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Original poster

6 and 7 year olds being kep in at lunch time for forgetting homework

575 replies

DaanSaaf · 08/05/2018 20:55

Year 2 ds just told me they have to stay in at lunch time and do extra work if they haven't brought their homework in.

Aibu to think that's a bit harsh at their age?

OP posts:
Linzeyhun · 11/05/2018 16:05

@ICantcope

I can assure you I am. I can also say the kids like me and I have a good relationship with both children and parents.

midsummabreak · 11/05/2018 16:36

Perhaps the children appear to 'like ' you because if they don't you will see them as 'bad' children.
The parents may remain silent as they do not wish to cause friction or seem 'entitled parents' that you will 'relish' punishing their. children.

midsummabreak · 11/05/2018 16:37

What is a 'bad' child anyway

Linzeyhun · 11/05/2018 16:40

@midsummabreak

I'd never describe a child as a bad kid. Where have I said that?

OreoMini · 11/05/2018 17:59

I would be extremely unhappy if my 6 or 7 year old was being kept in for break over homework.

cloudyweewee · 11/05/2018 18:23

I don't know how much homework other Y2 teahcers give every week, but I am expected to give a sheet of Maths and a sheet of English. The homework is given out on a Friday and is expected in the following Thursday. That gives the child almost a week to do a couple of simple exercises. If it were up to me, I would ban all homework but it's school policy to give homework and for the children that don't do it to be punished. I have one girl in my class who is clearly unsupported by her parents, and who doesn't have a pencil at home (or so it seems). Often, her homework is completed with an orange highlighter. But she makes an effort. Her homework is always in on time. If she can do it, then they all can.

Pengggwn · 11/05/2018 18:40

Believeitornot

I don't think the 'why bother' approach is particularly helpful, frankly. If homework doesn't work for young people, full stop, that is completely different to findings that suggest homework isn't beneficial for specific reasons but might be beneficial under different conditions. You've been quite assertive in calling teachers out here on not knowing their stuff, but you'd like this teacher (me) to go 'meh - why bother?' rather than asking the obvious questions: why isn't homework helping some students to progress?

Linzeyhun · 11/05/2018 18:45

@Cloudywee

School policy at mine too. One piece of homework on Monday to be handed in on Thursday and one for the weekend to be handed in on Momday, like you say plenty of time.

Linzeyhun · 11/05/2018 18:45

*Monday.

Believeitornot · 11/05/2018 19:50

If homework doesn't work for young people, full stop, that is completely different to findings that suggest homework isn't beneficial for specific reasons but might be beneficial under different conditions

The specific conditions may be for when children have a test. 6 year olds don’t need and shouldn’t be tested, so no need for homework.

Second one was to reinforce something learnt at school - where the children had already secured the methods. As teachers do not teach the parents the methods, it makes no sense to expect a 6 year old to be able to bring that work home. Better to keep it in the classroom.

So for those reasons I say why bother.

I also say that reading at home is beneficial so why not focus on that instead. It’s a waste of time to bother with worksheets etc.

I haven’t written off homework at home “just because”. I make quite a logical assessment and think that it just isn’t of value to 6 year olds.

Pengggwn · 11/05/2018 19:56

Believeitornot

Obviously you can hold any view you like. I would be interested in any reputable research, as I said.

Claire90ftm · 11/05/2018 19:59

I think it's completely fair that they do this. They need to learn that homework is important. They should get into the routine of being responsible for their own homework because they will soon have to remember it themselves. And for those saying that homework is unnecessary at their age and "disgusting", it's not. How else are teachers to know if the child has understood what they've been taught? And how big of a shock would it be when they reach secondary school, to have to start homework then? They need to learn young.

Audree · 11/05/2018 20:46

Pengggwn

I recommend this book: “The Homework Myth” by Alfie Kohn. It was an eye opener for me.
Also, you mentioned the importance of hard work. I completely agree with you; however, hard work and homework are not synonymous.
My kids don’t do homework in elementary school. But they love reading for fun, my son spends hours coding and my daughter - writing stories in French. There are also museums, libraries, just the simple fact that she teamed up with her friend down the street to clean the field behind our house for Earth day.
It’s a lot easier to work hard AND learn when you are having fun.

Barbie222 · 11/05/2018 20:51

6 and 7 year olds are tested though, and not liking that fact won't make it go away. And now, sadly, you're either there or you're not at the end of Y2, and for every parent who loudly doesn't care, there are lots and lots who don't want to hear that their children are below national expectations, and want to know if they can help do something about it.

If you take away the name homework and call it extra practice of key skills, why do you think so many parents are paying for people to do these things with their children outside of school hours?

I realise fully the bind you are in as a parent with regards to homework especially if the end of the day is fraught. But sometimes mastering these things takes time and it might be better to get shaky foundations fixed early rather than finding out too late that practising things you need to be able to do is actually often a good idea

Pengggwn · 11/05/2018 20:53

Audree

Thanks.

ICantCopeAnymore · 11/05/2018 21:11

They need to learn that homework is important

It's not though, at primary age.

And for those saying that homework is unnecessary at their age and "disgusting", it's not

Yes, it is.

How else are teachers to know if the child has understood what they've been taught?

I use many different methods of assessment, none of which are homework.

They need to learn young

Research shows they don't.

HTH.

Petitepamplemousse · 12/05/2018 01:07

Homework is not particularly important. Gosh even at secondary it makes a limited impact on attainment. Look at the evidence.

CalF123 · 12/05/2018 01:47

@Petitepamplemousse

Utter nonsense-www.theguardian.com/education/2012/mar/29/homework-linked-better-school-results

Oliversmumsarmy · 12/05/2018 02:03

I don't know why you keep mentioning children who struggle when I said I wouldn't keep them in

But the fact that homework isn't done is an indicator that they are struggling. But you make a blanket statement that if the homework isn't done the children stay in to finish it.

Also as a punishment staying in for a block of time to finish homework of course works for the school as those that are struggling are slowly made to leave. Who wants to pick up a tearful 6 year old after school everyday who hasn't eaten lunch or had
break all day because they can't read or write. This way the school get to keep the pupils who are going to get top SATS results and those that would have brought the school attainment down are not there.

In ds's class 3 pupils left to be HE the same time as I pulled ds out of school.

midsummabreak · 12/05/2018 03:05

www.teachertoolkit.co.uk/2018/03/18/research-myth-10/
This link suggests we ditch the homework or risk increasing inequality As others say, no home work completed often days far mote about the home situation and parent's than about the child being at fault.

So those with the attitude " if you do the crime, you do the time" who are using punitive measures are increasing inequality and resentment. Why not free up teachers much needed breaks and focus on inspiring children to have a love of learning

midsummabreak · 12/05/2018 03:10

Apologies Linzey if I misquoted you regarding 'bad children'

midsummabreak · 12/05/2018 03:13

....as others say, no homework completed often says far more about the parents....

midsummabreak · 12/05/2018 03:17

The education system is at fault through its encouragement of teachers to use ineffective measures through outdated school policy.

Pengggwn · 12/05/2018 06:25

ICantCopeAnymore

Please could you give a link to research showing that homework doesn't work for primary age children?

Pengggwn · 12/05/2018 06:28

midsummabreak

What that research says to me is that some people support lowering the standard of everybody's education to that of the lowest common denominator: because children from disadvantaged families aren't doing homework, it is unfair to give it to others. That may be an argument you are prepared to defend, but it isn't the same as saying homework doesn't work. It is actually saying the opposite: homework does work, but not everyone does it, so it has the effect of perpetuating inequality. Not the same thing as 'doesn't work', though.