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Original poster

What's your opinion of this school note (pic)

86 replies

Itsamnthing · 11/10/2023 16:11

Dd has done her homework already

but its more of the fact that the home work is due Friday . Not tomorro. so how can they push for it it to be done tonight which is Wed. Then keep them after school on Thursday. If its not done tonight.

What's your opinion of this school note (pic)
OP posts:
YourNameGoesHere · 11/10/2023 16:18

That note is just daft. They have until Friday to complete it so why on earth must they stay behind tomorrow. Also it's homework presumably to be completed at home so staying late at school to complete it is also odd.

That said I've just had a nosey on what sparx reader is as I'd not heard of it before and it sounds like the best possible way to turn off any child from reading! So not only is the note stupid the program they're using is likely turning off any child who had any desire to read to start with.

seulement · 11/10/2023 16:19

This is about supporting kids who may not get homework done, for whatever reason. So ideally children would do it tonight, or if it's not done then they can get help with doing it tomorrow...so either way it's on time.

I really wouldn't stress about this, it's about offering support and keeping everyone on track so that lessons can continue at the pace that's needed.

Tittyfilarious81 · 11/10/2023 16:20

Our school uses sparx they always tell the kid DS to have it finished a day earlier than expected so if they can't complete it they can seek help and complete it the day after so it's in on time

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Original poster
Itsamnthing · 11/10/2023 16:27

seulement · 11/10/2023 16:19

This is about supporting kids who may not get homework done, for whatever reason. So ideally children would do it tonight, or if it's not done then they can get help with doing it tomorrow...so either way it's on time.

I really wouldn't stress about this, it's about offering support and keeping everyone on track so that lessons can continue at the pace that's needed.

Edited

Kids are under preasure as it is though. I think its wrong. If its meant to be handed in Friday then that should be that. Obviously if it's not handed in then that child will need to stay and get lt done.

OP posts:
shiningstar2 · 11/10/2023 16:32

Surely the note should say that anyone who is struggling with the homework and thinks won't be able to get it done by Friday may stay after school where a teacher will be on hand to support. An offer if help is fine but surely it can't be compulsory to stay behind on Thursday for homework which isn't due in until Friday. 😱🤔

seulement · 11/10/2023 16:33

we're coming from different angles on this @Itsamnthing , to me this is about supporting those children who need help with reading, not putting pressure on them, quite the opposite. As you say, your DD has done it already, and so will other kids who have the skills and confidence to do it. This set-up is for the other children.

Reading is a technical skill but it's also about confidence, and about frequent repetition so that success is cumulative - the more you do it, the easier it gets. So getting kids used to reading regularly is part of the process, and keeping the whole class at broadly the same level of expertise is also important, so that no one decides they "just can't do it" and gets disheartened and falls behind.

YourNameGoesHere · 11/10/2023 16:35

shiningstar2 · 11/10/2023 16:32

Surely the note should say that anyone who is struggling with the homework and thinks won't be able to get it done by Friday may stay after school where a teacher will be on hand to support. An offer if help is fine but surely it can't be compulsory to stay behind on Thursday for homework which isn't due in until Friday. 😱🤔

Exactly. It's fine offering support and a teacher being on hand should they need it but saying they must attend if it's not completed is just silly.

SleepingStandingUp · 11/10/2023 16:37

It has to be done by Friday school time so those who don't have it done have to get it done Thursday night therefore they can stay over at school and get it done.

It's due in Friday morning not an hour after school closes Friday.

And there might also be staffing issues.

Presumably of you knew your child was going to do it Thursday night you'd just tell them not to stay over/ speak to school about them not staying home etc

YourNameGoesHere · 11/10/2023 16:40

It has to be done by Friday school time so those who don't have it done have to get it done Thursday night therefore they can stay over at school and get it done.

Why do they have to do it at school though? Maybe they are going to do it at home on Thursday night? If you give a deadline then that's the deadline. They don't need to effectively put those who have not done it into detention at school on Thursday night to get it done when that deadline hasn't come yet.

Passepartoute · 11/10/2023 16:45

seulement · 11/10/2023 16:33

we're coming from different angles on this @Itsamnthing , to me this is about supporting those children who need help with reading, not putting pressure on them, quite the opposite. As you say, your DD has done it already, and so will other kids who have the skills and confidence to do it. This set-up is for the other children.

Reading is a technical skill but it's also about confidence, and about frequent repetition so that success is cumulative - the more you do it, the easier it gets. So getting kids used to reading regularly is part of the process, and keeping the whole class at broadly the same level of expertise is also important, so that no one decides they "just can't do it" and gets disheartened and falls behind.

But why assume that the children who haven't done it early are the ones who can't do it? They may not have done it early for many other reasons, e.g. after-school activities, family commitments etc, but may be perfectly capable of completing it at home on their own. Why make them stay late after school?

kiddosbedtimealready · 11/10/2023 16:45

I had a (micro)manager at work once who was like this 🤓. I agree it is a badly communicated offer of support.

