Homework feels way too much for year 1.

[TheFairPrincess]

My little girl (and oldest) has just turned 6 and just started year 1, has just finished her first full week. She had a great first week, was star of the week so I know she is doing well.

However she was in tears last night and this morning as she said she's finding it all "too tricky", they don't play or have choosing any more. I'm hoping that she will adjust, but now the first week is over, more and more homework is being added. She now is expected to complete at home:

• Reading book every day - she has moved up to a higher label so the books are longer than she is used to by a fair bit
• Spelling practice every day for weekly tests
• Regular/topic homework set Thurs and due on Tues
• 2 x tables which they are also quizzed on

She is already exhausted from the general school day. I just feel like this is too much stress for her, she cried at the door today which she never did once in reception :(

They do get quite exhausted when they first start though. The reading is usually 10 mins though isn’t it? And the spelling/ times tables can be done on the school run.

I remember with my dd that the jump from reception to year 1 was considerable.
However, do you realise that they probably only expect her you to spend 5 mins a day on the spellings and times table? And a similar amount with the reading, maybe at bedtime.
We tended to do when sitting at the table at breakfast or tea time. It really doesn't take long and 'little and often' seems an effective approach.
A tip for the times tables- break them into half when learning. (With x2 tables, just learn to 2x6 =12) and when that's securely learnt, move onto the next part. It allows the child to feel a sense of achievement more quickly.
Times tables do seem to need a lot of repetition- we oftrn used to do them in the car on short journeys.

My youngest just gone into yr 1. No homework yet and I know it will be limited to reading and not much of that. My yr4 didn't get any yet either. Our school is pretty laid back (thankfully). Also we are in Wales so more emphasis on play in foundation phase *again thankful.

As others have said she doesnt have to read the whole book after about green band books. With the spellings, start by teaching the spelling rule which is being focused on (most likely phonics in year 1), the teacher would have covered it in class anyway. Explain the rule and then do a quick test, most words will be phonetically spelt so what she is really learning is to sound out). I often find my dc only need to learn 3 or 4 words. Then just practice 1 or two a day. Spellings should not be about memorising words unless they are tricky words. Timestables should always be learnt as a game.

We have a day off from something everyday.

Goodness that seems excessive. I'm not in the UK but my DD has just started school two weeks ago (aged 5) and their homework today for example has been a tiny bit of colouring and we had to go on a "listening walk" and write a list of what we heard. Tomorrow will be joining the dots and a "head shoulders knees and toes" type game (it's a bilingual school so it's to consolidate the second language she's learning at school). I could have sent her a year ago but held back as most start school later here. Reading what your DD has to do in year 1, I'm glad I held her back! That seems like an incredible amount for a 6yo especially since she's upset you can always opt out of homework if it's too much? Or even just part of it? It's not worth tears, that's too much pressure learning should still be fun at her age. Maybe a note to the teacher that DD is finding the workload tough so you're going to scale back until she's adjusted to the change in environment.

DS is Yr1 as well. Homework for the first half-term (or term as they insist on calling it) is only reading and no set amount, just an aim of 3-4 times a week. Also having a good period of transition so he has a set table to sit at with the same people but also a bit of free choice playing too, at least till Christmas.

YANBU at all, mine is year 1 too and hasn't had a single piece of homework yet. Expect it'll be sent out Friday, the first week at their age should just be spent adjusting back into school/their new class.

My ds has just started year 1. They get sent a homework task every Friday. They’ve both been simple so far, drawing and some maths. And have had reading books sent home and encouraged to read as much as possible.
But so far it seems fairly similar to reception in that they still get plenty of time to play, the rooms are still set out in a free flow way. But it’s early days so I expect it will change. It does sound like an awful lot to expect off a 5/6 year old. I would just do what you can, reading is probably the most important thing you can do with your child, the last thing you want is her to hate school.

DD1 is one of the youngest in the year. Her school sets weekly spellings, 2 reading books, a phonics worksheet and a maths worksheet - they haven’t set the last two yet.

If she isn’t managing it all then drop the topic work. Just email the teacher and say DD is too tired and you will encourage it but not force it. We try to get DD to read for 10 mins every night so she if used to it.

How is she finding the spellings? Most of the them should be decoded. Have you tried asking her to read them out to you and asking her to verbally spell them? Then the exception words stick them up in the dining room and discuss them/practice verbally at meal times.

Take it in small chunks, a page a day, even. Let her discuss the pictures, or meaning of words, or whatever it is about books she might like to have a conversation about.

I hear you though, my DC is in Year 1. Today, we have had a letter to say he needs phonics intervention. He had gone up a band at the start of Year 1, and today he came home with a book that's one step higher again. I am so confused lol. It's more important to me that he doesn't feel the pressure and he remains positive about school so we shall try whatever it takes to work (at home) at a pace that's good for him.

I work in year one. I think that is a lot of work and would overwhelm alot of parents and children. I would prioritise the reading as the love of reading helps in all aspects of school. But don't make it a chore or a homework just make it something that happens. You read a page then she does kind of thing. I can't fathom the changing of the books 2x a week that seems crazy. Do what you can and talk to the teacher if you are struggling.

