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Post by Honeysmom on Mar 18, 2004 16:32:15 GMT -5
We got a note home from Honey's 4K teacher yesterday that the kids will now be assigned homework! His first assignment is to make a book about anything he wants. Does this strike anyone else as just going to far? For heaven's sake, he is only 4! Not to mention, I don't think he is old enough to even comprehend the improtance of homework. I tried to get him to draw me a picture last night for the first page (they are only getting 3 pages in this book from us) and he refused. He said he was tired and went to bed. We tried again today, but he doesn't see a point in it so he won't do it, but that is a whole different story. I just think they are getting way out of hand with pushing our kids. They are kids, not tiny grown-ups!  Becky BTW, the reason they are getting HW is to prepare them for kinderagrten next year. Why even call it that, it is 1st grade! |
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Post by rosyred45 on Mar 18, 2004 19:30:07 GMT -5
Nope, not just you last getts annoyed with the homework. Are youi sure you didn't take my Mikey to do that homework. He told me last night he didn't know why he had to do his 3 times each, he already knew how to spell the word. Which I know he does, his teacher knows he does, BUT his handwriting is attrocious, so I told him he has to practice his writing.
Any how, have you thought about him doin a collage, like cutting out similar pictures from magazines and stuff? I don't know if that would help or not, but it's just a thought.
Good luck
Kaiti
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Post by camismom on Mar 19, 2004 8:55:50 GMT -5
I hate to add insult to injury, but you may as well perpare yourself. It has only just begun! Homework today has become completely ridiculous! These kids are expected to be in school all day, then spend all night doing more. God forbid they have a life outside of school...
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Post by Dad2Brooke on Mar 19, 2004 14:07:42 GMT -5
Oh yeah, the homework is definately out of line in my opinion. We spend about an hour and a half each night doing homework. Of course, a lot of that time is attributable to Brooke's inability to focus. I don't remember learning some of the stuff they are learning in the first grade until the third grade when I was growing up (and I had to walk uphill, both ways, in the snow, with no shoes, why you young whippersnappers ;D ;D LOL) The curriculum certainly seems advanced, and maybe that is good thing, but it sure doesn't seem like they get to be kids very long.  |
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Post by AnneM on Mar 19, 2004 14:24:51 GMT -5
UGGGH!!! Homework has been my personal bug-bear for the past 11 years (son is now 15)... I can categorically state that I HATE homework!! ... Sam started school at 4 years old and the homework started right then .... and increased each year from that point ... He has always done it because I insisted he do it ... (ok lets be honest .. on occasions ... pushed, bribed, cajoled ... etc.etc.) .... Homework for him has never ever been a pleasure - it has always been "something to do as quickly as possible so I can get on with the more important things in life" (or rather his perception of the more important things in life!) ..  The other problem with homework has been that he has always ideally needed 'some' home support with it ... this was easy enough in elementary school ... but in the past couple of years I have found myself doing crash courses in engineering (YIKES!), Spanish (never ever done it before!), chemistry and physics and a curriculum which includes things that I certainly don't remember and have had to learn from scratch .... Thank HEAVENS for the internet resources on occasions! ... Anyway enough of my vent on homework ... back to the original question - is 4 too young ? ... I agree with Camismom that really you might as well start now with "just a little" ... P.S. and I would say 3 page for a book at 4 years old is more than adequate! GOOD LUCK!! ... |
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Post by Honeysmom on Mar 19, 2004 18:33:02 GMT -5
Well, he got it done, but I have to admit, it ain't pretty.
Camismom, I agree that homework is way out of control. I think my BIL (8th grade) does hours and hours worth a night. I guess the part that sort of gets to me is wondering where this is going to end. Not school or homework, I know that is going to be around for many years yet. I wonder how young they are actually going to start pusing them next.
They wanted to screen my DD this year for Early Childhood next year. She would be 3 yrs and 3 months when she started school if she went to that. Riding on the bus and everything. That is where I drew the line. 4 is young enough, but 3???