Anothernamechange3 · 11/10/2023 16:48

We have this with Maths homework, I get an email at the weekend telling me dd hasn’t done her homework which is due the following Wednesday. I just laughed with her about how school are spying and snitching on her to me and ask her to make sure it’s done on time. They haven’t asked her to stay behind though that seems off.

Could you ask school to clarify whether she’s allowed to do it at home instead? If not I’d just suggest your dc acts as if the deadline is Wednesday if they don’t want to do it at school. Not ideal but good practice for picking your battles and dealing with silly expectations in adult life in a way that doesn’t stress you out too much. Others might disagree as obviously you’re right in principle but that’s my opinion.

Passepartoute · 11/10/2023 16:49

YourNameGoesHere · 11/10/2023 16:18

That note is just daft. They have until Friday to complete it so why on earth must they stay behind tomorrow. Also it's homework presumably to be completed at home so staying late at school to complete it is also odd.

That said I've just had a nosey on what sparx reader is as I'd not heard of it before and it sounds like the best possible way to turn off any child from reading! So not only is the note stupid the program they're using is likely turning off any child who had any desire to read to start with.

It does sound a bit Big Brother. God help the unfortunate child who dares to read a real book if Sparx deems him unworthy of it.

Mandoidi · 11/10/2023 17:00

Does sound super pre-emptive, but I wonder if the expectation is that homework is done the day it is set, to avoid a backlog situation. This is how it was when I was a teacher (assuming your school has a homework timetable)

MrsMiddleMother · 11/10/2023 17:11

I actually think it's a great idea and will hopefully not allow kids into the habit of rushing the night before to get homework done. I also think if kids wait until the night before and then need help, they won't have time to seek help with it and this is to avoid that.

Dogearedandwornout · 11/10/2023 17:15

I wish our school did this. Already had a sparx drama this evening with forgotten password etc. It's due Friday and because the stupid thing has to be reset by the teacher and not automatic, it wont now be done until the last min and will probably result in detention knowing my DC.

Blueblell · 11/10/2023 17:15

Not very well written! But I think it is offering support and I would accept it as that.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 11/10/2023 17:16

Surely the note should say that anyone who is struggling with the homework and thinks won't be able to get it done by Friday may stay after school where a teacher will be on hand to support.

This. It’s ridiculous to tell a child they have to attend what is effectively a detention for not having done a homework that isn't due until after the detention!

SleepingStandingUp · 11/10/2023 17:17

YourNameGoesHere · 11/10/2023 16:40

It has to be done by Friday school time so those who don't have it done have to get it done Thursday night therefore they can stay over at school and get it done.

Why do they have to do it at school though? Maybe they are going to do it at home on Thursday night? If you give a deadline then that's the deadline. They don't need to effectively put those who have not done it into detention at school on Thursday night to get it done when that deadline hasn't come yet.

I don't agree it should be compulsory, but I understand why it's Thursday not Friday.

If it's not done by Friday lesson time, then it's the appropriate sanction/ punishment.

StephanieSuperpowers · 11/10/2023 17:20

SleepingStandingUp · 11/10/2023 17:17

I don't agree it should be compulsory, but I understand why it's Thursday not Friday.

If it's not done by Friday lesson time, then it's the appropriate sanction/ punishment.

Show quote history

I didn't think it was intended as a punishment though, but as support to get it done with assistance.

Original poster
Itsamnthing · 11/10/2023 17:22

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 11/10/2023 17:16

Surely the note should say that anyone who is struggling with the homework and thinks won't be able to get it done by Friday may stay after school where a teacher will be on hand to support.

This. It’s ridiculous to tell a child they have to attend what is effectively a detention for not having done a homework that isn't due until after the detention!

That's how i have read it . Basically your child will be kept/punished after school on Thursday if Fridays home work is not complete. Dd says it's for 2 hours . (Hope she's got that wrong )

OP posts:
Jellycatspyjamas · 11/10/2023 17:30

Does sound super pre-emptive, but I wonder if the expectation is that homework is done the day it is set, to avoid a backlog situation. This is how it was when I was a teacher (assuming your school has a homework timetable)

If the expectation is that it’s done that night they need to set the deadline accordingly. I’ve always been little miss 11th hour, my brain doesn’t process the idea of doing thing well in advance, I need the adrenaline spike to focus my attention. Homework, uni assignments, presentations all done the night before they were due. Love a deadline, hate playing mind games.

Wineinthegarden · 11/10/2023 17:34

If it’s not done by the deadline then the points they accumulate won’t count so it needs to be completed before then. That’s why they want to help and support the children getting it done before the cut off / hand in time rather than punish them afterwards when reading on Sparx won’t add to the homework total.

Original poster
Itsamnthing · 11/10/2023 17:56

Wineinthegarden · 11/10/2023 17:34

If it’s not done by the deadline then the points they accumulate won’t count so it needs to be completed before then. That’s why they want to help and support the children getting it done before the cut off / hand in time rather than punish them afterwards when reading on Sparx won’t add to the homework total.

It is punishing children. Dead line is Friday. Yet they have to do it by Wednesday. Punishment of staying after school on Thursday if not done Wednesday.

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