I think that’s a lot. I’d talk to the teacher and say it’s too much for your dd at the moment. It would be appropriate to give them a smaller amount of homework in the first half term while they adjust but I guarantee there are some parents who think they should have more homework not less, so it’s a difficult balancing act for the school and the teacher.

My dd struggled with her homework all the way through year 2 and I really wish I had been firmer in addressing it with the teacher. It wasn’t even difficult, just time consuming and boring.

I'd prioritise her settling into school and enjoying it over any homework.

Long term, incorporate things into your routine. Reading as part of bedtime, times tables and spellings on the way to school. Homework on. a Sunday morning at the kitchen table etc.

It's week one, she's tired. Year one is a big step up from continuous provision, but remember she's had a very inconsistent experience of school, so settling her in will likely need more priority than normal.

And this is why I home Ed my DC.

As an ex primary teacher I can tell you that Y1 is often when the pressure starts in earnest and a lot of children start to lose their natural love of learning.

Pre 2014 (when the old curriculum was in place) Y1 used to incorporate more ‘continuous provision’ ie play based learning as in Reception, but now it’s all phonics screening tests, spelling tests, times tables and much more ‘formal’ desk learning. It’s SO incredibly sad for 5-6 year olds (who in most other countries wouldn’t even be at school yet).

OP my advice is to never coerce your child to do the homework. You will just kill her natural love of learning. Stick to the reading and tell the school it’s too distressing for her. Be your child’s advocate and don’t be intimidated by them.

It’s a ridiculous amount of homework! I’m angry for your little girl 😡

When she comes home from school. give her a snack and a drink and change out of school clothes, time to relax. Homework can be done a little later (just, not right before bed). She only thinks the task is enormous because its new. ; you' re going to show her how to break it down into manageable bits so she has the satisfaction of learning new skills , which builds her confidence.

She's not expected to read the whole book by herself; just a few pages per night read aloud to you.(probably page numbers set by teacher in a homework book). Sitting on your knee reading to you (or dad, or granny or a sibling, ) should be a happy proud activity, and you gently prompt her with any new /hard words Talk about the pictures. Recap the story from yesterday.

Spellings; just practice a couple of words per day.
Sing the 2X table together while you're doing something familiar, washing up or getting dressed.

Homework topic becomes something you can all enjoy talking about at teatime. Helps develop vocabulary, conversational skills.

It will soon become an easy little routine . It really does help consolidate what she's been doing at school, and it's good for her to know you support and admire her school "work". Praise and encourage. Her teacher will be doing the same .

My son has just moved into Year 1, from my eldest’s experience at the same school there will be spellings and readings but nothing like the pressure you’re describing it. Poor kids. They’re very young fives.

So one spelling test a week and some other worksheets etc? Just do the main "homework" at the weekend, the spellings once the night before the test, and the reading books as and when. A bit each night before you read to her. i really don't think they should be doing loads on school nights when they get home.

My dd has also just turned 6, in august though so just starting yr2. She has all you listed plus extra homework book, more like a workbook. 4 x books a week usually 40-60 pages. It is a lot.

I worked so hard with her after the first lockdown as I felt she was falling behind. Now she has jumped up to top sets and they end up with more reading books and an extra piece of homework each week!!

She does get annoyed when asked to get on with it, but I always offer a treat if we get it done with no tears or messing about. She gets 30 min of YouTube today while I make dinner.

Gosh, this takes me back. My DD was not a great reader, so we did small amounts each evening, sometimes a couple of pages when we got home with drinks and biscuits, and then a couple of pages pre bed.

She also struggled with spellings until we started singing and making funny noises with the letters - solved the problem entirely, it was like magic .

This is the same amount my DD had years ago.
Reading, just do 10 minutes
Spellings and x tables do on the way to or home from school so it doesn't cut in to time at home.
Mine was one of the youngest but obviously they will be tired for a while. It takes time to readjust.
I'm also assuming there aren't any consequences for not doing homework.

I never make my children do more than they want to (yr2 and yr4).

-The spellings we do, but only because they're tested. Either 10 minutes before bed, or in the morning if it's my day off.

-We don't get times tables, but would just squeeze it in 5 minutes here and there.

-Reading we do, but if they're tired I read to them.

-Other homework is a choice and we do it if we have time and they want to do it.

At this point in the year I would just do reading and spellings. She's tired and adjusting, just take it at her pace.

How can children be doing times tables at the start of year 1? I am not in UK but understand that to be their second year at Primary school. Surely they have to do lots of hands on work with addition/ subtraction and then just begin counting in 2s etc but no formal tables. In lreland they would still have organised play activities each day and lots of practical hands on work for Maths in their second year at school. They would homework at the year goes on.
As for the reading could she do a bit after school and a little more before bedtime.
She is bound to be wrecked for the first few weeks but will adjust gradually

Do a couple of spellings and a bit of x tables on the way to school. I used to do it to the end of the next road from ours, say 5 minutes walk, and then he talked the rest of the way about whatever. Reading -a few pages every week night, no more. Or she reads a page and you read the next one.
Find a time that works for you for the homework task and stick to that. Try to make it as fun as possible.
And ignore any parents who tell you theirs are doing an hour or two a night.

Be glad you have a child at an aspirational school. Presumably that's why you chose it.

She'll soon start doing it when she comes last in her weekly spelling tests.

Let her set her own pace though with some occasional gentle encouragement