Homework in reception

[BillywigSting]

Just looking for others opinions on this here and whether or not this is too much. Ds has just started reception and currently get two reading books a week, plus four a4 work sheets (some maths some phonics) plus an additional online peice of homework that is something to do with whatever they have been focusing on that week. Does this seem like too much or about right? It works out at two pieces a night for three nights and one on a another.

[MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet]

My son is in Y1. In Reception, we used to get reading every night, then phonics and handwriting at the weekend. Then there were optional maths things/holiday challenges, etc. So, similar I guess?

[CarrotCakeMuffins]

Way way too much! DS is going to get a reading book from this week but thats about it. There is no way he would be even remotely interested in worksheets.

[Cinnabunbun]

That sounds like a lot! I thought our first one this week was a bit much too. We got given 2 early phonics mini reading books, a longer bedtime story type picture book for us to read to them, a book cover to decorate, a you tube song link to practise, and a letters game to cut out and play with. All optional of course

[Twodogsandahooch]

Reading books changed x3 per week plus a piece of very easy weekend homework.

[BillywigSting]

I thought it was a bit on the high side, non of it is optional, snotty letters are sent home to those who don't complete everything

[zebedeetwinkle]

It might seem like a lot but really is it? How long will it actually take?! I'm an EYFS teacher and we have to send homework home! for some children so much progress is expected and we don't get anything if nothing happens at home!! To be honest at least in my school the parents that don't do anything are automatically 'labelled' as the ones who don't care...

[EnormousDormouse]

Too much! I am a reception teacher at a well regarded school. We expect reading 4 nights a week and that's it.

[TheCatFromOuterSpace]

Ours sent a worksheet once a week, and their reading book got changed once or twice a week. So yours seems high to me.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

Reading 4-5 nights out of 7 is typical and probably something related to the topic or a short phonics activity isn’t uncommon. 4 worksheets and an additional activity seems like a lot though.

[BillywigSting]

Well the maths worksheet this week involved writing the number 3 a few times, colouring three monkeys and drawing three bananas, making a smoothie with three different fruits, cutting out triangles and making pictures with them, and reading several fairy tales with three main characters (three little pigs etc) and drawing their favourites. Then phonics was cutting out various letters and making a list of words with them as well as writing the letters out a few times each. Then there are two picture only books to make stories for plus a recommended ten minutes of being read to (which he gets anyway as a bedtime story so I don't really count that). The online homework hasn't been given out yet, that's given on a Wednesday. All of this is to be done by Friday.

[Chrisinthemorning]

Sounds a lot, however I remember posting similar when DS was in reception and we got used to it. Remember that he can’t write yet so it’s fine for you to ask him questions and you to scribe the answers.

[Chrisinthemorning]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/2734818-Homework-in-reception

[Chrisinthemorning]

Loved re reading this thread. DS is now in year 2 and still happy at school. He’s above expectations for reading and doing ok with writing too- legible, cursive and today his homework was 5 sentences including irregular verbs in the past tense- done in 15 minutes. Don’t worry

[LikeLemondrops]

Ds has just started kindergarten. He gets 2 picture books a week, plus expected to do the 10 minutes reading together. He has a phonics card with sounds they have been working on in the week and Cvc words. He has 2 maths sheets a week and an online 'how to teach your monster to read'. He has some adhoc handwriting sheets where he traces letters and finds words starting with different sounds.

He enjoys the structure and likes showing off what he has learnt at school.

[widget2015]

That seems a lot so early on. My ds didn't get any homework in reception, just a book to read together. It's a good school and the kids progress well despite the lack of homework.

[bookmum08]

Far too much. Tell them you have no WiFi at home so you can't do any online homework. Also write on the worksheet "sorry we could not make a smoothie because we do not own a blender and all food in the house is purchased with strict meal plans and possibly can't spare any or buy any more because our food budget is planned down to every penny"

[JassyRadlett]

All to be done between Monday and Friday? Bugger the kids who go to childcare/clubs after school and have limited time at home their parents in the evening, eh? That seems like a ludicrous amount for the start of Reception. We had only reading that year. Weekly homework kicked in in Year 1.

[EndOfDiscOne]

Bloody hell I thought we got a lot last year! Reading (ideally every night and lots of nagging to do it), phonics games weekly, a learning task every few weeks and online reading stuff that no one really bothered with much.

[user789653241]

I think it's ok if it was optional, that you can do it if you wan't but don't need to if you don't. Otherwise it's way too much and will be counter productive for some children. At our school, first of all, there aren't so much, and all the homeworks in reception and ks1 are optional.

[TwoOddSocks]

That sounds like way too much. The younger reception kids are often exhausted by the end of the day - the last thing they need is to be forced to do more work. We did reading every night and nothing else. The school were also very clear not to force the reading if they want to do lots then go nuts, try and do at least 10 minutes but don't put the kids off by having a battle with a knackered 4 year old.

[KipperTheFrog]

My DD1 has just started reception. We are expected to read with her 5 nights a week and get a homework task on a Friday to complete by the Wednesday. Last Friday it was a piece about jobs family members do and some letter writing practice.

[spinabifidamom]

That’s too much for a small child just beginning school. Other than reading frequently we do not currently expect DSD to do a lot of homework. How long does it take you to do everything? Occasionally I ask her to complete five or six questions on simple math if she does not seem like reading. But that’s it really. I don’t go overboard with homework.

[Fireballfriends]

That's a huge amount! My DD started reception last year. She'd only just turned 4 and got two reading books a week. That's it. She only ever read them to me on three occasions. I never made her do it because she was too tired and I felt other things were more important and I want her to enjoy reading not see it as a chore. Her school is very well regarded and she ended the year in the top reading group. More importantly she was not burnt out at the end of each term.

[BillywigSting]

It's taking a good 30-40 minutes a night. I'm glad it's not just me who thinks it's excessive. We're lucky enough to have been able to manage to do everything this week but I know others who haven't due to having older children who need help with 'proper' homework, not having internet, both parents working etc. That is how I know about the snotty letters too. I understand that they are expected to receive some homework and I agree with that but I think the volume at the moment is a bit much. Even ds who is five next week and got the odd bit of homework in nursery is struggling, never mind the summer born kids who are new starters.

[BillywigSting]

Apologies for the lack of paragraphs btw, for some reason mn isn't letting me put them in