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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

how much flippin homework!

37 replies

ditavonteesed · 09/09/2011 15:54

dd2, y1, 1 hour. dd1 y3, 1.5hr + spellings and reading on top. aibu to thing that is way too much.

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByATroll · 09/09/2011 15:55

Per night?

DanJARMouse · 09/09/2011 15:56

every night?! Yes, far too much.

My P2 (yr 1) DD gets spellings, readings and handwriting each night (mon-thurs, weekends off) and maths 1 night a week - usually just 1 page from a booklet.

My P3 (yr2) DD gets spellings, readings and handwriting mon-thurs and maths twice a week.

Takes us about 20 minutes.

ViviPru · 09/09/2011 16:00

YANBU. We were never given any homework at primary school. I'm saddened at the thought of a 6yo ViviPru hunched over spellings and the like after school Sad & Sad for all your little toiling DCs

Original poster
ditavonteesed · 09/09/2011 16:00

for the weekend.

OP posts:
Original poster
ditavonteesed · 09/09/2011 16:02

dd2 is only fivem she is copying a recipe out of a book, it is going to take her a lot longer than the 30mins they estimated and it wont be readable in the end anyway. not sure if I am supposed to be typing it up n the computer actually, very unclear.

OP posts:
Original poster
ditavonteesed · 09/09/2011 16:03

and she is supposed to be able to tell which country and continent the recipe comes from.

OP posts:
mumsamilitant · 09/09/2011 16:04

I had the same thing a while ago DS was in year 8. 15 homeworks a week! I wrote to the head about it politely stating that my DS had a life outside school. It calmed down after that. Think there had just been a big hoohaa about the kids not getting enough and teachers were in "panic" mode.

ViviPru · 09/09/2011 16:08

Weekend? - even worse. What you said about possibly having to type it up yourself on the computer too? Just proves that giving primary aged children homework is just SILLY. And I'm not calling you silly, OP. And for once I don't care who disagrees as I (uncharacteristically) will not change my opinion on this. EVER. Even when someone far more clued up on the subject than me puts forward very convincing argument to the contrary.

ginmakesitallok · 09/09/2011 16:09

DD1 (7) and in P4 - has one book and spellings usually to last the week. Has a worksheet this week too - probably takes her about 30 mins all together?

ExitPursuedByATroll · 09/09/2011 16:12

My DD has just started in Y7 and is meant to get four pieces of homework a night, but I think they are only meant to spend about 20 minutes on each piece.

I think it is too much for a five year old.

trixie123 · 09/09/2011 16:12

but, mumsamilitant that works out at 3 subjects a night and most Y8 hwks should be designed to take only about 3o mins so that 1 1/2 hrs a night which has been pretty standard in every school I have worked in.

Original poster
ditavonteesed · 09/09/2011 16:14

I have looked at it again and I moust confess I dont really understand what they are supposed to do. It is worded like this

Activity 1 - Recipe - 20-30mins approx
Bring in a favourite recipe, you need to be able to tell us which country aand continent it comes from, there is an example of the layout on the back of this page.

does that mean they are supposed to write it out, get it typed up. thinking about letting them choose a recipe from a book and take the book in.

Think I might be being a bit thick here tbh.

OP posts:
AChickenCalledKorma · 09/09/2011 16:21

If it's meant to take 20-30 mins, I would think they are supposed to write it out.

But you can make sure she picks a recipe that she can write out within that time. And write it out for her to copy. Personally, I'd go for:

"Melt some chocolate. Stir in rice krispies. Put in paper cases."

Original poster
ditavonteesed · 09/09/2011 16:22

korma, genius. Grin

OP posts:
whackamole · 09/09/2011 16:24

I hate the idea of any homework in primary school! A reading book, maybe some spellings and on the odd occasion a worksheet (maybe a 'find this leaf' sort of fun thing?)

I never had any homework in primary school and I think it's odd when children are given it.

However, 15 homeworks a week for a Year 8 seems about normal to me - not saying I would have liked to do it though!

mumsamilitant · 09/09/2011 16:28

Sorry trixie, don't believe in them having 1 1/2 hours homework a night. If I had my way they would have none. Sis is a teacher and feels the same.

ViviPru · 09/09/2011 16:34

so teachers don't think primary school kids should do homework, parents don't think primary school kids should do homework, stickybeaks like me with no genuine association to the problem whatsoever don't think primary school kids should do homework, I'm pretty sure what the kids themselves would say on the matter.

And yet the OP has to supervise 2.5 hours of homework this weekend. The world has clearly gone mad.

EnglishMumInSouthOfFrance · 09/09/2011 16:40

I don't think anyone likes homework, but there aren't enough hours in the school day to get the syllabus done without it.

Eglu · 09/09/2011 16:43

I don't mind homework but my DC have never had homework for the weekend. I wouldn't be happy with that.

TwoIfBySea · 09/09/2011 16:45

My dts (age 9) get spelling (including using the words in sentences/paragraphs), literary circles, math, project plus other work to do. I hate it, time at home should be for fun!

angelinterceptor · 09/09/2011 16:54

My DS has just started first form (year 8) and we the parents got sent a letter home which listed the homeworks and time it should take to complete them.
Per Week:
3 x 20 mins English
3 x 20 mins Maths
1 x 30 mins Geography
2 x 20 mins History
1 x 20 mins HE
2 x 20 mins Latin
3 x 10 mins music - apparently is playing the recorder!
2 x 20 mins science
1 x 30 mins Technology
3 x 20 mins French
thats 21 homeworks per week!

Also there will be:
Art - 60mins per fortnight
RE - 20 mins per fortnight plus a project this term

My DD is age 8 and in P4
she gets 8 spellings per night, reading every other night and one written homework either maths or english per night (mon-thur only).

I HATE homework - they are tired and fed up and wish they wouldnt bother with it.

festi · 09/09/2011 16:56

i would not take that to mean write it out unless dd can write a recipy in 20 to 30 mins at age 5 some could but Im sure your average couldnt. then research its origin.

It only says take in a recipie, I would take a photo copy or send actual book and look on t'internet to see where its from. that would take 20 mins to 30 mins, dig out recipie and look google.

betterwhenthesunshines · 09/09/2011 17:16

DD just started Yr 2 and has 10 mins reading every night and one other thing each day out of: spellings, 2 x maths, 1 x logic type puzzle and 1 x literacy thing.

DS Yr 5 is at a different school and has one subject a night too although the tasks are more complex!

Original poster
ditavonteesed · 09/09/2011 17:18

festi, thats what I thoought at first but then the sample layout threw me.
Angel that is insane, poor kid.

OP posts:
ViviPru · 09/09/2011 17:24

I don't think anyone likes homework, but there aren't enough hours in the school day to get the syllabus done without it. True as that may be, we managed to get the syllabus done when I was at primary school without homework, (which wasn't aeons ago, really) so there's clearly something wrong with today's syllabus.

massively out of my depth here on a topic I know little about, but feel qualified to have an opinion on it anyway as a... well... as a person