Year 1 Homework

[Worriedmum888]

Hello,

My DC (and PFB 😄) has just started Year 1 at a good school in which Headteacher changed a couple of years ago.

The new head is all about “learning through play”.

Dont get me wrong, they should play a lot at this age, but at the same I feel that parents should go hand in hand with school and support any learning done there.

So, our school gives not at all homework, not even optional! We get a book to read, which is like a sentence in each page, like what they had by the end of reception. This is not even challenging!

We are half way term 1 and I have no visibility what they are doing in maths apart from a little sentence each week saying things like “we learn how to increase numbers up to 10” .

In the UK homework is a taboo topic with many advocates that it harms kids.

In this instance though I feel that kids are not challenged, are not reaching their full potential. We live in a heavily grammar area and academic excellence is important for those they want, but here we are not even given the opportunity.

We could have 5 words to practice spellings, a weekly phonics challenge or a maths sheet just to understand what is taught. That would have taken 30’ on a Saturday morning and I would have better visibility on what is taught and how to support school.

Am I paranoid? Please help me!

YABU - Yes you are
YANBU - No you are not

OP your posts are worrying me. Most schools know what they are doing. Please let your DC enjoy being in Year 1 and support her by being confident in her school. As a parent, you are free to teach your child whatever you like. There is nothing to be gained by comparing one school with another.

I'm massively on the side of no homework for that age group.

At that age our job is to help the child calm their emotional system after a long day at school, get nutritious food inside them to help them recover and feel good, ensure a calm environment for free-play, help them to develop routines like putting their uniform away / bag away, and ensuring a good bedtime routine with a story every night.

The only things I do in addition to that on school nights is say a walk or dancing in living room - exercise in the garden, that kind of thing.

They need unstructured time to process whats gone on in the day times.

Some nights she wants to practice her writing or do some spontaneous sums or something, but its led by her. I provide paper and pens and she can get on and do it, but I don't monitor what she's doing or set her tasks.

"We get a book to read, which is like a sentence in each page, like what they had by the end of reception. This is not even challenging!"

Nothing stopping you nipping into a Waterstones and picking out something suitable.
I practically lived in bookshops as a child; In school, I was a "free reader" I.E, I was allowed to read any books outside the syllabus by year 4.

I can't say I did so well with my maths, however, though there's also nothing stopping you practicing times tables or counting at home; Play shop and use small denominations like 1, 2 + 5 pence pieces to teach basic addition and subtraction.

I think you have to be careful saying that other parents don’t “prioritise academic excellence” - and that this creates division in the end. It kinda sounds like your kid is better than others. All kids will learn in their own way and relaxing, playing, processing and life skills will help them. Just be careful not to be a pushy parent as your child may resist in the future.

neither of mine had homework at that age except for reading each night. Mine went to wraparound and weren’t home until 5.30/45. (IKR - another controversial topic!!)

they wanted to watch a bit of TV, snack (don’t panic all - they’d eaten their meal at ASC!) and bath/bed.

it’s great you what to help them learn - but go easy.

I will say though @Worriedmum888please don’t get into the trap of pushing your dd so hard.

She’s only very little and you sound like you are expecting a lot. Also taking of grammars so early. At this stage, you have no idea if your dd will be academic or not. She might not be the sort of child when she gets to 11 that will get into a grammar, or even want to go to one.

I’ve known many children throughout the years mine have been at school (and uni) and I’ve seen so many parents push and push. Lots of them over the years pushing for homework the primaries mine went to (4 schools between the 3 of them over the years, none set homework).

If you keep pushing you can go too far and either put them off altogether, or create a child who only studies and achieves academically to keep you happy. I’ve seen both happen.

Chill out and let her be 5. The school know what they are doing.

They’re only 3 weeks in to year 1; relax.

My DS is in year 2 and we’re not expecting homework until after half term.

Year 1 is a big jump up; let DC adjust to that before you start on homework.

I think homework is important but not so much at that age except reading but you can always do some extra work yourself.
Perhaps it might be nice they're not so strict on homework, my DS's teacher is, he's in 1st grade and has already had to stay after school for homework club twice for not doing his homework (or in the 1st case, not colouring it in well enough!)

I think, OP, that you don’t fully appreciate the importance of play and all that kids this age soak up from what is going on around them without having it taught to them in a formal matter and then reinforced through homework.

I’m a teacher and parent and agree that homework in year 1 is pointless. You already read with your child, let them learn through play- it’s so much more effective! Do some research (or a Google search) and find some things your child can do. Most importantly, take the pressure off. Let that wait till the end of primary and secondary school. My children are very well educated but they weren’t pressured. They learnt things in what we did every day. They learnt things when we explored the woods and when we went shopping and when we cooked. The whole world is a learning opportunity, you don’t need monitored work set by a teacher.

Get some KS1 work books if you’re desperate to do homework.

Mine is in year 1 and is just given reading (basic) and writing practice. We read other books at bedtime and she reads one that’s less simple and dull than the one from school back. For spellings, you can look up the top couple of hundred most frequently used words at that age, tricky words or Google spellings for y1 (or older if appropriate for her) there are loads of lists. Maths - again very simple at this age, so practice counting in 2s, 10s, 5s, (then others as appropriate if she wants), simple sums, number bonds, dividing (share things equally between dolls or siblings). Play dough for hand strength or making bread/pasta. Little two minute games e.g. take it in turns to count to 100 and make an animal noise every divisible of five, find a big puddle and jump over it jumping in it every divisible of three, make up rhymes and stories with her, let her make a word search for you, ask her to help you read some words in a letter (bill) you open or on a bus shelter advert, play shops, keep subtitles on the TV. Keep it light.

Five minute mum on Instagram has some fun educational game ideas too that you can tie in with what your DD is learning at school.