to give my dc's some school work over the summer holidays

[justalittlelemondrizzle]

My dc's 7 & 8 break up for the summer this week and I've bought them some English and maths work books to do over the holidays.
I usually do print outs of things that have come up on their reports that they have struggled with and set them a fun project.
Most of the summer is going to be about them having fun and enjoying some downtime. They have lots of friends round our area who they enjoy playing with all the time. Is it wrong for me to get them to do some work a few days a week for maybe 45 minutes at a time so they don't slip behind.
They're pretty average. My eldest tries hard and is doing well ut got a working towards in maths on her report and my youngest is very lazy and that did show on her report this year with a few working towards when I know she is capable. Do other people do this or am I being a mean mummy?

How old are all these perfect children who ask to do maths?

I bet they aren't 16.

There's tonnes of evidence that completing school homework has no effect on pupil attainment

Actually, the studies are not that useful because what is considered homework is so poorly defined. We know that crap homework has no effect on pupil attainment. However the suggestion that doing any sort of school work at home has no effect on pupil attainment is just obviously bollocks. Having your kids read to you, practising mental arithmetic and times tables, having them write stuff regularly clearly has an observable effect on attainment. Look at what your kids can do now, leave them to do nothing but laze around all holiday, then get them to do the same thing at the end of of the holiday and you'll see a deterioration. All teachers know about it.

I would just point them at the nearest library and let them loose

Nickname - no, mine aren't 16. The 18 year old (who is actually in the middle of his maths A level course) would rather poke out his eyeballs than do maths when not specifically required to.

The 11 and 12 year olds are very strange children though. Always have been. After her first days at school the then 4 year old used to come home and create worksheets for her then only just 3 year old brother to do....

Weird, I tell you.

I don't think anyone's suggesting sitting a 16 yr old down and making them do homework in the holidays! They're responsible for their own learning at secondary age, though I might give them a book or subscription or something if I saw something I thought they'd like. If they're thinking of 6th form and uni, I'd certainly hope they're taking some interest in learning outside school by 16. It was maths for me :)

Ha ha ha. Trying to motivate a 16 year old to do some learning straight after GCSEs is unrealistic. I don't know any 16 year olds who want to sit down and do some maths right now.

I think you were unusual catkind

I'm firmly in the 'keep their brains ticking over' camp. There's loads of fun ways to do it.

Have bought one of those learn to touch type programs. Dd aged 10 thinks it's great as its like a computer game but is teaching her to type. She will thank me later for that one!

For secondary school aged DC the BBC website is good for KS3 Maths. I believe there is an app for GCSE level.

My eldest 2 are 12 and almost 14. They can see themselves why they need to do SOMETHING. Apps or websites that can be used on a tablet are phone are more popular than written work, they both love Duolingo.

Yesterday we went to BMAG. Pre-Raphelite paintings (Art), Staffordshire Hoard (History) and the Faith Gallery (RE). They played Duolingo (French and German) and read their library books (English and Welsh) on the train there. Not much Maths to be fair!

When my two were younger, school always encouraged continued learning during the summer ( 8 weeks minimum) holidays.

We were often given helpful lists. And most parents (that I know) did other things too.

Now my DC are teens ( almost seventeen) they are still expected to undertake some work during the holidays. Having just completed year 12 and AS exams, each teacher emailed some suggested stuff. I know they've already watched a couple of foreign language films and DS has read a couple of books from his list. DD is researching stuff for a play she's writing.

Obviously there's a lot of laying around going on too!!!!

I wonder how my 3 dcs managed to learn to read and write and count BEFORE EVEN STARTING SCHOOL???? They certainly weren't doing effing work sheets. Their brains ticked over just fine.

Ppeat - Erm I assume you read to them and therefore taught them. A child with no input doing that at home wouldn't learn. How can a 3 year old learn to read if parents aren't reading to them. Mine also read before school, it's Called teaching at home

Well of course, but I didn't push them, they had a stimulating home environment, I mean that work sheets in the holidays are not necessary.

We're not talking about deprived children in this thread are we?

I always do work with my dc's over the holidays - not masses, maybe half an hour a day, sometimes a little bit more. That still leaves plenty of time for them to play and do whatever they want.
I think 7 weeks without refreshing their maths knowledge, carrying on with reading etc can be really detrimental when they go back in September, I'm sure many children suffer from a bit of a slump. I'd rather do half an hour a day at home with them in the hols and have them hit the ground running when they go back to school, than have them go back in September having forgotten things they've already learnt.

As a primary teacher, I never give work to do over the summer break. If a parent asks for something for their child then I'll give something appropriate in the area they need to work on, but other than that, never.

ppeat who said this was about worksheets? Its about homework in general. Clearly you did/do work with your DC if they could read and write before starting school. Pot calling the kettle black.

No not deprived children. But you wouldn't be surprised how many children are never read to for example and have no books at home, even in very wealthy families. Those children need day to day imput which is what this thread is talking about.

Not nessecarily work sheets. But daily 30 mins of sitting together and reading, or helping them write a daily diary or story to improve handwriting and grammar, or getting child to count out small money with you to the correct amounts and taking them for ice cream with it rather than just going and paying yoursleves. Or getting them to measure things in the garden or for baking. All small things, but require parental guidence and imput. Actually make a big difference over 9 weeks if doing daily.

I said that they had a stimulating background, apart from reading them stories till they could read I did nothing formal with them, they picked it up. we all go on learning INFORMALLY all our lives don't we?

The word homework is a red rag to my GD, they are so stressed and pressured at school now. Unless it's made into fun I wouldn't do it. Oh and I speak as an ex EYs teacher.

I'd definitely do it. Maybe just s few hours a week. I used to take extra maths work on holiday when I was a child. I think the holidays can be boring without some mental stimulation.

Worksheets never featured here and nor did stress or pressure.

If parents want to do no formal learning with their DC then they will hardly be arrested. But why the ire at parents who do want to do it?

Worksheets is just one way to do it; I think my DCs might quite like that but I don't know where to find fun ones at the right level. I am going to try to make sure DS does a little writing as he struggles there, he does reading and maths for fun anyway, and DD just adores learning of any kind so no question she'll be forging ahead given more school-free time.

Duolingo is a good app. My DS (13) downloaded it to refresh/pick up more German this week, while we've been on holiday in Crete, totally of his own free will. I doubt he would be interested if I had suggested it.

My dds friend (they are both 12 in an independent school so have been off for about two weeks) came for a day yesterday. When her dad came to collect her he asked if the girls had done any studying. I gave him [cofused] look as if to say not bloody likely. I actually felt like a cool parent for once (I am always on dd case in term time to do home work etc). I know they go backwards during the holidays but they do need a bit of down time.

Funny you should mention that CremeEgg, we just downloaded Duolingo this morning! We're doing Spanish, I don't know any either so I'm learning along with them.

Seems good for a little and often approach, Cat.