why the f do they set "make a model" homework when they know it's the parents that end up having to do it!? grrrrr!!!

[RedOnHerHedd]

Just that really!!!
Make a model of a

Why????
Just why???

They know the kids version will be a pile of crap, and they know that that one kids parent spends a grand on hobbycraft items and makes a scale version of the Taj Mahal.

And your kid's attempt is 2 yogurt pots and a butter carton glued to a box of coco pops.

Why don't they just tell your kids "ok, so your parents homework this weekend is to make a working model of the international space station, complete with the ability to self orbit around the globe".

Guess what I'll be doing tonight!?
Making a fucking model.
Yet again.

Great post Timekeeping. I completely agree.

Came back to the thread to report back from DDs.

DD1 says as the unicorn is Scotland's coat of arms animal you could have a My Little Pony for the Scottish animal project. DH and I were thinking haggis, Loch Ness monster or deer antlers.

DD2 says people often started veg patches on the ground over their air raid shelter so lots of garden in a box possibilities.

DD3 made me count the sides on the jam jar yesterday because she thought it was a hexagon and I had to explain it is a decagon. She won't cut out magazine pictures for scissor practice because she doesn't want to ruin the picture on the other side.

This is a very educational thread

Not read all the replies, but this is what I just don't get about projects such as this.
IT'S NOT YOUR HOMEWORK OR PROJECT, BUTT OUT, STOP HELICOPTERING AND LET YOUR DAMN KIDS DO THEIR OWN HOMEWORK!!!!

So what if little Johnny's is made of gold plated unicorn wings and can fly round the room?!
If little Johnny jumped off a cliff, would your child have to follow?!
Sorry, but seriously can't be doing with all the competitive parent crap. The kids are never going to learn, are they if parents insist on doing it for them.
It's not YOUR homework.
You have nothing to prove to anyone by being the best creative mummy.
I always eye roll at the 'perfect' stuff and hope the teachers give extra credit to the children who have actually put the effort in themselves!

I always eye roll at the 'perfect' stuff and hope the teachers give extra credit to the children who have actually put the effort in themselves!

I have no control over that.

I had one child win a bonnet competition as it was clearly their work - which upset other parents and children and cause sniping at my child - and I've had teachers turn round an telling my DC they aren't good at crafts let alone all the other children comments when it's been their own work which has upset and discouraged them.

I've had some teachers who seem to care more about having nice class room decorations than anything else.

It can be damagingly naive IME to assume you can leave them to it and everyone will do the same or see through the adult models or actually care who did it.

and I've had teachers turn round an telling my DC they aren't good at crafts

Well, your teachers are a disgrace then, and I hope they're pulled up on it if they go round telling children they're no good at something.

I had one child win a bonnet competition as it was clearly their work - which upset other parents

poor parents hmm]

Honestly, I think I live on another planet sometimes. The parents need eye rolling at too and told to grow the hell up.
Are all the grown ups at your school all actually 5 years old or something?!

It was a particularly bad year group of parents I was glad to move away from.

Yes there were nasty comment said to my child though most were in loud voices near my child and me though children did repeating parents comments directly to my child both I and the teacher had polite words.

The teachers - DS said he didn't care as he often does with things he feels he isn't good at -and he wasn't only one told that though no idea of context it was said but he and his friend were clear it had been said.

DD1 a higher level teaching assistant said she'd have a word as DD1 was in tears at end of day when they'd shown them to the class, upset her's was put out of way when displayed embarrassed by her friend's comments wanted me to leave it. I suspect teacher hadn't fully engaged brain when talking as it was at end of day.

I think MNers should all club together. We can buy a 3d printer and set it up with options for

pyramid
object of war
roman shield
etc

woo - that an idea TooMuch we are going to have in one another 6 to 8 months - a small one but still could get the DC designing and print out.

There are already sites and manufacturing companies attached that you can look through and pick other people's designs to be made - or send your own in. A whole growth area school projects .

I know it's rather off topic but God I hated projects when I was at school. We ALWAYS had one (a different one every time) and in theory, it meant we did everything (English, history etc) as part of them. In practice, it just meant we had to spend loads of time on a random topic and get snapped at whenever we didn't seem all that interested in it. We had swallows, cats eyes, the human body (would be interested in that now but at age 9, I thought it was ghastly).

Also I was completely useless at crafts.

Children often don't believe it if you tell them their project is great, they can see how it compares with all the parent done ones. Johnny's was better, it looked as if done by an architect. Johnny says (and thinks) he did it himself total coincidence that mum is indeed an architect.

Many of us are not only forced to do quite a bit ourselves, we also become nifty at making the 4yo believe he did all the research on Nelson Mandela and the dodecahedron.

Nelson Mandela and the dodecahedron -that sounds like a book club novel.

Ooh...a 3D printer you say?? I'm in!

I was crafty when it came to make a model homework, I wouldn't tell my mum that it needed to be done until the weekend before, I'd usually get 'upset' that I won't have anything to hand in, in which my mum felt obliged to do it....

I was a right brat when I was younger and strangely manipulative!

Stone feckin henge!

YY MrsHathaway - or possibly a parable.

My disinterest in what subject?
I teach DT, art and myths. All involve problem solving, shape, measure, building strong, reliable and well presented structures. DT and art teach physical, creative skills. I enjoy teaching them and seeing different children achieve.

I am disinterested in embarrassed and disheartened children who genuinely tried their hardest but see that theres isn't as good as Tom's who's Dad cut his with a jigsaw and then sanded and varnished it for him. I am disinterested in parents complaining that I praised charlie's more than Becky's when Becky's was obviously better - completely miss g the point of building resilient learners who value effort over outcome.

Please don't tell me I am disinterested in educating children when its what I do for a living.

mind it is also difficult if a child IS particularly good at craft stuff and produces something good as invariably it is assumed it is the parent. you would hope the teachers might know that that child is good enough to have done it themselves but unless they make things at school the staff wouldn't have the chance to see what they can actually do themselves.