worse I'm afraid.
My Son is now in secondary school, and gets at least an hour a night of homework - sometimes 2-3 hours.
kids are supposed to be outside playing, especially at primary age.
Do any kids actually do that these days? The only kids out 'playing' are the feral little bIt will get worse I'm afraid.
My Son is now in secondary school, and gets at least an hour a night of homework - sometimes 2-3 hours.
kids are supposed to be outside playing, especially at primary age.
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