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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think this is too much homework for a 4.5yo who started full time 6 weeks ago?

54 replies

sickoftheholidays · 22/02/2011 11:12

4 weeks into the term we were told that from now on our DC's would be given a phonics book every day on their way out of the classroom, each day a different letter, and DC is expected to write half a page practising writing the letters. We were told this would take a few minutes, but have you ever seen a 4yo trying to write? in reality it takes about half an hour a day, and if I'm honest, after a full day at school, DD is physically and mentally knackered and doesnt want to know. To make it worse, if she doesnt do it, she doesnt get a stamp in her chart the next day, so we cant even opt out.
On Friday, we were given the phonics book, and it has a letter for every day of the holidays, and a couple of other pages too.
Am I being unreasonable to think that this is far too much homework for kids who have just started school, and frankly what the hell is the teacher doing in class all day that this work isnt being done at school?

OP posts:

kreecherlivesupstairs · 22/02/2011 11:15

YANBU. Any homework before secondary school is too much.
When my DD was learning phonics, she was too tired after a full day at school to want to do anything other than play. We got round it by cutting pictures out of the newspaper or magazines and gluing them into her book.

Chil1234 · 22/02/2011 11:15

YABU... I'm sure you can make it a fun few minutes work and, with practice, your child will get quicker so that it takes less time to do the task. You'll also get to see how they're supposed to form the letters so that, when you help them in future, you can be consistent with what the teacher is doing. However, if you're negative about it, your child is going to spot that and really won't cooperate...

Ragwort · 22/02/2011 11:17

Mumsnet is completely divided between those who will say primary age children shouldn't get homework and those who say they don't get enough .

My view is that 20 minutes or so per day is perfectly do-able and it is a good habit to get into - even aged 4 (prepares to be flamed).

TheCrackFox · 22/02/2011 11:19

YANBU

FabbyChic · 22/02/2011 11:20

My son 19 years ago had to do the same, nothing has changed since that time. I happily helped then because I could participate in his learning.

Are you sure it is more that you have to participate that bakes your noodles?

Original poster

sickoftheholidays · 22/02/2011 11:22

chil, not being funny, but last time I checked, I know how to form letters, I've been doing it for 30 odd years. And I do it exactly the same way as the letters on the page, because thats how I was taught to do it.
I dont discuss my views about education in front of my kids, I think its a bad idea to disagree with any figure of authority in their lives in front of them. But thanks for the tip.

OP posts:

Chil1234 · 22/02/2011 11:25

So there's nothing they'll be doing at primary school in 2011 that will be different to the way you were taught it 25 years ago? And whether you discuss your views on education with them or not they will know that you're not in support of the teacher and don't be surprised if that ends up coming out in the classroom.....

Original poster

sickoftheholidays · 22/02/2011 11:26

I dont have a problem with helping her btw, I read with her every day, and practise the words that she also has in her bag to learn, and if this was happening in September when she has had a few months to get used to going to school every day, then fine, I just think its too much for a child who has literally been there a few weeks and still on occasion comes hope and falls asleep on the sofa for an hour she is so tired.

OP posts:

Pancakeflipper · 22/02/2011 11:27

My opinion is YANBU. Yes do the reading books when they start bringing them home. Teachers to encourage them to take 'work' in from home. And in junior school start the homework to get them in the mode for secondary school.

But 20 mins a day is silly. It's tiring enough being in school for the little ones. Our reception teachers never did send anything daily home except for reading books and abit of topic work as and when required. They said if it cannot be done in the 6 hrs at school they are doing something wrong. Reception should be about encouraging a love of learning to see them into future years. Not wiping out the enthusiasm in the first months.

cheesesarnie · 22/02/2011 11:30

speak to the teacher if you think its too much.
we do 15-20 minutes.whatevers not done in that time is left.ds2 teacher agrees with this,she said its more to get us all in the habit of homework and working together etc.hes meeting all the school targets so if theyre happy and hes happy-so am i!

