To think this is a lot of homework for a 5 year old?

[BrokenBananaTantrum]

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?

To put it in perspective, here in Norway where I live children start school the year they turn six, only learn the alphabet in the first year, and don't get any grades until they are 13. They seem to be able to read and write both Norwegian and English well at 10 and are very confident and not stressed. They spend most of their time outdoors and are independent, so I don't know whether the levels of homework english kids are getting are very helpful in the end.

justanother I'm not sure as this is only the first week.

barnet that is interesting. I think I'll do some research into the use of homework in primary school to get more information.

My DD has just started yr1, her weekly homework will be 4 spellings a week, tested on a Friday, a tin of words and reading books, which can be changed up to three times a week, she also chooses a book of her choice for a bedtime read with mummy! ( which we do nightly anyway), I thought this was a lot, I won't be doing this stuff with her every night, not because I can't be bothered but because she already does enough at school, before the holidays we had her consultation and I could not believe how much she was doing in reception, Hugh amounts, so if we can squeeze it in then fine but I won't be stressing over it.

Sounds ridiculous!

Mine went to a Montessorri (sp?) and there was no homework at all in primary school, maybe some after the age of 10....(going into secondary education, some things might have had to have been revised).

A friend who lives in Norway, there kids don't even START school till they're 7, cos play is too important for their development.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm taking DD to school tomorrow. Can you suggest the best way to tackle this with the teacher please?

Homework is meant to reinforce school learning. Remember it is something that your daughter should be getting merrily on with - if you are finding you are actually doing it rather than prompting for it - then there is a problem.

Reading should be about 10 mins a night.

A spelling a night ~ what I used to do was copy it out on a piece of lined paper, have my child copy it 10 - times then test later on ~ at 5 (reception?) its only going to be 3 and four letter words.

Tables - chant in the car or walking to school ~ mine knew their tables before they went to school because I had one of those infernal car tapes and learning by rote is the best method

Work sheets - are all 'drop' the word in style at that age, fill in the blankety blanks from a selection given. again simple tip - don't ever make anything sound like "work"; at this age most of these tasks are easily completed with your child at a kitchen work bench whilst you are moving round preparing tea.

When you actually sit and look at it, it isn't much really - not if you do it in bite sized chunks and make a game of it..

barnet there is no educational difference between northern europeans and english system by the time they reach 18, and indeed increasingly evidence shows its better to have a "later" start.......

It's a lot, and would take a lot longer for most children than what you describe, General