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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 a lot of homework for a 5 year old?

58 replies

BrokenBananaTantrum · 11/09/2011 18:37

DD has just gone into Year 1 and this is her homework for the week:-

Reading book
Numeracy worksheet (counting and writing numbers)
Literacy worksheet (fill in words on a picture from the list of words given and then fill in sentences using the same words to tell the story.)
Practice 10 times table
Learn 10 spellings for a test on Friday
Learn a sentence to write in the test on Friday.

It is a state school.

I think this is a lot for a 5 year old but would like some opinions before I question it with the teacher. What do you think?

OP posts:

inthehead · 11/09/2011 18:39

I suspect this is my ds' school

FabbyChic · 11/09/2011 18:39

My son who is 18, when at that age had a reading book every day, he also had a homework sheet every day and had to practice his tables too.

Sounds about right.

festi · 11/09/2011 18:43

yep that does seem an awful lot. I think times tables and spellings tests are just too much at that age. My dd has just entered yr1 and 2 class and at the moment they are still ordering numbers to 20 and adding and subtracting to 20.

thgey are still also sounding out to "attempt" to spell words and thier actual spellings range from "in" to "asked" being the hardest.

inthehead · 11/09/2011 18:44

My son's spelling list in his first week of year 1 included the words squirrel and treasure

coccyx · 11/09/2011 18:45

i would be ok with that spread over the week

40notTrendy · 11/09/2011 18:46

It sounds a lot. However, I'd appreciate anything. We've had naff all from school. In four days I'd have hoped for a reading book or a set of words. I'd do what you can and send a note with anything you think is too much.

giveitago · 11/09/2011 18:50

Wow - I hope my ds doesn't get that - he's just started year one. TBH with working I found it a struggle to get through the weekly reading homework when he was in reception.

I do wonder whether the state system assumes a stay at home parent.

festi · 11/09/2011 18:50

I think some if not many children would struggle with that. I would just go with what you reasonably think is ok for dd and talk to the teacher about she could not manage.

I would try and get done what you can over the weekend, my dd has done 4 larger peices of her homework over the weekend leaving just reading book, spellings after school each day and a dice game to play one day before friday. On reflection that seems to be similar amount to what she has. without the "test".

StopRainingPlease · 11/09/2011 18:53

A huge amount! I don't agree with homework for 5 year olds anyway, but if something has to be done I'd like it to be just one of those per week.

coccyx · 11/09/2011 18:55

One of those!!! nonsense. 15 mins tops for each one

Ben10WasTheSpawnNowWeLoveLego · 11/09/2011 18:55

My DS won't even have that in Y2. They have reading each night and a worksheet on Friday to do. They don't do spellings until Y3.

Ben10WasTheSpawnNowWeLoveLego · 11/09/2011 18:57

Our school also don't do time tables as such in KS1. They do learn that it goes up 10, 20, 30 etc but not 1 times 10 is 10

Yellowstone · 11/09/2011 18:59

We had nothing like that in Y1, 2 or 3. DD4 (the most recent) has only ever read, though she's Y5 now and has had spellings last year and this, she does them herself. I can't recall the others doing anything different.

Original poster

BrokenBananaTantrum · 11/09/2011 19:00

There seems to be a huge difference in what is being set from what you are all saying. DD has hated sitting down to do it. So far we've done the reading book, the literacy sheet and the Numeracy sheet. She is really tired from her week at school and is grumpy. I feel that a full week is enough but I wouldn't mind reading with her but I feel that this is a lot of pressure for her. I think spelling tests are the work of the devil. I found them very stressful when I was little. I'm trying hard not to pass on my stress though.

OP posts:

ChablisLover · 11/09/2011 19:01

Ds just started also - no homework and based on friend last year will be none until October. Just settling in at the mo.

That does sound like a lot of work

startail · 11/09/2011 19:01

Sounds a bit OTT to me, don't worry it won't last.
Maths sheets, which I liked, because dyslexic dD could do them ( reading was a real fight) lasted about 3 weeks.
Sentences come and go. Generally only tables, spellings and reading are followed through for long.
Our head says you can never please everyone. At primary level you are always giving to much or to little homework depending which parent you speak too.
In this house it's even more complicated because literacy home work took DD1 hours and takes DD2 10 minutes.
DD1 will never be able to spell or do tables without counting on, DD2 has been correcting me since Y4
It just isn't worth worrying unless a teacher or over keen TA is really causing misery.

ninjanurse · 11/09/2011 19:11

Personally, I think thats too much. I dont really agree with homework (apart from reading) at infant level. I would rather my kids do after school activities at this age that are enjoyable and educational such as dancing, Brownies, swimming etc. I think too much homework too young makes them resentful and this could lead to problems later on.

My personal gripe with my kids homework is that so much of it needs parental supervision or involvement. Which is quite hard when you are a working parent and you dont get in til 6 in the evening, and you have just enough time to do dinner before bedtime, never mind homework.

hanreeoak · 11/09/2011 19:17

That seems like a lot, I've been moaning about my dd in yr1 having a spelling test tomorrow (10 words) and having two books to read. I will now keep quiet.

candr · 11/09/2011 19:17

10 spellings is a lot at that age and they should have more than one week of learning each times table so the next 4 tests should only be on one table. I would never set that much in the first week when they are exhausted and would build up over next couple of weeks. Try to get into a routine and send a note in saying how easy or hard they found it so it can be set at proper level.

Choufleur · 11/09/2011 19:20

That's loads. DS is in year 1. He has a reading book every day but the aim is to change it 3 times a week.

blackeyedsusan · 11/09/2011 19:29

if that is too much for your dd, write in to the teacher and tell him/her.

the teachers expecttions are unrealistic.

can't imagine how you fit it aall in if you are working til 6.

Original poster

BrokenBananaTantrum · 11/09/2011 19:44

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I'll have a word and see if this going to be a regular thing or if its a one off. I'm glad the majority thinks its too much. Gives me confidence about going in to speak to the teacher.

OP posts:

festi · 11/09/2011 19:49

I posted on another thread about homework, I like the way dds is done, it is set half termly with suggestions only and children are welcome to complete thier own activities, set on the theme of litracy and numeracy, with some guidance give ie snakes and ladders a card game ordering numbers, make up a story adding and subtracting etc.

Draw a picture with labels, tell a grown up about you fav book or story. draw a picture of your favourite sceen from a story book.

geography, draw a map, explore local area tell a grown up or write about or take a photograph of a familiar place and a new place you may have visited. look at the traffic in your road or a near by road, think about what typre of traffic is coming and going. make up a stroy about differnt veicles on our roads. ask friends and family how they travel to work or school and experiment with different ways of recording this.

science, talk about your sences, make a poster to encourage healthy eating. draw a self portarait and look at a baby picture and a picture of you today, label your facial features and think about or write about what is different or similar.

this is on top of reading and spellings and clearly states have a go at as many as you can or have a go at your own activities, as long as you make an effort.

GeneralCustardsHardHat · 11/09/2011 19:54

Our school has a 'homework policy' KS1 has 10mins per week numeracy 10mins per day reading and 10mins per week learning spellings. I don't think thats too much at all. Whats wrong with helping your children in their education? Would you rather they be glued to the tv or computer?

WilsonFrickett · 11/09/2011 19:54

Does your school have a homework policy? Ours has just issued one and it was very enlightening... for primary 1 and 2 they expect one hours homework spread across the week, so for us that's 15 mins with the reading book Mon - Thurs. We don't get any numbers or writing homework home (though I would like it actually), just reading books at the moment (but DS has a supply teacher who I don't think is all that bothered just now. Maybe it will change when new teacher arrives).

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