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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:
WilsonFrickett · 11/09/2011 19:55

Gah, posted too soon - the policy also said that homework is not meant to be onerous, if it is too much to speak to the school, if there's a reason you can't do it for a period of time (illness or issues with work or other DCs I guess) you should let school know... So sounds like you do need to speak to the teacher.

hayleysd · 11/09/2011 19:57

My ds aged six gets a reading book every night and 5/6 spellings a week, but his school is fab and they spend 4 x 30 mins of one to one with the ta or teacher every week and I have no concerns. It sounds loads to me.

Original poster
BrokenBananaTantrum · 11/09/2011 20:02

I'll ask about the homework policy. Thanks.
GeneralCustard I'm not saying I don't want to help DD with her education. She does other stuff in the evening - dancing and swimming. She is only 5. There is still a lot of time for her to learn school stuff.

OP posts:
Original poster
BrokenBananaTantrum · 11/09/2011 20:04

I don't mean time in the week. I mean she will be at school for another 11 or 12 years.

OP posts:
lancaster · 11/09/2011 20:07

I was very worried about my son starting school this year and the amount of homework that he might get. My primary school had a no homework policy and I think it is a real shame that young children now have so much homework. However so far his homework seems to be reasonable, about 5 mins a night, but am worried how we will fit the time in as he gets older with more work. In response to an earlier comment I don't think it is my role to educate my children at home - not in terms of reading and writing anyway, but rather to encourage a love of learning and reading.

GeneralCustardsHardHat · 11/09/2011 20:10

What a bizarre contradictory stance. You'll nurture a love of reading, but how do you propose to do that without incorporating an element of educating?

ll31 · 11/09/2011 20:17

wouldn't have any issue at all a bout amount of homework over a week - tho wwas suprised at them doing tables so young. Not in UK but I don't really get the anti homework thing to be honest. I think its useful in terms of learning and also good practice for secondary. P

NeedaCostume · 11/09/2011 20:21

YANBU. Seems like a lot to me. Personally I don't think homework is very purposeful at this age, except to prompt parents who don't already read with their children to do so.

They are at school for 6 plus hours a day. Let them learn through play when they come home.

mamasmissionimpossible · 11/09/2011 20:25

My ds who has just entered yr 1 last week, hasn't had any homework, yet! We always read to him every day. He is so tired after school at the moment, I am glad we don't have the added stress of homework. I expect we will get some soon enough, so we are relaxing whilst we can.

Hulababy · 11/09/2011 20:27

Far too much for year 1; tbh far too much for key stage 1.

Homework at key stage 1 should consist of reading practise. Anything else should be optional and only if the child wants to do it. It is just not necesssary.

Spelling tests have no real benefit either; most academic research shows they have no bearing on a child's ability to be able to spell in indiependent writing outside of the tests anyway!

I work in a y1 class. Our children get reading only, and even that is pretty much optional. They all still achieve well at the end of key stage 1.

lancaster · 11/09/2011 20:28

ok, so probably didn't explain myself very well, but basically I think a child at 4 or 5 is too young to "have" to do homework, 6 hours a day at school should be enough. If they ar ereally keen and you have lots of time then fair enough but I don't think it should be compulsory.

LiegeAndLief · 11/09/2011 20:35

Bloody hell. We have had one reading book consisting of three different words in various combinations. Having said that, ds is only just 5 and only just starting to read really. He would never be able to cope with that level of homework and I wouldn't make him do it. If your dd is struggling, I'd talk to the teacher.

cottonreels · 11/09/2011 20:37

Am ex primary teacher (though not year 1).
I think its a little too much, esp this early on in the new term.
Better to rotate literacy one week and numeracy another.
That said, I think that its better to have a go at all the above than learn your 10 times table over and over again all week.
Reading book Read a cuople of pages a night, no more than 10 mins.
Numeracy worksheet (counting and writing numbers) again 10 mins depending on childs ability.
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.) Ok this will probably take a wee while longer.
Practice 10 times table Do this in the car/bath- one min 2 times a day.
Learn 10 spellings for a test on Friday Look at the 'rule' they are learning, cross off the ones dd already knows, learn one or two a day
Learn a sentence to write in the test on Friday. This very much depends on child really. Given all the other homework, (esp if your dd is finding the above difficult), I would give this a go a few times over the week and once more on Thursday. Remember your dd doesnt need to get top marks - thats something to aim for! She just needs to be trying to improve, whilst enjoying her new class.

dementedma · 11/09/2011 20:42

sounds like a lot. my DS doesn't have that much and he's 9!!

TheThingUpstairs · 11/09/2011 20:57

That sounds like loads! In my dc's school, Y1 homework is 2 reading books a week and sometimes a few spellings, or being asked to find out about something.

bumpybecky · 11/09/2011 20:58

sounds like loads to me

dd3 has just started year 2. Last year in year 1 they had a reading book changed most days and a maths game once per week most weeks.

soverylucky · 11/09/2011 21:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HandsOffOurLand · 11/09/2011 21:00

It's similar to what my DS (pre-prep then) had at that age, but I think it's too much regardless.

coccyx · 11/09/2011 21:00

I would be very concerned if my 9 year old didn't get that much homework.

Indaba · 11/09/2011 21:04

5 year old and homework?????????!

Ridiculous.

IMO they shouldn't get anything.

dementedma · 11/09/2011 21:07

my 9 year old gets a maths worksheet of some sort, 10 spelling words which he has to copy out and then write sentences with, and a piece of research/project work. That's it. But he reads way above his age level, has an extensive vocabulary and seems to me to be a bright and interested child. his life ambition is to be a famous scientist. I like seeing him spending his evenings building "contaptions" and experiments with his K'nex, rather than mindlessly filling in homework sheets. I think excessive homework can crush the desire to learn and the interest in learning for pleasure.
My only gripe is that I would like to see higher standards in the work that he does turn in - sloppy handwriting seems to be accepted as "good work" which annoys me

PontyMython · 11/09/2011 21:14

I think it's too much, I'd rather my DD spend her evening playing.

However when the time comes (she's just started yrR, and the school does not set HW until yr1) even if I think the amount set is too much I will wait and see how DD copes with it. She really likes doing "writing" and workbooks etc so she may really enjoy it.

DrCoconut · 11/09/2011 21:15

Completely disagree with homework for primary school children. Home time is for family and relaxing not more school. For older ones coming up to GCSE's it's understandable that coursework may spill over but even at that age setting ludicrous tasks to be seen to set something is silly. DS1 spent ages in yr7 finding 5 facts about..... or drawing objects. It just causes stress to the child forced to do it when they've had enough and don't see the point and the parents doing the forcing.

Bumply · 11/09/2011 21:21

I never bothered with homework much for DS2. I apologised to the teacher at parent's evening, and she said it didn't really matter in the early years for a child that was coping well. DS2 is in P6 now and tells me what he has to do and works out how many pages he'll read each night and decides which night he'll do maths/literacy etc. With him being so much more proactive I give him help when he needs it. It's when it's a battle and DS1 and I used to end up stressed and near to tears that I think it becomes counter productive. Now DS1 is at secondary and homework is his to do or get told off for not doing it's out of my court.

JustAnother · 11/09/2011 21:26

is she getting so much HW, because the teacher is too busy to actually do that work in the classs and is relying on the parents to fill in the gaps? That's what happened in DS's old school. Since he moved schools, we have noticed a decrease in HW because the actually do the work during school hours.

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