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Original poster

2 questions from a rookie year 7 parent!

31 replies

seeker · 18/10/2007 11:10

The first one is quite simple. How much help do you give with homework? My dd does hers in the living room - she occasionally asks questions which we sometimes answer but usually tell her how to find out the answer. If it's something interesting we might discuss it. When she's finished, if she wants me to, I cast an eye over it, and, for example,if she's divided 8 by 2 and got 2 I suggest she might have another look at number 7. I might read a draft story and suggest she expands an idea or checks the spelling. Very "light touch" or so I thought. I was talking to another parent who says that they should do their work on their own completely. His daughter goes to her room, does her work, packs her bag and her parents don't even check to see if she's done it all. WHo do you agree with?

Second. Yesterday dd had a special choir practice for an assembly first period. Music teacher said she would tell form tutor. DD missed science. She then got a stern note from science teacher saying that she should have come to excuse herself in person, they did a test and dd is to do the test this lunchtime. DD is upset that she did something wrong withoug realizing it, and upset that she'll miss her lunch and drama club. But I also see the teacher's point of view. What do you think? Bit harsh? Or is that what would happen at your school?

OP posts:
ShrinkingViolet · 18/10/2007 11:38

at our school, if there's something on at lunchtime, they're told to eat their lunch at break . DD1 usually managed to pack her lunch to allow for snacking between classes through the whole day if she's busy at lunch though.

Freckle · 18/10/2007 11:36

Re question one, I'm with you. Parental involvement in education is one of the most important elements for the child's success. This does not mean doing the homework for them, but pointing in a general direction, discussing a topic so they can get some perspective, this is all important.

I always check their homework books and sometimes look at what they have done. I regularly go through their subject books to see what marks they are getting in school and what marks they are getting for homework.

Re question two, I do find that secondary schools often expect Y7s to obey rules which they don't even know. I can understand that all rules must apply to all pupils, but it seems unfair that a child should be punished for not following a rule they didn't even know about.

DS2 (new Y7) had to attend an extra French session one lunchtime. He has school lunches and obviously has to queue for his lunch. By the time he'd had lunch, he was late for his French session. His teacher immediately gave him an after-school detention, because all the other boys had got there on time. All the other boys have packed lunches. I did point out to the head of Y7 that it is not fair to make him choose between having a decent meal at lunchtime and getting to an extra lesson on time.

ShrinkingViolet · 18/10/2007 11:36

In year 7 we went with first option for homework as DD1 had trouble coping with the organisation of it all. Now in Year 10 she'll ask if she needs help with something (like "can you read this through please and see if it makes sense", or "I've tried x,y and z websites for this homework, where else can I look?")
For Qu. 2 DD1 would have gone ot science teacher, done a groveling apology, but made the point that music teacher had said they would pass on the message, explain about drama club, adn try and cajole science techer into letting her do the test another lunchtime. But would accept if it couldn't be changed (with much internal moaning). Unfair, yes, but good for life skills (particularly as science teacher might look more favourably on her in the future )

Original poster
seeker · 18/10/2007 11:33

I wasn't planning on doing anything about the science test/ lunch thing - I said to dd that I didn't know whether it was fair or not, but it didn't matter - these things happen and deal with it. I also made her write a short apologetic note to put in the teacher's pigeon hole first thing - teachers can be unforgetting elephants and dd will be dealing with this one for a lot of years! I was just interested really in what people thought. And the science teacher wasn't to know that dd was in the choir, even thought her form tutor does. I'm assuming that she'll get some lunch sometime!

OP posts:
Hallgerda · 18/10/2007 11:27

On question 1, I'm with the parent who says they should do their work on their own entirely. Let them take responsibility for their actions and inactions, and don't distort the teacher's view on how well pupils understand the current topic. If DS1 actually wanted to come and talk to me about an interesting homework, I wouldn't chase him out of the kitchen though.

On question 2, it sounds as if your DD was misled by the music teacher and hasn't really done anything wrong (but it is worth remembering the music teacher's side of the story may be different). If she would have to miss lunch (as in the actual meal), I'd raise hell. If there are longer term consequences to missing the drama club, likewise I'd have a go at the school about the matter. Otherwise, I'd consider it one of those minor injustices one has to live with.

frogs · 18/10/2007 11:22

First question: I go for the second option. I don't get involved in dd1's work at all, unless she asks me to. But it depends on the child.

Second: Possible failure of communication on the part of the school, but I think she should take it on the chin.

Prob not what you want to hear? But I think they do need to take responsibility for themselves at this stage.