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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is too much to ask of 7/8 (yr3) year olds?

197 replies

emkana · 25/04/2011 08:36

about a topic, read relevant books/websites, digest the information, then write about the topic (seven subheadings to cover) using all your own words, plus illustrate appropriately?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 25/04/2011 09:51

What I meant was it's not saying parents can't help guide what they write, in the same sense they should write it for them but can help.

I remember setting a project like this once and the child came in with loads of information - printed directly off the Internet and when I talked about the work with her it was obvious she hadnt read any of it.

Original poster
emkana · 25/04/2011 10:13

It's not just about being interested, it's having the time and oncentration, for example if like me you have younger children with special needs.

OP posts:
Happymm · 25/04/2011 10:18

It's a nightmare. My DD (year 1) has had 2 do same this easter, plus read a whole chapter book and write a book review on it! My DS (reception) has had 10 spellings, 4 books 2 read, maths homework and a reading game! Not much of a holiday from school if you ask me, especially with all the lovely weather. Is crap having to get them to stop playing and come inside to do homework. We just punished ourselves early on (kids made the decision) 2 get it all over and done with early so that second week they could do nothing but play. Good luck with it :)

colditz · 25/04/2011 10:19

Not only does it fall down if the parents aren't remotely interested, it falls down if the parents don't even know where to start, aren't very literate themselves, have never done a project in their lives, have 4 other kids, etc etc etc

These things should not be set until a child can access the information independantly. I have a yr 3 child and he's been set 4 pieces of homework this Easter. "Draw a map and use 1/4 and 1/2 turns as a key" "Practice your 3,4,5,6,7 and 8 times tables" "Draw an electrical diagram of a toy I have and explain how it works in 2 paragraphs" and "Draw a picture of a puppet I have made and write a short story with a beginning, middle and end"

Basically, I've done most of it for him. The story probably isn't going to get done. It's too much and he's 8 years old, the weather has been too nice to sit in the house with this bullshit.

ClenchedBottom · 25/04/2011 10:22

This is so ironic, as lots of schools only set homework at all because of the outrage from parents if they don't......

proudfoot · 25/04/2011 11:31

It sounds totally fine.

Original poster
emkana · 25/04/2011 20:43

It's interesting, when I tell people in Germany, where I'm from, about this assignment, they find it totally impossible for a child that age.

OP posts:
AnnieBesant · 25/04/2011 20:47

Nope. Not on for year 3 I reckon. I used to dread the annual project, but now DS is in year 5 and can actually get to grips with something a bit meaty (and the topic is pretty open, so he can choose to focus on his own interests), and DD (year 2) has a sensible teacher who gives her something she can see her way to doing herself, so this year has been OK.

WidowWadman · 25/04/2011 20:49

emkana - but that might be because a lot of German children only start school at age 7.

AnnieBesant · 25/04/2011 20:50

If this is on the NC for year 3, then it should be done at school, so that all childrne have the same access to assistance. My DS's class "wrote a book" to which they all contributed in year 3, using pretty much the same format. But they did it in class, not for homework.

Hulababy · 25/04/2011 20:51

I think the task in itself is doable for most Y3 children. I assume the teacher will expect different levels of work to be produced by different children, depending on their reading, comprehension and writing attainment targets.

The time scale is the key here though.

I don't think children should have to do lots of homework over heir school holidays. What if they were away on holiday, away from home, for example?

However, over a half term, for 5 or 6 weeks, a bit each week - fine.

Some children will love this kind of work. Some will hate it.

Hulababy · 25/04/2011 20:55

Colditz - that is an horrendous amount of easter homework for a primary aged child!!!

DD is in Y4 and had a bit of French - locate Nantes and Lille on a preprinted map; find or google two or three things about French stuff (labels from food/wine, picture of holiday/tourist spot, etc) and stick it in her book, and read though the half dozen new French vocab words they got given. Took her approx 15 minutes this morning. And that was for 3 weeks worth of holidays.

Original poster
emkana · 25/04/2011 21:00

The timescale is between beginning of the Easter holidays and 27th of May. We were away the first week (visiting family in Germany) second week dh had time off so we did day trips and enjoyed the gorgeous weather. So now there is just over a month left, four weekends. Impossible to do it after school due to activities and high needs younger brother. Weekends - one we will be away. So three weekends. I just can't get my head around it, and really think a seven year old should be allowed to play during her weekends, not do a project like this.

OP posts:
WinterOfOurDiscountTents · 25/04/2011 21:04

sounds ridiculous and would never happen here. UK schools seem to have very high ideals which they consistently fail to achieve overall.

Sirzy · 25/04/2011 21:06

I think thats a fair timescale to be honest. Its not a lot of work when spread out over the time.

I think ongoing projects are much better than bombarding children with worksheets weekly for homework tbh.

Original poster
emkana · 25/04/2011 21:06

Where are you winter?

OP posts:
Acanthus · 25/04/2011 21:11

It sounds absolutely fine to me, especially over a number of weeks.

FabbyChic · 25/04/2011 21:19

YOu break it down so that they do two subheadings a week, it should not take more than an hour or so to do that, research, write.

TransatlanticCityGirl · 25/04/2011 21:32

Always better to set expectations high than to cater to the lowest common denominator, imo.

WinterOfOurDiscountTents · 25/04/2011 21:45

Ireland, emkana.

High standards, maybe...but they don't actually equate to achievement in the UK, do they? Standards in literacy, maths and science are falling year on year.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 25/04/2011 21:45

Really?

What about a differentiated curriculum?

Inclusion is just a word isnt it?

Original poster
emkana · 25/04/2011 21:50

Exactly. If this is taxing for my dd, who is on the upper end of the ability range, what hope is there for others?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 25/04/2011 21:54

Do you know they have given the same to all the class or has each group been given different?

To be fair either way it is a task with a wide range of possible outcomes which almost self differentiates. I am sure the teacher will have an idea of what to expect from each pupil in response.

huddspur · 25/04/2011 21:55

I think it sounds fine

thefirstMrsDeVere · 25/04/2011 22:24

Well my DS was the lowest. His percintiles showed that out of a hundred children between 99 and 92 would perform better than him (depending on the category he was tested for).

He was given exactly the same homework for two years. For the first year I tried to help him do it and we faced daily struggles and tears. He would tell me how stupid he was and how useless.

I kept asking for suitable homework. The school were well aware of his learning difficulties. Once they sent home some simple sums that we could at least try to do.

As he couldnt read or write even that was a problem but it was something.

I gave up. I wouldnt put him through it any more. Unfortuantely I found out that he was missing playtimes as punishment for not doing his homework. He was not able to tell me this was happening because his language skills were not up to it. No one at the school had thought it important to let me know even though I had told them the homework was impossible.

So I took him out. If a school offers an inclusive, mainstream education it should mean more than a few words on a mission statement.

When it does I might agree with you Sirzy.