To think my son should not be asked to write F*ing poetry in year 1 for homework

[Reallytired]

I feel its too soon. My son cannot spell and I would prefer it if he was given spellings for home work.

Frankly I think he should concentrate on basic literacy skills and hand writing.

Prehaps I didn't mention that my son is partially deaf. He is not stupid. He is reading stage 7 ORT inspite of being hearing impaired.

Its all very well when you say that its differentiation by outcome. However if the outcome is nothing then its very negative.

I work full time. Its a huge effort to go and see my son's teacher. I do attend parent's evening and IEP reviews.

I think teachers can teach what they fancy to some extent. We aren't bound in Scotland

Write a note and ask for a reply....

And no, you didn't mention your son is partially deaf. This would have explained a few things.

Well I know. That's why I think Reallytired is stuck. But I think the most important thing here is NOT teaching that homework is horrible / optional / something to dread, and poetry is ghastly hard work. I don't see what else this homework does to an unwilling child.

I don't blame him for being unwilling at all.

It was the bits about skipping that were a little confusing.

It's a huge affort for me to see my kids' teacher. Write a note. Takes a minute. The outcome isn't nothing if he can think of rhyming words.

What is defeatist, which bit.

Pointy - not in any state school I've workied in. I knew I would be teaching the same thing every year following the schools curriculum map. How I chose to teach it was up to me.

The outcome for the child is questionable if he makes a huge effort and he is not rewarded for it. That serves only to discourage.

You mean the bit about nothing will change, talking to the teacher won't make a change?

It's true. Of course I wouldn't instil it in a child. Why would I?

'workied' in???

Oooops

(I remember doing a music assignment for my degree and getting drunk in the SU bar adn passing round a piece of manuscript and asking people to random dots where they fancied...It sounded quite interesting really! Some would say Shite!!! Some would say Genius!)

Right, well I feel my work is done on this thread. I had tried to offer a solution and the op hasn't really replied to it, I have asked her to contact the teacher and she says she cannot -not to even write a note?, I have informed her of what the government want her child to do in terms of written ability and I have even asked her to look at her childs' work to see what he manages independently at school. I have asked her to look at the homework policy for her son's school, all to no avail.

Cheer up Muppet girl, maybe she will do some of those things in the morning. It is almost 11 o'clock after all and she might have gone to bed.

(Mme P. scurries off in a cloud of facetiousness...)

If I could offer a bit of advice, RT, if you want it, it's this.

Don't give your child a hard time about homework at that age if he doesn't want to do it. If he does want to and makes a big effort then make sure his teacher knows that he needs a reward. Beg her, whatever, but say -- he has worked hard, he needs a sticker and some words of praise. Send emails, or get to school early before you go to work if you can, to talk to her to make sure she knows what he needs. Have no shame about being a "flaky" mum where this is concerned.
If you let him not do it then make sure he knows the difference between "important" homework, which must be done, like sums and spellings -- and the rest.

Madame P. puts this so well. Just read this through again as it's one of my pet subjects. "You don't have to write poetry to appreciate it, but you can sure be put off it by being introduced to it in an inappropriate way." Absolutely.

I am somewhat agog at the idea that poems are Girlyswot Stuff. I think you'll find a number of blokes have written poetry throughout the ages.

I think homework should be banned up to at least age 8 if not higher. They spend enough time in school as it is.

holy shit at some of the comments on this thread

wanting small children to have spellings and times tables as homework just strikes me as so very counter-intuitive to developing a love of learning

I think the OP needs to talk with the teacher about positive reinforcement of effort

Poetry is great for boys ... rhyming is fun ... making up daft rhyming songs and poems is part of parenting, surely?

am so incredibly enraged at the concept that poems are for girls.. it is an unbelievable attitude in this day and age ... DS wrote a poem at 6.5 that made me weep (in fact I think I posted it on here)

LOL at "I think you'll find a number of blokes have written poetry throughout the ages."

Yes, Twig, but you take your lad to Girlyswot Theatre with fairies in it

you still going today? am unreasonably excited

Are we going? DD1 has put on a frock to celebrate. Look for the small curly person in a denim pinafore.

ok ... but wha will DD be wearing?

badaboom

I've only scan read the replies to OP but jeez, I would love DS1 to be given poetry (he's in Y1). It's just about firing the imagination. At this age I want my children to be inspired and excited by learning, not have spelling and grammar drummed into them.