Is this proper English homework?

[optimist66]

My DS1 who is in Year 3 completed his "English" home work, last night. Sorry, it's not called "English" - it's called "Literacy". He is at a state school.

His home work was about the use of "onomatopoeia" words. These are the use of words whose sound suggests the sense of what is happening. DS1 had to design an advertisement for a cereal.

Am I wrong in thinking that this is a weak and namby pamby way of discussing use of sounds. Where is the greating traditional way of discussing the rules of Grammar - complemented by an indepth building of Vcabulary and Comprehension skills.

He is on the top table, and a level 3b

Am I expecting too much, as I always see homework of weak substance given to him?

I think it sounds like great homework. A chance to be creative and apply what he has learnt.

I agree, homework sounds creative & fun, much better than writing endless sentences. You could make it as challenging as you want. Sounds like an update of the 'snap, crackle & pop'!

Oneceuponawine wrote "I agree, homework sounds creative & fun", "much better than writing endless sentences.".

Thank you. Your last sentence vindicated my thoughts and beliefs in modern state school - better to have fun etc, all children matter etc - but let's leave out the challenging, fundimental and important work etc.

The sound of a language (especially a non-phonetically regular one like English) is just as important as the grammar.

So, yes, it is proper homework IMO.

Oh FFS. Do you want them reciting grammar rules for HW instead?!

The HW sounds great - because it takes a language tool and makes it real - this is what children need to learn.

Wouldn't you rather all pupils get the chance to apply knowledge of grammar in a real context so that what they learn becomes embedded and applicable? Rote learning and 'writing endless sentences' only works for a percentage of children. What's the point of learning grammar rules and language terms if you have no idea how they are applied?

Btw, love your use of the term 'namby pamby' though, OP; so very Tebbit!

He is 7 or 8 years old ie. the age that some children in other countries have only just started writing to put things in context. Personally I would take the view that it is good he is being encouraged to use his imagination. Some things will need to be taught by rote but personally I would rather have something less dry for this age group (my DS is the year below).

IMO primary kids are getting a much better grounding in the basics than my generation did. My 5 year old knows what a digraph is ffs.

I am off to work in a few mins, so apologise if I cannot track subsequent postings.

Am I the only one who sees that our standards of literacy are poor. DS1 studies good old fashioned "First Aid in English" work at home and prefers that to school-based literacy.

I am not being novel; I am simply applying tried and trusted methods that were used 50 years ago - before the curriculum began the decline in to what we see now.

I like the SATS, I just feel that its content is dumbed down, CONSIDERABLY!!!

To HeartSkipsaBeat and Muddleduck

The use of the abbreviated profanity "FFS", suggests your inability to engage in a cogent and reasoned debate.

Please desist from resorting to crude language. Debate with me, using the richness of our beautiful English language.

I think that you must be quite forceful in your views optimist66 if you have a 7yr old enjoys 'First Aid in English'! I am older than the general MN and go back to the days where we had English and not Literacy and I remember the sheer boredom of that type of book!
His homework sounds creative and fun-and why not-after a day working hard at school he doesn't want more of the same! Why have any homework at that age? Play games, write a story on his own, cook a meal, read for hours for the sheer pleasure of reading, make up a play etc etc but not 'First Aid in English'!

Is it odd for a 7yo to enjoy 'First Aid in English'?

In fact, I've still got a copy.
I always viewed it like puzzles tbh.

One who likes puzzles and long exercises of the same thing might like it juuule but I can't think that your average 7 yr old is dying to get home from a hard day at school thinking 'wonderful evening with First Aid in English'-why not spend the time reading for pleasure instead?

I went through primary school in the 70's and was taught to read with Peter and Jane books. Both my children have been taught using phonics which I was very dubious about but had to admit is great. DS has a brilliant understanding of so many things I had no idea about age 7 and is being gently introduced to the kinds of skills that will stand him in good stead in years to come. The homework set engages all the children whereas when I was at school I think it had a tendency to encourage those who had academic tendencies from a young age but leave behind those who would have benefitted from a different approach ie. Similar to the sort of thing DS is doing. I was fine as was academic, started a Ph.D but things weren't so good for others in my class.

DS's education so far is definitely better than mine was at his age.. DD's first school wasn't as good and things have moved on in the five years that have passed since she was in year 2 but was still better than mine.

We use First Aid in English,intermittently, as a credible resource. Reading, curiousity and vocab are encouraged in short but challenging bursts.

I have no idea what 'First Aid' in English is but suspect it is the sort of thing I'd be a bit put out about coming home for homework.

If mine got sent home with First Aid in English exercises I really would complain! I don't mind them doing it at school, but homework should be a bit more creative and fun! (in short what was given)
Preferably no homework at all but definitely not churning out exercises.

I think for a one off fun homework it sounds fine for year 3. Lots of children at that stage don't get homework at all.

If you're going to be so ridiculous about your expectations of others' use of language while talking to you on these posts, then make sure you yourself can spell and use grammar correctly (and I'm referring here to things such as fundimental, curiousity and Vcabulary, and to your over- or underuse of commas). I don't have a problem with people not being able to spell or not using grammar correctly in posts on MN, as long as they're not criticising others for their inadequacies.

Back to the OP's question; yes, it is important to maintain grammatical standards and to ensure pupils are equipped with the rules of the language, but it is also crucial to keep them engaged and interested in the subject. Unless a child is a natural grammar king or queen, their interest will not be maintained by purely rote-type learning, or rules, rules and more rules. If the teacher only ever sets this kind of homework, and doesn't make the lesson content any more challenging either, then that might be a problem. I imagine, however, that a bit of light relief to maintain interest and enthusiasm is just as important from time to time.

Ha ha.

You will find that homework in all humanities subjects will involve designing a poster, right up to secondary and into Y9.

Wars of the Roses?
Chemistry Lab rules?
Earthquake warnings?

There is no end to it. Your child will be a veritable expert in poster design by the time they start their GCSEs.

Sometimes a dangerous touch of exciting variety is offered when a leaflet is requested.

Btu never fear: it will still allow for hours of fun on the pute and/or colouring in, all in the name of homework.

gah gah gah gah

"Your child will be a veritable expert in poster design by the time they start their GCSEs. "

:o True

If you don't learn about onomatopoiea, then you can't talk about poetry, either now or later on in secondary school.

Think of Tennyson 'murmuring of innumerable bees'

It sounds perfectly respectable to me. Presumably the idea is not the advert, but to think about the noises that the cereal will make, and to put them together into compelling language.

at juuule.

I think it's a great homework - getting him to use his head to think for himself and relating to the real world too. What's not to like?! And how do you know they're not going to work on from the poster in class? The next step could well be the teacher asking them to write the process they went through. I've definitely found that with DS - they do a heck of a lot of 'extended' writing. Far more than I ever did. If the teacher gets them engaged first through designing a poster, they're far more likely to write something well as they'll have some ownership.

OP I would say that it is 'proper english homework'. My DD did the same thing - also with cereals, adverts etc. and my DD is very good at English.

"I am simply applying tried and trusted methods that were used 50 years ago - before the curriculum began the decline in to what we see now."

If the methods worked so well, how come so many people left school functionally illiterate?

I am no great fan of current primary and secondary methodology either - but this does not mean that a return to the past is necessarily better. The spirit of this homework - making the correct use of language real and relevant to the child, which zany FOREIGN language teacher will tell you is essential to retention - sounds excellent to me.