How much support do you need to give for year 3 homework?

[mariamagdalena]

Hiya

DS1 is a bright lad (as we all say ) and is really, really struggling with homework though he reads well for his age and is apparently doing ok in class. I've tried all the usual measures, and nothing is working. He has significant special needs (ADHD and mild autism, some dyspraxia) but I don't want him to learn to use them as an excuse for skiving.

So... each week the class gets about half an hour English, half an hour maths, one or more reading books and some spellings to learn. This seems about average for a state school in our area.

We shut the door, I sit right next to him, fully but discreetly focussed, with DH to watch the other dc so there are no interruptions. I help him read and interpret the questions, and maybe do the first one for him if he's not getting the idea. He needs, 'now question 2' etc, to keep him on task, and often breaks down in tears, panic or tantrums part way through. If handwriting gets too much then he'll dictate the last few answers.

Is this 'normal' support? Or way over the top compared to other kids. Without it the work just wouldn't be done.

[Marne]

Dd1 doesn't really get much homework, just one page of maths per week, learn a times table a week and reading.

I just prompt her to do it, she completes it in one minute and moans that its too easy (takes me longer to actually get her to sit down than it does for her to do it).

[mariamagdalena]

Marne I'm so sorry to have rudely ignored your helpful post! I thought the thread had died without trace. DS did his maths homework in after school club yesterday

[ASuitableGirl]

DS is in Year 3 and gets spellings and one piece of homework (alternates between literacy and maths every other week). With the homework I get him to sit down, we talk about how to do it and he does it. I will check it and then write at the bottom what help I gave. This week he had to write a rap for a times table which did say it would need help, so we worked on it together. Was quite impressed with our attempts .

With spellings I test him on them - they are pretty challenging so far and I think me helping him is beneficial.

If he really wouldn't do his homework I would stop, write on it what had happened so his teacher knew and that would be it. Hasn't come to that yet though so hard to say what I would actually do, if that makes sense.

[Maamoo]

Hi my dd is year 3 and she has ADHD. She needs a lot of support with he homework. However what I have found useful for her is to explain what she needs to do and make sure she fully understands. Then she goes to her room with scrap bit of paper and writes her answers down. She gets her £1 pocket money for this. Then I check what she's done and tell her how well she has managed on her own and carefully suggest some alternatives to what she has written etc. Then we do the final draft.
It has given her a sense of independence even though she may get all answers wrong she feels better for trying alone xx

[staylucky]

DD is year 3 and has one or two reading books, about 10 spellings and one sheet of either maths or English a week.
Usually she'll do her homework at the kitchen table whilst i'm making dinner, For English & Maths I will ask her to read aloud the brief and we'll talk about what she's going to do. I always have to remind her to try and write neatly at the start and usually halfway through.
Spellings we look at and i'll test her everynight until she's cracked them, also have them up on a kitchen cupboard through the week so their visable. She will read aloud once with either me or DP, she reads really well independently so I don't often repeat a book. We do times table most nights, quickly saying aloud the one's she's ok with 2,3,4,5's & 10's and writing out the one's shes still learning.

I had no help whatsoever as a child and as a result am now learning my times tables for the first time at 30 with DD now!! Which why i'm so keen on getting involved. If i didn't sit down with her i'm sure she'd do the work but I doubt it would be readable and I know she'd take the quickest option avaliable rather than thinking things through or trying to be more creative. It's about the only time we spend together alone so I think she quite enjoys it.

I think what you do sounds great, i'm pretty sure the teacher will have to motivate them in class in a similar way.