In not making child do homework

I'd love DS's school to set homework. Take an interest in your child's academic progress.

My DCs primary stopped issuing homework a couple of years ago, they ask that reading still happens and that the kids use a times table app to practice if they want to but years R-5 do nothing more than that. They have provided resources for those children who do want to do extra but it is optional. I have seen no decline in my DCs progress since they stopped it. After some feedback they have started giving year 6 homework tasks this year but that is more to give them a sense of what is expected when they go to secondary school.

I’ve kids in year 1 and 5. We do spellings in the morning. I write them on the glass sliding doors in the kitchen at start of week. And then when we ride to school I ask them to spell the words as the cycle along.

we read.
we use a computer programme to do times tables and Spanish before breakfast or for a few minutes in the evening.
and some mornings i mix in the times tables etc into our cycle ride

but none of this is done sitting down formally.

I knew before your update that your kid has ADHD. THAT's why it's a struggle.

I would work on it, but only a few days a week - maybe Wednesday and Saturday and focus a lot on the organising and doing skills and not a lot on spelling.

Is he sitting down? Does he have his book? Does he know what to do? Does he read what he has to do, then so it, then check what he has done? Remember to do all of it? Put away his stuff afterwards?

Break it down, break it down, break it down to tiny pieces. Use the spelling homework to teach him how to learn.

The spelling isn't important here.

It's really not that much homework so it's good to get into the routine of it. Practicing spellings really helps. Please don't be too lazy to do times tables when they start. Makes an enormous difference to pretty much all their maths and can't really be done in school.

My main worry about not doing it is the adjustment to doing it in secondary school which makes me question if I should be enforcing it now

It’s not all or nothing, though? You could do the homework sheet at the weekend and the spellings once per week? Or just the homework sheet and drop the spellings?

I’m a secondary teacher. I didn't make my kids do hwk until y6. Like you, I couldn’t handle the battleground! They’re both above average in most subjects. (Including my son who has ADHD). There’s very little evidence homework does anything at primary. I just make them do it in y6 to get them ready for secondary. Reading matters but you’re doing that. Ignore all the ‘lazy parenting’ posts. It’s smart parenting to ditch something that’s high pressure, low yield! Xx

I complexly disagree with homework in primary school. Perhaps starting in year 6 in preparation for secondary school but not before that.
There has never been one shred of evidence to show it works.

I’m a primary school teacher. I don’t set any homework. I email parents each week to tell them what we have been covering in maths and topic with some suggested activities. They also get a reading book home. I don’t expect anything back but I like to keep parents updated.

We have a DD who was diagnosed with ASD and ADHD in Yr 4. We had a similar experience and those posters calling this lazy parenting are wrong.

That said, we started smaller and built up the routine of homework very slowly with their favourite (maths) and took it from there. So we dropped spelling for a while, got used to doing maths. Then added in reading. Lots of books that they had choice over as was a very reluctant reader, started with non fiction books. Then finally (only in year 5) added in spellings, using Wordle games to support. Lots and lots of positive reinforcement and don’t try straight after school - they will likely need decompression, a snack, and chill time first. we also cut back on after school activities (only one per week and starts at 6pm) to enable this to happen.

Other parents with ND kids will understand that no amount of punishment, shouting to reward charts will work with a kid with ADHD. diagnosis and medication and a slow steady and determined approach will pay off. We now have our DD in yr 6 who is meeting all expectation and nearly exceeding in reading. Good luck OP. You are not a lazy parent and it isn’t easy, but you can do this.

IT SAYS IN THE OP my god!!! Year 3. Aged 7 or 8.

Say a word and ask them to spell it. Anybody can manage that whilst driving.

Its your party. But if a teachers is setting some additional learning outside of school they are probably not doing it for their health. You do not have to follow the instructions to the letter but doing some work in that area is going to be beneficial for the child.

It doesn’t sound like too much if it’s the same spellings on each night plus a piece of homework and reading.

I think regular homework is important for routine / for them to develop discipline. Doesn’t have to be much eg 15 mins 3x a week.

Queenfreak

I really disagree with topic projects.

Homework in primary is bullshit. Reading something they enjoy is great so stick with that!

admittedly I do maths and English at home with my 8yo but that’s because he goes to a tiny SEN school where I get a full daily de-brief which will go into detail with what he’s struggled with, so I do a bit of extra work at home to help him solidify that knowledge. But it’s a very individualised approach that works for him because it is specifically targeting his weaknesses to build his confidence in a safe environment. Generic homework sheets are ridiculous.

My main worry about not doing it is the adjustment to doing it in secondary school which makes me question if I should be enforcing it now

It's going to be individual but mine had no difficulty doing homework at secondary school, nor for GCSEs, A Levels nor university.

Year 3 child here. No more reading books thank goodness. However we have 10 spellings each week, times tables practice, a maths sheet each week and a topic project once a fortnight. Plus recorder. It's a pain with after school activities and a deep loathing of maths- but we do our best.
Tbh I didn't actually enforce anything bar reading until this school year, but I want to instill good habits before secondary school, and 12 terms will vanish quicker than you think!
Wrt you being unreasonable, I think only you know can figure that out. I'd say most of the children do homework at our school in year 3 up. I definitely get irritated with it taking up time though. TT rockstars is the current bane of my life! NOT a 15/20 minute activity in this household.

I'd prioritise reading and times tables.

I'm a teacher and I don't agree with homework in primary. They work so hard all day long at school and I really think that their evenings should be spent doing other activities, having fun, spending time with their families and relaxing.

I have two children. One has been through university and out earns me and the other is there right now and we only did reading and times tables.

I recently picked a primary for my child. Outstanding rating and really great results.

Was super surprised they have a specific no homework policy!

They do have a book club thing (so disguised homework) which they expect you to do. But the children pick their own books from the library so it’s led by their interests.

But no sheets or spellings or anything else.

Was really pleased with that 😅

So now I wonder if it really matters. 🤷‍♀️

Yeah, and then we're talking about underfunded education, private school getting better results only because of privilege, bla bla bla.

This all starts at home. No teaching can compensate for lazy parenting.
In Y3 ffs! What will you do when he refuses to revise for GCSE?

We don’t do homework and never have. My kids are year 4 and 6. The year 6 does her own by herself the year 4 doesn’t do any. If they can do it by themselves then fine but I’m not forcing my kids to do homework when they have much better things to do outside of school

I've yet to see anything that supports homework during primary school age to be important as long as someone is reading to them at home which is the case.

I wouldn't make it a battle either.

I do and work full time in a stressful job and my husband often works away and my kids do their homework. Don’t patronise someone who is asking why they can’t do it. Yeah you can.