Homework expectations

[ChristmasWithDC]

My Ds is 9yo, in year 5. This year as well as having maths and spelling as weekly homework parents have been told that all pupils are expected to read for 30 minutes each evening and then fill in their reading record with how much they read, what happened and what they enjoyed or didn’t enjoy about it.

Ds is a competent reader who genuinely enjoys reading. I make sure every Sunday afternoon is free and we spend it doing homework, reading and then baking/ painting/ something similar as a family. Ds will happily read a whole 200-300 page book every Sunday afternoon.

I assumed this was fine and Ds has been filling in his reading record weekly with the book he’s read and a full paragraph on what he thought about it. Today he came home from school upset as he’s been told he has to stay in every break time this week to read for 10 minutes and then write it up as he didn’t do his homework. I messaged his teacher as I assumed it was a misunderstanding, Ds won’t speak up for himself if he’s told to do something even if he thinks it’s fair. Teacher messages me back to say that the homework expectations are very clear, Ds had not fulfilled them and the consequences are that he will now be doing it at break time instead.

I don’t know if I’m just being precious but from my POV that’s massively unfair. He’s doing the reading and the writing, he’s just doing it on one day instead of 7 but it’s still the same amount that is done. Ds has activities after school everyday apart from Wednesday and is absolutely shattered by the time he gets home. Making him then do reading will just make it seem like a chore when at the moment it is something he genuinely gets pleasure from.

Should I argue it and be THAT parent? Or should I just shut up and accept that’s the rules and he needs to do his homework in the way prescribed rather than the way I think is best?

@minipie

I would argue, but it would be best to approach it as “is it ok if DS does it this way instead as he has clubs and is tired” rather than “DS won’t be doing it your way as it’s very unfair”. Latter may make them dig heels in.

The other option is let him read the whole book at the weekend then write down 5 things about what he’s read. Then each day he copies out one of those things into his reading record.

In other words, do it your way but pretend you’re doing it the school’s way.

Do this op, play the game but to your advantage

I’d lie too.
Get him to spend 5 mins each evening writing one sentence about 25 or so pages. Let him do the ready when he wants.
It’s not worth the fight especially as there’s no benefit to making him actually do it the way they want.

*reading

Just spend each Sunday reading in advance of the reading time for the next week and then fill in the form each day accordingly as it if you did it that day. Simple to sort.

Honestly id complain to the head teacher, im also a teacher. Hate homework! I can't fit homework in every night what they are asking is ridiculous.

After being through primary school I wouldn't fight the battle, it never ends well if you push back. I would read to him instead some nights if he is tired or needs a break and then write those sentences

I’m not going to raise it again with the teacher. I’ll do what a lot of pp’s suggested and get him to just split his paragraph into 7 sentences and carry on with him reading on Sundays.

I was also going to suggest chatting with him and transcribing his feedback on his reading on your phone. He could then copy it out every Sunday...