If your child (Year 3) didn't do their homework, would the teacher tell them off?

[jugglingwoman]

My DS (7) went into school today with half finished spellings homework. I'd asked yesterday if he had any (I knew he'd been doing this last week) and he said no. I don't know if he was lying so he didn't have to do it or forgot, but he only had 5 mins this morning so did part of it. TBH, normally the idea of being told off at school worries him so I didn't tell him off too much, just said 'well, you told me you'd done it so it's your fault that you'll get told off'. Not particularly sympathetic but we've recently had issues with him being a little lazy with his work at home. His response was 'it's ok, Mrs B will just tell me to bring it in tomorrow'. No fear or worry at all. Then I discovered this seems to happen with other children.

Am I wrong to think that teachers would tell off children for this? I know they shouldn't go overboard and some children struggle with homework, but I was amazed that he's taught that's ok. My DH says that he'll struggle more at secondary school if he thinks it's fine but then DH is a secondary school teacher!

[FAQinglovely]

well we've finally got the "homework" under control with DS1 (also YR3) (in that we know remember he has and it gets it in - they don't have homework very often though).

HE took his homework in after half term and over a week later the teacher hadn't given his back yet as she was still waiting for the others !

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

DD2 is Year Four and if she forgot her spelling homework she would have to stay in at lunchtime to do it.
Needless to say, she doesn't forget.
DD3 is Year Two and if she doesn't do hers we get a note in her homework book reminding us to do it.

[annoyedmum]

I think the my ds would be told off by his [very strict]teacher.He is 7 but in yr2.
She certainly makes known which children haven't done it because my ds says who!

Having said that,she doesn't expect it always on the day after its been given,there is often a days leeway.

[katiestar]

I don't agree with homework at primary school.My 2 children who are of primary age are really keen as far as schoolwork goes and I don't want their enthusiasm damped by compulsory homework.I have explained this to their teachers and that my DCs won't be doing it and as far as I know there have been no repurcussions

[Doodle2u]

It does send out the wrong message.

I agree with your DH as well. Storing a whole heap of crap up for later.

I don't agree with homework either but it's the school's policy, so we follow it. We knew in advance that homework was part of the deal.

[ingles2]

oh yes, the have to stay in a lunchtime to finish it.
They also have a homework club which is optional for the vast majority but compulsory for repeat offenders.

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

I agree with Doodle. We signed the home-school agreement to support the school, so even though I personally don't agree with homework, I ensure that they do it.

[annoyedmum]

I quite like short homeworks as they can work at their own pace and ask for helpetc

[jugglingwoman]

That's half the annoying thing about this homework. He was given it last Tuesday so has had ample time to do it and as we saw him do it, we thought it was finished (he's normally quite good at doing it although we've had a few 'maths issues' recently).

I don't mind them giving him homework as long as he can do it. At the beginning of the school year (new teacher) they didn't explain things well and lots of parents complained as the children ran out of time and kept getting upset. They have a policy of not telling them off if they've struggled with it and their parent lets them know. We haven't done it yet but if DS really struggled and spent more than 30 mins (their limit not ours) doing it then I'd just write a note. I've been known to write on 'parent feedback forms' that they need to be more reliable with their homework as he has two teachers, some weeks two lots of homework, some none. Not a problem unless you have a busy weekend and you're a working parent!

I like the idea of them having to stay in during play time and do it. I'll ask him later what happened but I think his father may have had words by then. I'll also nag DH to bring it up at a governors meeting.

[annoyedmum]

Yes I agree ~ I hate the missing playtime idea it seems a bit mean and pointless unless its for aggression in the yard etc.

[Highlander]

I'm shocked a Yr3 even has homework!

[jugglingwoman]

His homework is a page of maths (normally only 5 or 6 sums and often colouring in more than maths) and a list of spellings (normally 10 or 20). He doesn't struggle with it and to be honest, tends to enjoy it. In some ways I don't think he should have homework at his age but it doesn't take him long and it means we know what he's doing at school (he doesn't tend to explain well if you ask questions).

I've often wondered if it's a test for parents more than the children!

[seeker]

At ds's school (he's in year 3) they have "project" homework given at the beginning of each half term. They have a list of tasks round a theme "Keep a weather diary for a week" 'Design a rain gauge" are two of this half term's. Last term we had "make a pirate map" "Find out about a famous pirate" "cook a carribean recipe""Design a pirate flag" and so on. About 5 or 6 for each half term.

They don't have to do it, but they have a show and tell day at the end of each half term where they share their work, and they get lots of 'house points' that go towards certificates and prizes, and nobody wants to miss out on allthat. So generally they do it.

[mrz]

Perhaps the homework didn't have a hand in date so as long as he completes it before the next homework is set it doesn't matter

[cory]

In ds's school they don't make a big issue of it: they just make them stay in and do it at lunchtime. More effective than any ranting imo: ds has only failed to complete his homework the once

[scienceteacher]

My DD is in Year 2 and her teacher is very stern with her if she is short with her homework (the teacher speaks in her 'special voice'), and I get a note in her contact book. She has homework everyday.

[seeker]

Another good reason for choosing state education, scienceteacher!

[scienceteacher]

No way - I can't stand mediocrity and low expectations.

My DD is thriving and happy - she has made such progress since joining the independent sector. She wouldn't have triggered enough targets in the state system for anyone to consider it important that she reaches her full potential.

[seeker]

She's do brilliantly at DS's school, then!

[applepudding]

DS has spellings most weeks which they are tested on so if he hasn't remembered to bring them home then he doesn't do very well in the test.

He also has a piece of maths homework he is given about a week to do. However, he tells me that not many of the children actually do this homework - so I would presume they dont get told off for not doing it.

I think that homework is very inconsistent at DS's school - but TBH everything has been inconsistent this year with several changes of teacher. I'll be glad when they go into Y4.

[PerfectPrefect]

DTDs have to do their homework during Golden time if it hasn't been done.

It annoyed me actually. We were told at begingin of term that DTD1 would bring homework hom on a Thurs/Fri to be complete by Thurs/Fri following week. We got into a nice routine of doing it at the weekend.

After Easter for the first 3 weeks of term when we got DTD2's homework out on a Saturday DTD1 said she had done it in class on the Friday so had no homework. It turns out that the teacher had started giving it out on a Monday to be completed by Friday; I didn't even know it was there as I don't check homework book until Saturday> and She had been penalised for not doing it.

[thirdname]

I don't tink they get told off and if they do, well, that's ds problem.
No way would I sign a home agreement. I know they sent that out for being at school in time. Thought that idea so ridiculous it went straight in the recycling bin...