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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder what kind of homework you want for your dc?

24 replies

HurriedLovey · 14/09/2017 21:46

Primary school age.

I teach year 3/4 and have done for 11 years. I've never had any issues with homework but we've a new HT and he wants me to give more homework. I don't really want to but am being instructed to, so I have to.

I honestly feel children work hard enough at school so home should be for doing family things or optional.

I also have to introduce 'sanctions' for non complete homework which I don't want to do. I've expressed concern about this, as children who are naturally bright or have lots of support for homework are always, well generally, going to do it and those who don't will find it harder to do, finish. I give 4 levels of differentiated homework as it is.

AIBU to wonder if parents like homework? My kids are younger so we haven't had homework yet. Do you really complain if kids aren't given enough homework?

OP posts:

Gileswithachainsaw · 14/09/2017 21:50

Nope. I jate homework. Far to much stress oved something that merely earns a few house points when they should he out side playing.

There's also no way of knowing how much the kid has done and how much parents have influenced it so using it work out where kids are at is a waste of time.

Also I'd rather the teacher was giving feedback to the kids or teaching a class rather than marking homework every quiet minute. How can kids approach and ask questions when they are knee deep in homework.

Also I'd rather my kids teachers got to relax a bit in the evenings rather than doing stuff that could have been done earlier had they not been marking homework

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 14/09/2017 21:50

None! Reception and Year 2 child.

Especially no awful model making stuff! Lots of parents I know like homework and complain there is not enough though .

FlakeBook · 14/09/2017 21:50

Nope. I don't want homework for my primary age kids and I have told the school we won't enforce homework.

Lovingmybear2 · 14/09/2017 21:52

None until 11 in my opinion.

Thankgood my dds just left after A levels

forceslover · 14/09/2017 21:52

Not extended projects. Reading, sums and spellings are plenty even in Yr4.

Sodaface · 14/09/2017 21:56

Never did me any harm, sets Independant learning/timekeeping/prioritising.

The primary my Dcs went to have at most 1 hr for P7. Can be done while waiting on dinner, I don't see what the problem is.

However i say this as someone with fairly bright kids who do what they are asked. Not so sure I'd see it that way if things were different.

Neuroticwoman · 14/09/2017 21:57

No arts and crafts. Reading yes, spellings ok, sums yes.

lindylove14 · 14/09/2017 21:57

Another parents who hates homework here. It can take over a big chunk of the weekend - and for children who already have structured weekend activities, it means they end up with hardly any down time, pleasant unstressful family time or space for days out etc.
We had a teacher once who cleverly set 4 different tasks to choose one from. Hot, hotter, really hot, hottest. So the kids who had other activities and not much time could do the easiest / quickest option and still have "done" their homework, and the ones who enjoyed being stretched and going the extra mile could pick the harder / more detailed ones.

WombatStewForTea · 14/09/2017 21:58

I'm a teacher too and disagree with homework but have to give it. Stupid school policy. I don't think our head even particularly thinks it's useful but we get parents who complain when we don't give it and parents who complain when we do so can't win.
I try to do as much talking/discussion homeowel as I can so that those who want to can do it and those who don't can get away with not doing much

That and we have a homework club one lunch time so they can do it the with an adult to help if they don't have support at home.

opheliacat · 14/09/2017 21:59

Hate it.

Duchessofealing · 14/09/2017 22:03

Hate it too. My other half and I both work full time and our children are in after school clubs - we don't have as much time as we would like with them in an evening anyway let alone forcing them into homework.

Wolfiefan · 14/09/2017 22:03

Reading and spelling and maths. Fine.
No bloody games to make and play. No crafts or projects. No pointless tasks like make a bookmark. Nothing that requires a computer or parents to supply equipment. Things students can complete independently.
HW should prepare for new learning or consolidate learning that has already taken part. Or not be set at all!

hazelnutlatte · 14/09/2017 22:05

My dd's school has recently stopped giving homework entirely (other than books to read) and I'm pleased about that as it had become a real chore to get dd to sit down and do it. They now put a family activity on the school blog each week which we are encouraged to do, but it's optional and we can choose to comment or put a photo on the blog if we want to.

TheSconeOfStone · 14/09/2017 22:15

I hate it. Year 5 DD has ASD and it is a world of pain. First week back she had reading and book report, spellings plus include the spelling words in sentences with all kinds of grammar stuff going on, 12 maths problems with an additional 12 for 'fun and stickers'. DD is really quite bright but a total dreamer and has to be totally directed to stay on task if it isn;t something she is interested.

She had a massive stack of homework over the Summer including loads of 'fun maths games' (fun and maths do not belong in the same sentence as far as DD is concerned). As a working parent I resent this homework eating in to precious family time.

My DD2 is quite a swot and can manage it better but being youngest in year was exhausted for the whole of infants. Her lovely yr 2 teacher told me not to bother with homework as she hated it too, but so many parents expect it to be set. I was very slack with homework and DD got A grades for pretty much everything at the end of year 2.

And I bloody hate craft projects that clearly require parental input.

OnlyHereForTheFeminists · 14/09/2017 22:17

I hate homework for primary aged children. They are already in school for 30 hours a week, I want them to enjoy their time at home and relax a bit. I'm happy to practice reading for a few minutes every night, but I'm not enforcing any more than that.

Babypythagorus · 14/09/2017 22:23

Show your head the EEF research (well, a meta-study summarising all the other research) on homework in primary. (Tldr: it's pointless)

Cath2907 · 14/09/2017 22:25

No homework for us please. Currently YR2 child gets reading once a week. That's enough for us thx!

mumtomaxwell · 14/09/2017 22:33

I'm a teacher too, although in secondary, and I absolutely hate everything about homework! It serves almost no purpose. It ruins our weekends as a family when I have to try and encourage/force my 9 yr old sons to do it. They cry, I get cross... it's miserable!

Twofurrycats · 14/09/2017 22:35

I hated homework with a passion - and I was the teacher! It caused loads of stress for me, children and parents for no discernible return. I would have been happy for reading at home to be the only homework. Unfortunately headteachers etc were keen on sending bucket loads of it out. Although I always dodged any craft type things. Nothing more than a pen/pencil required.

JillyBoel · 14/09/2017 22:41

Reading is fine, it got DD into the habit of reading regularly. Don't want anything else, thank you.

BarbarianMum · 14/09/2017 22:47

We get homework "grids" . 20 or so tasks, grouped by subject (maths, writing, art, crafting) and all related to their theme. I grid per half term and the child picks 3 or 4 tasks that interest them. So this half term ds2 is learning about the Egyptians and has chosen to:

make some Egyptian flatbread
do some "Egyptian maths" on a website he's been given the link to
build a pyramid out of lego,
write a set of instructions for embalming someone and, best of all,
mummifying a family member using toilet roll.

No punishment if you choose not to do it.

Blink1982 · 14/09/2017 22:50

Isn't homework in primary voluntary anyway? My son's in reception and my heart sank when I saw he had homework. Then I was ok when I saw it was just stuff like count how long you balance a cushion on your head, draw your family, write a list for Santa, catch a ball, draw a beanstalk etc. We just choose one of the tasks a week till christmas.

GreggsSausageRolls · 14/09/2017 22:52

Worksheets are good homework, children are happy they've completed it and if there is anything like colouring in it's fine if they don't do it. Ds liked worksheeets rather than generic homework such as writing as he got the satudfaction that he completed it and it was either right or wrong.

Ds had more homework in reception than he has in year 3 so far....

PoodleJ · 14/09/2017 23:54

Tell the head that educational research has shown that giving homework has no impact on progress. When the research says it has an impact you'll set more!

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