MollieO · 22/02/2011 11:30

I don't agree with homework for primary age. When Ds started reception at 4.2 he had a daily phonics sheet and reading book. The sheet was hard as it was cursive writing. Ds could already write his letters so had to relearn how to write in a completely different style that was new to me too. I feel your pain!

Original poster

sickoftheholidays · 22/02/2011 11:32

CHIL - are you a teacher by any chance?
with regards to letters, I would hope that they are being taught the same alphabet now as they were being taught 30 years ago when I started school, you know the one, 26 letters, starts with a,b,c.....
wherever you are in the UK, we learn the same alphabet, and the letters all look the same, formed by the same strokes of the pen etc etc. otherwise theres not much bloody point really as no-one else can read it. its only when we begin to write quickly and join the letters that personality begins to creep into the writing. So yes, I am quite certain that what my DD is being taught in primary school with regards to her letters is pretty much exactly the same as I learned, and still practise today.

OP posts:

Longtalljosie · 22/02/2011 11:37

Perhaps you could check how long the teacher thinks this will take ("a few minutes" covers a multitude of sins) and if she says "ten minutes" agree that you'll be stopping after 15?

Original poster

sickoftheholidays · 22/02/2011 11:39

I think I will speak to her on Monday and ask if we can go to every other day for now. trouble is she has to do this for the whole class really, but I know from speaking to a couple of the other mums that they are unhappy with their kids having to do it every day.

OP posts:

Longtalljosie · 22/02/2011 11:52

Well, that's something else to say. Maybe she genuinely thinks it will be 5-10 minutes and if it really does take more like 30 that feedback would be useful.

Tolalola · 22/02/2011 12:03

YANBU.

Hate, hate, hate homework for primary-age children.

activate · 22/02/2011 12:04

say you're not doing it

Zippylovesgeorge · 22/02/2011 12:16

How about just getting you child to do 10 minutes work each night - then the teacher can see how much she can achieve in the that time??

Thats what we used to do when my DS's were in primary - the teachers gave a time span for the homework and they'd work for that length of time with perhaps the odd extra 5 minutes.

swanriver · 22/02/2011 12:20

Say you will do it for five mins a day max. And you want your child's chart stamped. Or you will complain.
Say you want to spend the time reading to him (whether you do or not) and that is more important to you and him at this stage.

My child got letter sheets back, but it was optional whether they did anything with them or not (some parents practised obsessively) I didn't. We got a set homework once a week. We read loads of books to the kids, and guess what, they can all read brilliantly.

lesley33 · 22/02/2011 12:23

I had this level of homework in the 70's as a 4 year old. I lived in a very deprived area with a large number of immigrants. All of the class were reading fluently within 6 months.

I think good reading and writing are very important skills to learn as is hard work. 20 minutes a day is really nothing and encourages children to get used to doing homework.

I do think 20 minutes homework at this age is more traditional/old fashioned, but I think children do benefit.

In terms of children being too tired, many parents take their 4 year old children to after school club activities that last longer than 20 minutes and children manage that.

swanriver · 22/02/2011 12:24

Ten minutes "on the work" is equivalent to 20 minutes making them sit down to do the work before you even start, at that age. Tension, frustration. If they are not in the mood. WHy???? They are at school till 3.15. A whole afternoon longer than when I was that age. In Ireland they still come out of school at 12.30 at that age. They still learn to read and write in Ireland, Germany and other countries where school day is shorter. Why do they need homework here if they are getting all that extra teaching time????

Eglu · 22/02/2011 12:25

YANBU. I would do a few minutes and leave it at that.

Also homework in holidays is wrong for little children. They have holidays for a reason.

swanriver · 22/02/2011 12:25

Fgs, after school activities usually involve running around of some sort, NOT sitting in a chair doing letters. There is a considerable difference.

swanriver · 22/02/2011 12:26

I never had homework at that age in the 70's. I could read before I went to school.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 22/02/2011 12:28

I don't think anyone's opinions about the exact time formula homework should be done for are important. If the little girl in question is finding it too much, then she is not learning and it needs to be addressed by the teacher & parent together to find a solution that will help her learn in a way that suits her.

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