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Post by camismom on Mar 19, 2004 21:09:35 GMT -5
Becky, I agree with you completely. They do seem to be pushing these kids younger and younger. I mean now a days they expect them to know how to read small words when they're finished with kindergarten. I don't remember learning to read until first grade. It's all gone back a year. Pre-K is what was kindergarten to us, kindergarten is first grade now, and so on. MKy 6th grader is taking pre-Algebra this year. I took pre-Algebra as a 7th grader. See what I mean? You'll just have to take a stand from the get on. You already have Honey's ADHD on record as does his school, so let them know early on that he will not spend hours a night on the homework struggle. He does that enough during the day and he deserves some time to relax, just as they do. As soon as you can, get him a 504 or IEP and include homework limitations. Adjust it every year. Course I really need not say this anyway.  I know you well enough to know we don't have to worry about Honey. You'll fight for him like you always have. He's lucky to have you.  |
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Post by rosyred45 on Mar 20, 2004 8:14:11 GMT -5
Oh Honey, it doesn't have to be Pretty. I give him A smilie for completing it. Homework is ridiculous, so is some of the school work too. I can understand that they NEED to know things, and that, for example, teaching a foriegn language early may help them remember it better and easier later, but I wish we had a choice of the foreign language. No offense, but we have a strong German heritage, I would personally prefer that my child learn German, not Spanish. Heck I'd like them to be able to get the English language down first, but that's the other thread Thank God I work at the school, or else I'd be totally lost. I talk with the teachers daily or at least 3 times a week to check in. Especially for Mikey, but Tara has gotten over the hump of knowing everything to learning it fresh, so she's on my list too. OH, I'll step down and let someone else have the box. I could write 3 or 4 novels. Kaiti |
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Post by finnmom on Mar 20, 2004 11:22:32 GMT -5
Honeysmom I raise my hat to you and Honey Accomplishing a homework at 4y is worth some dancing on the table´s ;D I only have one kid in school, but in here school start´s at the age of 6 with pre-school then the elementary and so on. I would be really mad if someone would tell me to put my soon-to-be3y to a kindergarten you´re right, it´s way too early! Congrat´s from the homework!! Marja |
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Post by swmom on Mar 20, 2004 11:29:43 GMT -5
My dd, now 9, had homework beginning in kindergarten and even then it was fairly involved. They had to write a few sentences describing their favorite part of a favorite story and then illustrate the story in color. That in addition to a math worksheet and reading for
20 minutes. She was only 5. I was amazed.
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Post by AnneM on Mar 21, 2004 14:09:21 GMT -5
I can understand that they NEED to know things, and that, for example, teaching a foriegn language early may help them remember it better and easier later, but I wish we had a choice of the foreign language. No offense, but we have a strong German heritage, I would personally prefer that my child learn German, not Spanish. Heck I'd like them to be able to get the English language down first, but that's the other thread Kaiti Kaiti I have to support this! ... Sam HAS to do Spanish because his school only offer Spanish or French ... my husband IS German (and thus speaks fluent German etc) ... I also lived there for over a year and my German is reasonable ... and heck ... that would have been SOOOOO much more beneficial!! ... but no ... he HAD to do Spanish and neither or us speak one word of it !! ... Grrrr... !! |
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Post by mskris on Mar 22, 2004 15:39:11 GMT -5
You all don't want to get me started on this...TOO LATE!! (On my soapbox)...We find that our school curriculum is 2-3 years ahead of what we did. Our son is in 3rd grade and they are doing pre-algebra (variables and parenthetical expressions) and pre-geometry (area and perimeter). What bugs me most is that at this age, they have no frame of reference for the material!! My son is actually quite good at math, but then they started giving them analogies in language arts...you know, like on the SATs (____is to ____as ____is to ____). The vocabulary alone was way beyond them! My son earned an 8/20 and his was the second highest grade in the class!! My daughter is in kg and they are considering holding her back (over my dead body) because she's having trouble reading. HELLO - I didn't learn to read until first grade and I was an English major and am a professional writer. My dd is already hating school and begging to stay home daily - how sad!!! I honestly think that in a few years, the pendulum will swing back the other way when they realize