Would you expect Y4 to remember?

[SocialButterfly]

DD has just started y4, they used to get a printed note with what their homework was but this year they don't. They get given the homework on a Friday and it is due in Wednesday.
Dd struggles with memory and this week she got made to stay in a break time as the homework she had handed in was not correct. Basically we had done what she said she needed to do but it wasn't exactly as the teacher had asked for.
I did think it was a bit harsh but am willing to go with it if you all think she should be able to remember when the teacher tells her what the homework is.

[Chandon]

my Y5 needs it written down.

Lazy teacher IMO, and unrealistic expectations.

[jo164]

I don't think its unreasonable for a yr 4 to take responsibility for knowing what their homework is - however surely they should be allowed to write it down?! Ours have a homework record book from year 3 onwards and copy the homework down from the board. The teacher would also make sure children who may have any difficulty recording it correctly had checked they had written it down properly.

[Startailoforangeandgold]

I agree with Chandon, Anything more complicated than learn your 8 times table needs writing down.

[Goldidi]

I don't expect my y10 and y11 to remember their homework without writing it down, and my y8 group get a sheet with the questions on which they stick in their book and just have to write down 'maths' in their planner (that's because they all struggle with reading and writing in that group though).

I think it is reasonable to expect a child to remember they have homework, but they need to have the instructions about what to do written down.

[mrz]

I'm obviously a lazy teacher because I wouldn't write it down

[overmydeadbody]

If it's complicated then it needs to be written down, and if the teacher doesn't want to do that they should give the kids time to write is down themselves.


I teach Year 4, they don't remember instructions for what to do in the lesson, never mind what they have to do once they get homew.

I always have written instructions on the board for every lesson, as well as telling them verbally. It's amazing how many childrne still say "I don't know what to do" after I've just told them, even when it is written on the board.


Your dd's teacher is being lazy.

[Gumby]

Our yr4 's still have it written down

[overmydeadbody]

and if I just gave verbal homework, I would not then punish a child for misinterpretting my instructions. I'm happy to get any homework back at all tbh! If they've tried, that's what counts.

[Quicksie]

I taught year 4 last year and always either gave them a slip with instructions or asked them to write down their homework in their reading diary. At that age they have so many things to do, clubs, activities, sports and social lives that make mine look pathetic, I wouldn't expect them to remember homework as well! Also without a note the quality is going to be so varied, I don't think it would be worth collecting in and marking, unless the idea is that they interpret the task in their own way.

[Durab]

Right through secondary children at my DS1s school have to write it all down in their planner, they're not expected to remember it.

Are you sure it wasn't given out & lost or that she wasn't supposed to write it down herself after/while teacher was explaining it?

Have you asked the teacher what the rationale behind not handing it out is?

[clippityclop]

Does the school have a website? Ours does, ever so handy to check up what's going on, topics, homework for the week etc.

[SocialButterfly]

Interesting. I thought it was a bit harsh but didn't know if I was being pfb. I think I'll suggest the teacher gives her 5 mins just to jot down the instructions, it would be a bit unfair if she said no to that! Thanks all

[missmapp]

My Yr 6 have it written down, or they copy what I have written on the board into the book. i am all for giving children more responsibility, but I need to write tasks down so it seems fair the children get the same chance!!

[littlemiss06]

My year 12 lads in college still have to write these homework down never mind expecting a little year 4 to remember, have a word with the teacher, at our primary school the homework is printed out and stuck in their homework log, my kids would never remember their homework if it wasn't written down.

[lilackaty]

No - I wouldn't expect them to remember it. That seems unrealistic and keeping them in at break is crap. Especially if they know she struggles with memory - it is unfair. I would have a word with the teacher and ask if dd has it right that thye just have to remember the hmwk and don't write it down at all.
I teach yr 4 and have a ds in yr 4 who would have no hope of remembering what he was supposed to do.

[MirandaWest]

DS is in year 4 and they get a printed sheet with homework on.

[madwomanintheattic]

My y4 is supposed to copy it down into her agenda.

She has cerebral palsy and her writing is illegible. Even she can't read it. And this week, the LSA has walked her to the bus 5 minutes early so that she doesn't get knocked over (good) but that's when everyone else is writing down their homework(bad).

It's teething trouble. Your Dd needs to learn to write it down. My dd needs to persuade the teacher to let her copy it down earlier. Electronically.

She'll learn.

[wheresthebeach]

My DD in year 4 and we get printed sheets.

[Littleplasticpeople]

As a primary teacher I definitely wouldn't expect children to remember their homework without it being written down. I either print it on a sheet or give them chance to write it down in a suitable place.

However, by yer four I wouldn't be checking who had or hadn't picked up a homework sheet ...

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

I just assumed all Year 4's have homework diaries but obviously that's not the case. How on earth are these children supposed to remember their homework without writing it down? I can't even remember things at work without my to-do list! DD1 is in Year 4 and homework diaries were introduced in Year 3 to help them learn important life skills like organisation, time planning, prioritising, revising and so on. Why on earth don't all schools do it???

[redskyatnight]

Y4 DS writes his homework down (and has a diary and time to do so). However his diary generally reads something vague like "reading spelling handwriting maths friday" which leaves him to remember (for example) that they are meant to be doing handwriting in pencil and using alternate lines.

[wheredidiputit]

DD1 is in yr4.

Their homework is mainly project based. As in they are doing WW2 this half term and they have to complete 7 out of 9 of the suggested homework pieces. They get an A4 printed sheet with 9 different options on. And it is a mixture of written/computer or practical choices.

[Fizzylemonade]

Ds1 is now in year 5 but they have a homework diary that is filled in daily, so they write stuff like reading, PE kit, times tables. Some stuff is the same every day like reading, then it will also have stuff like European Day or £1 donation for bulb planting. It is written on the board for them to copy down.

That is what they are expected to do that day after school.

Then on a Friday they have an A4 book which has a printed sheet stuck into it with their homework on. This is to be handed in on the Monday, so we do it Friday night straight after school.

If they fail to hand in homework then we are told that they will be kept in for a playtime to work on it.

I personally can never remember anything unless I have put it in my diary so how they expect a year 4 child to remember is ridiculous.

[blisterpack]

I think the teacher is being quite reasonable. Does your DD have a homework diary? Ask her to quickly jot down what her homework is. If the school doesn't provide one buy one for her.

My DD was in charge of all her homework from Year 4. There were no written or printed notes.