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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that teachers need to teach stuff and not me.

317 replies

caroline161 · 17/10/2019 21:52

DS has just started at Grammar school. Ridiculous amount and type of homework. For example: Learn about Archimedes principle, explain what you have found. AIBU to email the school and say, " I would appreciate it if you could teach him this instead of me and what the f are you doing all day which means that I have to teach him Archimedes principle"

OP posts:
TitianaTitsling · 17/10/2019 21:54

They're not asking you to teach him, it's his research is it not?

UpToonGirl · 17/10/2019 21:55

Probably cross-posting with loads of posters...isn't he old enough to research it himself?

moreismore · 17/10/2019 21:56

It’s not about the content. It’s about teaching him to learn independently and present what he’s found. Valuable skills for higher education and employment.

scrumpledtitskin · 17/10/2019 21:56

Why do you think you've got to teach him?? It's his homework...

Fantababy · 17/10/2019 21:57

Doing a bit of prior research is very common homework. The idea that children learn more deeply when they discover things for themselves is a very popular one in schools at the moment. However, I'd never expect a parent to get involved. The level of research required should be appropriate for age and stage.

PlaymobilPirate · 17/10/2019 21:57

Google flipped learning op.

Also - do you not enjoy helping your child to learn?

LolaSmiles · 17/10/2019 21:57

Isn't this a standard piece of research homework?
Confused

I'm not entirely sure how this is expecting the OP to do any teaching.

Whynotnowbaby · 17/10/2019 21:57

Grammar school means he is secondary so you should not be doing his homework for him. This is a piece of research homework so, in the very unlikely event that he doesn’t already know, show him how to use google and get him to find out for himself. I imagine his teacher has already explained how he should go about it in more detail and more likely than not has also told them to make sure they explain in their own words to show their understanding. Please don’t do it for him or explain it to him- it defeats the point of the homework.

Original poster
caroline161 · 17/10/2019 21:57

I think though because he's new and not done this sort of thing before he needs my help. He reads it, it's quite a difficult concept which he doesn't understand and then comes the pressure on me to explain it.

OP posts:
Hugsgalore · 17/10/2019 21:58

If he's learning about Archimedes principle I'm assuming he's old enough to look it up himself. Confused

AnathemaPulsifer · 17/10/2019 21:58

He should google Archimedes principle and the answer is right there. Nothing to do with you.

LemonRedwood · 17/10/2019 21:59

Are you saying he never had to do any kind of independent research throughout primary school? I find that very surprising.

MargotMoon · 17/10/2019 22:00

This is the sort of homework my daughter had been doing at primary school (albeit about simpler topics); find out about something and present it to the class. Does your DS ask you for help/is the homework worded unclearly? I wouldn't get aggro about it, maybe he's struggling to understand what they expect of him and needs you to offer some support and encouragement. You know, being his mum and all...

ShinyMe · 17/10/2019 22:01

As others have said, it's flipped learning. It's the new thing that Ofsted want.

Original poster
caroline161 · 17/10/2019 22:01

Maybe he's a bit thick then Smile there difficult English concepts as well (pezz) which he just brings to me and stares at me as he has no clue. Then gets upset as it has to be done but neither me or him have a clue of where to begin.

OP posts:
Countrylifeornot · 17/10/2019 22:01

It's not the 1960s, there'll be no weekend trip to the library or telephoning old Uncle John who is a crack scientist. Your lad will Google the theory, write a few lines on it, job done.
If he's not bright enough for grammar school then how did he get in?

Soontobe60 · 17/10/2019 22:02

His teachers need to see what he's capable of independently. If you're doing it for him, you're really doing him no favours. Aren't children who get into grammar school supposednto be clever? My Year 6 children would be able to do this themselves, and a great deal of their learning is self led.

mumtomaxwell · 17/10/2019 22:02

I’m a secondary school teacher, this is the kind of homework I set all the time! I’m training them to be independent learners... as a PP said, look up flipped learning!

Whynotnowbaby · 17/10/2019 22:03

If you add “for kids” to your google search it will turn up more simplified material, I just tried it and the first hit was a YouTube video that I didn’t watch but it looks like it would be a very clear explanation- no parent input needed!

LemonRedwood · 17/10/2019 22:04

Shiny Where does it talk about flipped learning in the new Ofsted framework? I missed that bit

Original poster
caroline161 · 17/10/2019 22:04

Maybe I'm a bit thick as well then ! I have 4 a levels lol and I'm not a shit mum. I'd help him if I could. We watched a you tube video on Archimedes principle and I was none the wiser. Maybe I'm better at other things.

OP posts:
newbienan · 17/10/2019 22:04

How did he pass the 11+ then?

Let him get on with it

ChloeDecker · 17/10/2019 22:04

Parent chooses a Grammar school for their child. Parent annoyed at the work set by said Grammar school. You couldn’t make this up. Grin

Am I being unreasonable to think that parents need to parent stuff and not teacher?!

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 17/10/2019 22:05

How did your child manage to get into a grammar school if he's not able to use Google to do a research task? Confused

Added to which, the Archimedes principle is hardly rocket science.

PancakeAndKeith · 17/10/2019 22:05

He can’t be ‘thick’ if he got into grammar school.