Homework Hell!! (Year 7)

[sarahpandco]

Hi, I'm pulling my hair out! My DD has settled in well to secondary school, joined lots of clubs and met new friends, but as soon as I remind her to do her homework she turns into a demon! Eventually she will sit down and get out her work, but then moans, groans, etc, etc that she can't do it (really she just means she WONT do it as it is "work"). I sit down with her, but unless I do it for her, it usually ends badly! I've spoken to her tutor who said it is my job to make sure she does it....but how, without having a major strop every night? Can anyone help?!!

My parents used to ask if I had done my homework, I said yes though I rarely had. I wish they had been a bit more on my case about it really especially as not doing it didn't really have any consequences at school apart from the odd stay in at break which I used to talk my way out of or not turn up for anyway.

My DD is in year 7, I check her planner every night. I make a note of what she has to do and when it needs handing in.
We started off letting her watch TV, go online, do music practice first but actually she is in a better mood if she has a quick drink, snack and chat then goes upstairs to do it. Then does whatever else she wants to do.

I would go back to the tutor if I were you. They could do more to help, including looking at if there is actually a problem with her understanding of the work.

routine I think is key as others have said. dd gets changed, has a snack and settles down to homework. It is how it always is and she sees the benefits as when it is done she can fully relax whilst her friends are still trying to put off doing theirs.

at the attempt to turn this into a state/private threads,

One thing dd has done since she was in year 7 and still do now she's in Year 11, is to keep a rolling list of what she has to do with a rough estimate of how long it will take which is pinned up on the family notice board. It menas she always knows exactly where she stands, and I can keep half an eye. And it's useful if she's not in and somebody rings wanting her to babysit or do some other job- I can say whether she'll probably be able to or not. And it also means I can schedule other stuff- I wouldn't ask her to cook on a heavy homework night, or suggest we watch a film or something.

I would be very upset at the tutor's comments. I hope their views were not a true reflection of the school. It might be your "job?" to encourage her to do her homework but it is definitely their job to make sure that the homework is handed in and if not that sanctions are applied. The problem though is compounded if the school doesn't mark work and don't implement sanctions.

seeker's idea of a rolling homework list sounds a great idea. It means you are involved but she is in control?

I am not though sure where anyone though is trying to turn this into a state/private thread.. Pushydad mentioned the word indie once as he was talking about class lists/tracking grades etc and not wanting to be last and had he not done so I expect it would have led to pages of negative comments about these lists as has happened previously.

I know, goinggetstough- it just amused me, that all. For the record, I think the idea of anyone being publically last is outrageous!

Yes the rolling list works incredibly well. And everyone I know who tries it agrees.