Homework routine for primary kids

[tynext]

Just wondered how everyone fits in all the homework/reading etc that their primary age DC have and how it fits into their routines.

I’ve noticed since DD started Year 2 there is quite a bit each week in terms of times tables, spellings, reading and homework. I’d say they need at least 30 minutes each night for the extra work. When do people feel is the best time to sit and do it? Straight after school? Before bed? Etc. I do find it a bit hard to keep on top of and DD loses concentration and interest easily, so wanted to know any tips or tricks to help make it easier!

My rule was never before tea. After school they are shattered. they need to unwind. ON sunny days they;d go to the park, or rainy days just watch TV or play.
They'd have tea at about 6pm then I;d clear the table and they could do spellings, maths, project work etc. Then bath and story time.
This meant if they were on a playdate, it didn;t interupt the usual routine as they;d be picked up after tea and know it was time to do a bit of homework.

But tbh I never took primary school homework very seriously. They need to play. That;s their job at that age, so it took precedence.

We sometimes squeeze it in before bedtime or on a Sunday afternoon. We don't do much. They are still so little. I plan to take it more seriously once DD is in year 4. Until then play comes first.

I think you can opt out of primary school homework.

I have a 5&7 year old we do homework after tea on a wed but every night we do spelling words for the spelling test but that doesnt take long but the wed we do it takes a while 4 reading books, english work with spelling test words and my other child 2 reading books and work sheets it add upto 1/2 hours.

30 minutes a night is far too much . Reading and spellings is plenty. Apart from reading we did 30 minutes a week

It varies. My DS tends to do his homework as soon as he gets in the door from school. Invariably DD will want to copy. If it's been a tough week, I try to make sure it is completed by Saturday night. Reading and spellings are usually done at bedtime. I do throw out random questions through the day, such as "how do you spell xyz" or "what is 9 x 8" - it just makes it a bit more fun. My DS is addicted to an online times tables practice game from school. It is brilliant fun and it has helped him immensely - in fact he is faster than me now!

Just do what works for you. There may be times when you don't get everything done, but it's not the end of the world, so don't worry about it.

Ps - it gets easier when they are at secondary - they do it themselves without any prompting!

Mine are maybe a little older - ages 6 and 9 - and are both voracious readers, reading endlessly to themselves in bed. I try to listen to them read out loud before bedtime 2 or 3 times a week max.

They don't get spellings or tables to do at home, just maths and literacy homework, which each take about half an hour. We always do this at the weekend as we just don't have the time (or energy) during the week.

They also have Doodle Maths to do online. I leave it up to them whether they do it - they sometimes do and sometimes don't.

We do straight after school. We walk home and are in by 3.45, she has a snack and a glass of milk, and then we do maths, spellings, reading. I'd say overall we're done within 30 minutes. After that she is free to play, watch TV, arts & crafts etc.

But she is Year 1, so it isn't massively onerous and she really loves school at the moment, so is happy to do it. I can imagine it would be much harder with a little one who is struggling with the work, or in later years so we'll see how successful our routine is next year!

I don't know any Y2 parent at dd's school who has the opportunity or energy to do 30 mins a night...most parents are working and most kids are in some sort of after school activity 3-4 nights a week at least.
I can imagine the reaction if I asked dd to do spellings or maths at 6.30pm!

Luckily dd's school doesn't believe in giving lots of homework and gives it only on a Friday, as most will do it at the weekend.
The kids are doing well and the teachers seem really committed and capable so hoping its a strategy that works.

My DS (in Ireland) has been given daily homework since junior infants class (reception). He's in 3rd class now and it takes between 20-45 mins each evening. He has tin whistle practice, reading, spelling, Irish reading & spellings, busy at maths and times tables practice. He finishes school at 3pm and starts homework as soon as we get home. He might have a quick sandwich and drink if he's hungry first.
He's used to the routine and it gets it done and out of the way.

I've got 2 degrees so have spent plenty of time studying at home but I've always struggled with the idea of burning the midnight oil. I can't really concentrate in the evenings so having a break then start on homework after 7pm would always have been more difficult for me. When I had to knuckle down, I'd rather get up early in the morning and do some study before breakfast rather than study late at night so I don't think there's a right and wrong way to study but I think getting children into a regular routine does help.

We do any daily things (like reading, timestables, KIRFs) straight after we get back and have a snack - we got into that routine with doing DC1's reading in Reception and have stuck with it - it just means it's out of the way and they can do what they like after and I have a metaphorical carrot (ipad) to use as reward.

Homework is weekly and as much as possible gets done on a Saturday morning while they are at activities (or, to be more precise, while they are waiting for siblings to do activities).

We have a few daily bits (reading, times tables, spellings) which are immediately after tea. I personally find they are too tired, hungry, need a break before this. Larger bits (projects) are saved for weekends.

Glass of milk and snack, then homework, then a bit of TV/ play while I cook tea.
Tea, bit more TV/play
Bath, story, bed.
He gets written homework on Monday (English), Thursday (maths), weekend (topic). He has weekly spellings/ times tables and reading every night.