Sparx - I hate it.

probablycouldbetter · 2023-05-14T16:30:52+00:00

So I no longer have it in me to battle my child to sit still and do their maths homework. I have decided to just do it myself. Yes, I know how sparx works and how it will give more difficult tasks if I complete it. But if it isn't completed child gets detention. I struggle with this, I don't think it's fair and I actually think the whole thing is really messed up. I can't make a complaint because... I am a teacher at his school (a different subject obviously. ).

Timeforabiscuit · 14/05/2023 17:38

I think it sounds like you have bigger problems than sparx? Why is it such a problem if your son gets a detention?

If you work at the school, is this causing the conflict? is either him or you changing schools an option if this is the case? I've been the pupil while a parent was a teacher at the school, it's not always a good mix!

twixwrapper · 14/05/2023 17:39

I spoke to DC's HOY while in a meeting about something else. They get more emails about it than anything else apparently. HOY passed it on and it was slightly adjusted, as DC had been struggling on 2-3 harder ones each time and was getting friends to do them which wasn't right.

I do actually really like it and they both are great at doing it every week. I also love that you can use a video if you get stuck.

Honestly just speak to HOY or Maths teacher. If it's like our school they'll be fine.

twixwrapper · 14/05/2023 17:40

Just to add my two both have same deal with the detention if it's not done.

TheSmallAssassin · 14/05/2023 17:41

I would just let your child have the detention, maybe that will persuade them to get on with it next time or ask for help if it's a struggle. It doesn't sound like battling is working.

Pixiedust1234 · 14/05/2023 17:42

Is it because your child cannot do it or won't do it?

If your child cannot do/understand it then you are not helping your child in the right way, you need to speak to their teacher so they can actually teach.

If your child won't then they need the detention from school, backed up by you taking away tv/gaming, grounding etc.

lemonyellows · 14/05/2023 17:42

Oooh I thought it was just our school deciding on the detentions for less than 100%. Is that the recommendation from Sparx as a norm?

Timeforabiscuit · 14/05/2023 17:44

We use sparx as well, for one child it is no issue, she'll work to complete every task you set and more.

Child 2 is a completely different ballgame, she didn't do it at all for weeks, then got into a sulk when I said we saw she completed it late and that the video said she needed to do it when it was set, it's also a big relief that we explicitly do not help her with it and that she needs to go by the videos, rather than my half arsed attempts at remembering converting fractions to percentages from over 20 years ago.

Sapphire387 · 14/05/2023 17:47

I bloody hate sparx too, and DS12 is always complaining about it. I don't mind pitching in if he gets stuck, but if he's not even trying (which is fairly often) then I leave him to face the consequences I.e. detention. Our school only give detentions if someone blatantly hasn't bothered, not if they get a few things wrong/incomplete.

BogRollBOGOF · 14/05/2023 17:54

It's known as Spanx in our house because it's pants. It's the "book check" that causes us issues. DS has several learning difficulties and is great at maths and can get through the questions. However he can't cope with multi-tasking to get through manually writing answers (usually illegibly, with digits in reverse) while working on the computer so takes pot luck on blagging the book check and then the fucking software deletes his answers that he had got right and the whole thing takes 3x as long as it should.

Ridiculous demoralising system.

He's doing well to attempt homework without being triggered into unnecessary meltdowns induced because his work is removed.

Spendonsend · 14/05/2023 17:58

Well we had hegarty first and apparently after hegarty, sparx was ok.

SpaghettiSquash · 14/05/2023 18:06

BogRollBOGOF · 14/05/2023 17:54

It's known as Spanx in our house because it's pants. It's the "book check" that causes us issues. DS has several learning difficulties and is great at maths and can get through the questions. However he can't cope with multi-tasking to get through manually writing answers (usually illegibly, with digits in reverse) while working on the computer so takes pot luck on blagging the book check and then the fucking software deletes his answers that he had got right and the whole thing takes 3x as long as it should.

Ridiculous demoralising system.

He's doing well to attempt homework without being triggered into unnecessary meltdowns induced because his work is removed.

@BogRollBOGOF Yes! The book check is awful. DC is dyslexic and this causes so much stress and many tears. I've spoken to his teacher and said he will spend one hour on it and no more because he is trying really hard but is often unable to complete it. He also complains that they are being tested on stuff that they haven't
yet learned.

Kracken · 14/05/2023 18:23

Oh my god we bloody hate Sparx in this house too! DD's school also gives a detention if you don't get 100% I end up helping her with it most weeks as she gets so worried about getting one or two wrong and getting another bloody detention, which is just ridiculous as she normally spends about 1.5-2 hours and watches the videos etc. so it's not like she doesn't put the effort in. And she also says stuff comes up she doesn't remember learning in class😬

Guiltridden12345 · 14/05/2023 18:25

We love Sparx here! Tailored to child - tick. Book test for kids who race through and don’t actually write stuff down (where it would help with the workings) - tick. Video to help - tick. Adjusted according to how you get on - tick. Facility fir teacher to look at what you struggle with - tick. Honestly wondering how it could be any better? Genius facility, thank god for mr hegarty who had the original idea, brilliant.

PuttingDownRoots · 14/05/2023 18:26

What us the point of book check?
Sparkx works for DD, but she's mathematically minded and enjoys it! I can foresee her sister not liking it.

Guiltridden12345 · 14/05/2023 18:27

No detention here tho -if you get stuff wrong you email teacher who then goes through it next lesson. If you just don’t bother then I’m all for schools imposing a sanction if they see fit.

WonderingWanda · 14/05/2023 19:01

The dreaded sparx! I particularly hate the Saturday morning email to remind me that my child hasn't started their homework yet. Makes me want to scream. Also a teacher here and my very bright child hates it too!

jmh740 · 14/05/2023 19:02

How would you feel if you knew a person in your class had their homework completed by a parent?

Photosymphysis · 14/05/2023 19:04

No issues with it here either. DS gets on with it.

If he ever has a problem I'll be sending him to ask for help from the teacher BEFORE the deadline, just like any other homework.

Like a PP said, ultimately it's personalised to the individual student which is infinitely better than the whole class doing the same thing, which may be impossible for some but too easy for others.

noblegiraffe · 14/05/2023 19:04

Why don't you want your kid to get a detention?

SeanMean · 14/05/2023 19:19

I think it’s great. My son is in Yr7.

I like that it’s personalised.

You shouldn’t be doing it for your son!

Strictly1 · 14/05/2023 19:36

We like it here too.

Obels · 14/05/2023 19:46

Getting a detention for not getting 100% is absolutely horrible and demoralising. It's a punishment for not understanding something well enough or for making a mistake. As long as you try, you shouldn't be punished.

LumpySpaceGoddess · 14/05/2023 19:56

We hate sparx too, it’s so stressful, my poor child gets in such a state over how difficult they find it but they have to finish it or they will get a detention so it always causes a lot of anxiety and tears. (I also strongly disagree with detentions when it comes to homework, just a huge waste of time for everyone!)