AIBU to wish primary schools would do away with homework

[Mondaymoanday]

When I was at primary, kids would be expected to learn some spellings, read, do times tables, maybe do a termly project at home. I hate how much family time is lost to busywork homework.

How much homework does your child get? Mine are Year 6 and 2.

Year 6 have 10-20 mins of homework to do independently 4x a week.

Year 2 have a worksheet a week plus spellings. DS does his mostly independently.

I think that’s ok for them and fits our family life ok

I agree OP. My teacher friends in infant and primary hate it...with the exceptionof reading to their parents, they're all of the minds to enjoy time instead.

When I was stressing about it (dc2 has sen and struggles to work alone, despite schools instruction too- cue meltdowns) my friend told me it was pretty useless. Its meant to tell them kids can do the work alone (i.e have learnt what the class was teaching) and some kids easily can (but she knew they always would) but others have parents that won't have them stressing alone and in her class she knew at least a handful of parents did it for them.

Completely agree. My year 2 doesn't get homework and I'm very happy with that.

She does have reading books of course.

Hate it !!!!!

I agree that they shouldn't get homework but think they should read regularly and that it should be recorded somewhere for their teacher to review when they can. My child is year 2 and gets a sheet a week, every week teacher checks and they get a sticker if it is complete, makes me feel sorry for the kids in the class who's parents don't encourage them to complete it. It's not the childs fault.

I really struggle to do it.

Ds is reception so no ‘formal’ homework but we are encouraged to practice the phonics and writing. I honestly never know where to fit it in. He doesn’t want to do it as soon as he comes in; then he’s tired and ratty, mornings maybe but they are always a rush. God knows how we’ll manage in Y1!

Just don't do it then, I've never forced my kids to do homework in early primary bar reading and sometimes spelling or practicing maths at home.

But I think those should be just a regular thing you chat about and do with your dc not a worksheet every day or whatever.
We're in a grammar area so tonnes of kids go to tuition etc which is the same thing really

I liked it as it showed me what my children were doing at school and where they needed help. It was never an issue getting them to do it in primary school.

I totally agree. I think spellings, reading and times tables are more than enough.

My year 5 gets 30 mins x4 days per week plus spellings and reading

My year 2 gets reading every night plus weekly spellings and something else on the weekend - a maths or an English sheet usually. Which isn’t bad but I know what’s in store when they reach the Juniors in September!

It’s just frustrating when they have after school clubs as well which I think is more beneficial for them (and fun) and quite a long school day -8.45-3.30 anyway. I’d rather they spent their evenings with extra curriculars or just relaxing and really wonder what the added value is.

I have negotiated with my Y4 for her to not get homework. She has mild learning difficulties and it’s just stressful for all concerned. We read but we don’t do homework.
Y6 does get it but does homework club one night a week and does it there. Secondary child sorts their own out.

I just don’t have the time or capacity. And I don’t remember my parents sat with me for hours doing homework, and I did ok.

For every parents who wants to abolish primary homework, there is one who wants more! You can’t really win.

Nothing wrong with appropriate homework occasionally. What isn't right is the way some teachers impose too much, too often, and often it's pointless and it's clear they're just going through the motions to tick boxes.

You're not supposed to do it for them, they're supposed to do it by themselves. If they don't, it's on them.

I wouldn't mind if it was all maths, writing, exercise sheets etc. It's the creative ones I can't be arsed with. "Make a collage out of recycling to represent a dramatic weather event" 😨

My niece is in year 3 and has an hour a week!!! It’s ridiculous

Just don’t do it. Spellings and reading fine. Anything else leave it. No way should weekends be spent doing homework at primary school. I’m a single parent our weekends are precious. I never made DD do the homework. Nothing ever happened. I have family members who are teachers, they all said the only reason that homework is given at most schools is because some parents like it. It is of no benefit to the children at that age.

Couldn't agree more. Spellings, times tables and reading is plenty.

My 7 yr old gets spelling. Worksheet, reading book and sums each week. He doesn't have to do it. He either does it with one of supervising and on hand or he doesn't do it. He has sen and his teacher is very understanding that for him to function in school he needs lots of outdoor time, exercise and downtime in the evening to manage to regulate at school. I love his school and have loved all his teachers so far

I completely agree with you OP. I think reading every night and learning times tables is enough.

And no, kids don't need to "practice" homework for secondary school - they can do homework when they need to do it. All they need to do at primary level is read a lot.

The thing I really hate is the creative projects. Teachers must know the parents do them, so why bother setting them in the first place?

I thought the point of it was to get parents engaged in their kids' learning. But reading with your child is enough.

I used to be anti-homework until my DDs started getting a bit, and I think it has actually reinforced some concepts at home and allowed me to see what level they are working at.

My Y3 gets maths and English homework on Monday and it is due the following Monday. It’s only about 30 min total. Plus home reading.

My Y5 gets it three times a week (English, maths and science) and again they have a week to do it. Probably each piece is 15-20 min.

This system feels very manageable.

Oh the bloody creative projects. My favourite one was to make a mechanical moving model out of wood. Other things like get an adult to read x number of chapters of y book to you this weekend of a book that’s totally unsuitable for a younger sibling to hear and took an hour on top of their other homework. Current year 1 teacher gives loads. Year 1 DC says she does more work at home than at school (don’t know if that’s true)! She didn’t used to mind doing it, but when it’s just pouring in, it demotivates her.

I’ve always just ignored the homework… I’m told my child is greater depth in everything, he loves reading, is kind and polite. I think kids need down time after school. It’s never been brought up with me as an issue. Claim back your family time. The world won’t cave in, promise.

Just stop doing it

No evidence that it's helpful. I've never bothered. We read together, that's it.

Read together and learn times tables. But don’t do nothing. It helps.