Homework for primary school children - yay or nay?

[weepiper]

Having said that, I struggle to do reading too (as in getting him to read to me). I often don't get home until nearly 7pm and as far as I know children who go to childcare don't get help from CMs etc to do their homework. So are the children of FT working parents just at a permanent disadvantage? Or does that just prove that homework before the child can actually take responsibility themselves for it is a total waste of everyone's time?

It's just another example of how the school system generally is behind the times. They expect every family to be of the two parents in the house, one breadwinner, one stay at home model. That is no longer the norm. Another example of this is how my kids have got parents' evening next week, the appointments are between 6 and 8pm but you're not supposed to bring the kids with you. And school holidays are a nightmare if you're working too.

 

[nagapie]

Another example of this is how my kids have got parents' evening next week, the appointments are between 6 and 8pm but you're not supposed to bring the kids with you. And school holidays are a nightmare if you're working too.

No way, at our parents' evenings all the siblings come with and the children are actually meant to come. They are part of the process.

Hands off my holidays though! Soon to be a thing of the past if Gove manages to increase teachers' hours I'm sure.

 

[gaijingirl]

Yes that is weird.. it's like a giant nursery in our place during parents' evenings!

 

[weepiper]

I think it's a space thing, the school's ridiculously overcramped as it is (roll is nearly 700 and it's a Victorian building) and they are currently having some building work done (although that's all external I think )

 

[purenarcotic]

At primary and for most of secondary we weren't present for the chat with teachers but there was no issue if parents needed to bring the kids with them. I remember the school secretary stayed late at primary school and put out games and stuff in another room and at secondary we could just hang out in the classroom until we were old enough to just be left at home.

 

[gaijingirl]

I think it's a space thing, the school's ridiculously overcramped as it is (roll is nearly 700 and it's a Victorian building) and they are currently having some building work done (although that's all external I think )

are they having all the parents' in on one evening? We do it year by year on different evenings... but are you talking primary? I have all this to come...

 

[weepiper]

are they having all the parents' in on one evening? We do it year by year on different evenings... but are you talking primary? I have all this to come...

Primary yes, but over two evenings. They're doing it at tables in the gym hall rather than in the classrooms which I don't really understand so I suppose space is at a premium when you have a table with two chairs for 21-odd teachers in there, plus parents waiting...

 

[trashpony]

I'm exactly the same as weeps - I put my name down for the early sessions (you can request between 3-5pm rather than an evening session) and then I either leave Elliot with a mate or get a babysitter. Next time I'm going to take him and give him the ipod while I'm waiting because I've noticed that other people bring their kids and it's a major hassle for me to leave him at home.

TBH - a lot of kids have both parents that want to come so they're in just as much of a bind as the single ones.

Ha - weeps your school sounds pretty much identical to Elliot's!

 

[gaijingirl]

Primary yes, but over two evenings. They're doing it at tables in the gym hall rather than in the classrooms which I don't really understand so I suppose space is at a premium when you have a table with two chairs for 21-odd teachers in there, plus parents waiting...

we do it in the gym too - it's partly safety in numbers - we are discouraged from meeting parents alone in classrooms (although in fact we do this on another "target setting" day. But for secondary it's also just easier for the parents to get from table to table without having to tour the entire school... but I suppose with primary you're just going to see the one teacher so it shouldn't really matter.

 

[weepiper]

but I suppose with primary you're just going to see the one teacher so it shouldn't really matter.

Two kids, two teachers though

 

[purenarcotic]

Yup, that's what happened with me, trashy; both my mum and dad wanted to come, so I had to come with.

 

[gaijingirl]

Two kids, two teachers though

no I meant it shouldn't really matter from the pov of having the event in the gym v. the classroom - as one would only be seeing a limited number of teachers - maybe one or two/three. At secondary parents would be meeting 8 or more teachers.

 

[Thora]

If the school is setting homework such as powerpoint presentations it should also be providing homework clubs with access to computers and the necessary programmes. At least that's how it works in my school. Some of our students have very difficult home circumstances - we can hardly expect them to have that kind of equipment at home. That's inner London secondary though.

I'm a bit worried about all of this. My toddler goes to nursery and we get given a book to read to her every week and we have to record what she says in a little booklet to bring back. Not that anyone would have a go if we didn't (I don't think) but I am a bit of a failure at this because by the time I get her home it's a battle to get dinner into her and get her and her sister into bed. I read her the book at bed usually but sometimes she just wants one of her old favourites. How there will ever be time for homework I can't imagine? I suspect we'll have to lose a day at the weekend if she ends up with loads.

Nurseries love sending things home with parents (and having parents come in) because it shows Ofsted they are working in partnership which is something they are very hot on at the moment. They probably don't care if you actually do it or not

 

[extra dry]

Nurseries love sending things home with parents (and having parents come in) because it shows Ofsted they are working in partnership which is something they are very hot on at the moment. They probably don't care if you actually do it or not

just say you did not have time in the evening to fit it in...

 

[extra dry]

I have heard all sorts of excuses the dog ate the table leg, they could not work because the light is too bright at night, our grandmother cooked for us...his pen ran out...

 

[trashpony]

My dog did genuinely eat my homework once. And a pair of my knickers (which he puked up again)

 

[weepiper]

So in the last 24 hours I have had to supervise/assist with the 6 year old preparing a 2 minute talk on a sea creature, the 8 year old finishing his model of an old Edinburgh tenement and the 11 year old picking ten quotes that demonstrate character traits out of her reading homework (and explaining what they demonstrate). As well as making them all do their reading. WTaF.

 

[extra dry]

The international schools here are now instructing kids read English language books for 20-30 minutes everyday after school. Some kids as young as 4 or 5 being requested to do this. I thought it a bit too much for that age, but have seen marked improvement in some the students I teach at the language center I currently work in. Just thought I would share that.

 

[equationgirl]

So in the last 24 hours I have had to supervise/assist with the 6 year old preparing a 2 minute talk on a sea creature, the 8 year old finishing his model of an old Edinburgh tenement and the 11 year old picking ten quotes that demonstrate character traits out of her reading homework (and explaining what they demonstrate). As well as making them all do their reading. WTaF.

That's a lot. I hope they don't have the same tonight.