they're pushing these kids too far, too soon. All studies I've seen show that early learning really doesn't benefit the students in the long run - by 4th grade, they all fall out to where their abilities lie, anyway. I HATE the school curriculum here - they only teach to the "standards" to keep their govt money and "award-winning" status. If your kid isn't an overachiever, then they'd just as soon ignore him/her. As for my ds, they spent the past 3 weeks getting ready to take the standardized tests this week, and the school even sent a letter home advising parents how to train the kids to take the tests - honestly!! Don't get me started on homework. They tried to give my ds homework in kg and I wrote a note to the teacher saying he wouldn't be doing it (he attended an extra enrichment program that year). I got no argument. We still modify the amount he does sometimes - tears and frustration on everyone's part just aren't worth it!! Again, I haven't received any argument (yet). On top of math, social studies, science, and spelling, he's supposed to be reading a chapter book each week - we let some of it slide and notify the teacher. The only good part is that he loves school and is happy and his grades are above average. Good enough for me. Sorry for the rant... Kris |
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Post by aimee30 on Mar 23, 2004 22:06:31 GMT -5
Homework here, has just changed. First and second graders bring home a weekly page. On the back is a list of spelling words divided into two groups. The first group are words like ball, tall, fall, etc. Not bad. Group two has words like the months, colors, etc. I think this is a little much. My DD is in first grade and is in group two. Anyway, each night they are to practice their spelling words for 5 mins., practice their math facts for 5 mins., and read a book for 10 mins. Then the parent initials for each one done and writes what book they read for that night. At the end of the week you send in the homework page.
They just started that about a month ago. So far, I really like it. Before she was having to study spelling words everynight and do a math sheet. This new homework has cut down on her fussing quite a bit. Before we were spending about an hour a night on it. Now we spend 20 mins each night. If she feels like reading longer we do. If not we don't. I do feel like her words are pretty hard for a first grader though.
As far as going to school at 3yrs. old. I agree that it is wrong for some children. In my DS's case it was the best thing for him. He had some speech problems. O.K. a lot of speech problems. No one could understand a word he said but me. I took him in to be tested as soon as he turned three. He was screened in January and started school the middle of March that year. They only went half a day then and he enjoyed it. I wouldn't change a thing. He has done wonderful. He is in fourth grade this year and last year they called me in to tell me that he no longer needed speech.
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Post by Honeysmom on Mar 24, 2004 0:13:17 GMT -5
I have had to internet server problems so I couldn't respond to this, but I agree with everyone!
I and agree 110% with Kaiti on the language thing. Honey has a hard enough time with plain old english, and he comes home telling me the Spainsh words he learned in school that day. (he has no idea what they mean) Give me a break! He is in speech and language for his own language, please let him get one down first, before we start adding more. Whenever they read a book in school, they read it once in English and once in Spanish. I often wonder if he is even getting it.
Too bad we are all so far apart. We could start a "Mad as Heck" group and protest at the schools that we are not going to take this anymore. Kids are kids, just let them be that for a while. They have the rest of their lives to be adults.
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Post by rosyred45 on Mar 24, 2004 5:03:35 GMT -5
I might just have to start using that quote Becky. KIDS ARE KIDS, THEY HAVE THE REST OF THEIR LIVES TO BE ADULTS. I like the ring of that one. What gets me is the new math that the school has been implementing. It's "everyday math". We get the answers sent home for the homework, or at least organized families get the answers and explanation sent home (I just got a Nov. Newsletter for PTA from Tara :  Any how, I can't understand the concepts and have told BOTH of my kids teachers, actually I've told all of the teachers that I can't stand it. We can't to math homework at SACC anymore unless the kids understand it because last year I totally confused a little girl in 2nd grade. Some one is trying the bigger better, and most of the kids aren't getting it. Actually the kids who's parents go over it with them don't get it because by the time they get home they forget and the parents try to understand but don't. How are you supposed to help the kids with something that is a new concept you weren't taught to teach? It's a pain. Off the box Kaiti |
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