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Original poster

Too much homework?

59 replies

Badmumof3 · 24/01/2014 11:39

My dd is in year 3 and the amount of homework she is bringing home is getting silly. She has to read for a minimum of 15 minutes per day, which is fine, but then she has another task to do each day. A spelling sheet on day 1, with a word search and literacy tasks, then the need to learn the set of spellings to be tested. Then she'll have 2 pages of numeracy, plus 2 days of other stuff, often related to the topic they are working on. Oh and they have to find time to learn their times tables.

Yesterday she spent over 3 hours doing one side of her maths homework. I didn't think it was particularly difficult, but she just couldn't grasp what she was expected to be doing, which made me think it hadn't been covered in class. We ended up with her having a complete meltdown.

I've now decided that from now on, whatever can't be done in 30 minutes, won't get done. Am I being unreasonable, or does this sound like a lot for a 7 year old? I do hate homework and that it eats into their "free" time. It is eroding our children's childhood, which I really resent. I can't even see how it helps them, other than the reading and times tables. I think we are overloading children, which is going to switch them off learning.

OP posts:
Onesie · 26/01/2014 08:30

I always put a time limit on homework.

Original poster
Badmumof3 · 27/01/2014 14:46

Well I see half an hour as a huge part of our evening. Like any normal kids. Mine do extra-curricular activities like swimming and brownies etc and an 8 o'clock bedtime during the week is far too late for my litle 7 year old. Plus they should be able to just blob out playing, watching telly, or whatever they need to do to unwind. My daughter mild huge behavioural issues when she was little and whilst she is now very well behaved, if she gets tired, she gets emotional and difficult. If I need insight into what my kids are doing, I can talk to them, or to their teachers. I don't need them to perform to prove anything to me

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 27/01/2014 15:38

Well I see half an hour as a huge part of our evening

an 8 o'clock bedtime during the week is far too late for my litle 7 year old. Plus they should be able to just blob out playing, watching telly, or whatever they need to do to unwind

if she gets tired, she gets emotional and difficult. If I need insight into what my kids are doing, I can talk to them, or to their teachers. I don't need them to perform to prove anything to me

I could not agree more bad you have summed it up perfectly!

Gileswithachainsaw · 27/01/2014 15:48

I am frequently shocked on mn by just how many parents feel it needs to be done at all costs. How recognising your child's limitations is seen as sending the message that they don't have to do anything they are told.

How "important" homework is to teach them how to be when they are working.

How kids get dropped off at seven in the morning and collected at six in the evening and are still expected to perform these tasks for fear that schools will deem you in cooperative at best and feckless at worst.

How entire weekends revolve around a young child's homework.

I cannot believe that is how people think. I cannot believe that kids can't go out and play as they used to, that chaining them to books and tables has taken over collecting bugs or playing with brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters who are effectively abandoned for the duration of the task as nothing the kids can do alone is set.

Can we please just remember they are at primary school :(

Original poster
Badmumof3 · 27/01/2014 15:59

Well said gileswithachainsaw! Telling schools that is another matter, but I will be one their case. (The schools that is!)

OP posts:
pointythings · 27/01/2014 16:02

I luffs you, Giles. Flowers

You too, Badmum Cake

Gileswithachainsaw · 27/01/2014 16:04

Just a shame we are in the minority pointy

Wine or Brew if it's a bit early :)

Goldmandra · 27/01/2014 16:12

I've never been too insistent about doing homework and I've made it clear to teachers who have tried to pile it on that it won't be done. Luckily DD1 was at schools that were reasonably laid back about it themselves.

In High School DD1 had other more serious issues to tackle and homework was rarely done there. She coped with more in the run up to GCSEs but still didn't do everything that was set.

Now she's in sixth form she is in a much better place and very motivated. She's just about the hardest worker in her year according to the school and she does what's set plus more if she thinks it's necessary.

IMHO allowing her not to bother with homework in primary has had no impact whatsoever on her work ethic at the age of 16.

Timetoask · 27/01/2014 16:15

The OP's amount of homework makes me think that the school is outsourcing the teaching to the parents!

Crowler · 27/01/2014 16:30

Whoa, whose kids are in school from 7-6!!?

My kids are in school for seven hours a day, on days where there's a club - eight. Not 11. My eight-year old doesn't struggle with a half-hour of homework and in fact he quite likes it (apart from the spelling sentences). I like it because I know exactly what he's up to in school. I don't see the issue.

Gileswithachainsaw · 27/01/2014 16:33

No They aren't in school that long. But many are in breakfast clubs/after school clubs etc.

It's a very long day for small children. And once you factor in tv, tea, reading , and even 10/15 mins of homework that's all evening gone.

Gileswithachainsaw · 27/01/2014 16:36

We leave early, we are back around half four/ quarter to five. Dd is effectively out house for 9 hours.

That's a long day. And although she isn't struggling with anything, all she wants to do is relax , watch tv play with her sister. She's in bed by half seven you just can't comfortably fit it in and still allow time for unwinding.

Instead it's home, reading, dinner, homework, bath, bed and a few mins of tv if she's lucky. Or it's an hour or two at the weekend if we don't do it in bits.

Crowler · 27/01/2014 16:46

I wouldn't like having to force my kids into homework they have no time for/are too tired for either, but I don't find that's even remotely the case with my youngest in year three. I'm not sacrificing my child's happiness for some kind of adult preparation - he's a happy, not-stressed kid currently on his X-box.

notso · 27/01/2014 16:59

DD had a friend in primary school who's parents opted out of all homework except reading.
They used to get on average a sheet a week in most years.
DS1 gets more than that. Year 4 was awful he got loads. I used to put a note in saying DS didn't understand this etc.
He once had to make a model of a Tudor house, write a poem in Welsh, interpret a piece of welsh artwork and learn 2 welsh poems I during the Easter holidays. Fine, except we used the Easter holidays to go on holiday as we are not supposed to take term time holidays. I did have a bit of a rant to the teacher, she gave DS an extension and said he had to stay in at break to finishHmm

Gileswithachainsaw · 27/01/2014 17:13
Shock

Keeping a small child in at break is the worst thing you can do if the aim is to get work completed.

They need to run around and burn off energy in order to have a hope in hell of sitting till and concentrating.

If there's one thing I hate more than home work, it's HOLIDAY homework. Adults don't even do work if thy are on holiday so why should the children. :(

pointythings · 27/01/2014 18:50

I was Shock when DD2 had compulsory homework over the summer this year. OK, it was only a holiday scrapbook, but what a waste of time! Meanwhile DD1 going into Yr8 had none.

At least this summer DD2 will be out of primary so no homework for her and hopefully none for DD1 either so we can have a proper holiday.

Gileswithachainsaw · 27/01/2014 18:52

Well enjoy it!!! :) take full advantage

beatricequimby · 27/01/2014 18:55

I think 30 mins every night is too much. Personally (and as a teacher) I think most primary hw is completely pointless but I would say max 30 mins 3 times a week. Your daughter needs a couple of homework free days to relax and do other things.

You also need time for your other child. IME most people who think homework is fine only have one child. Doing it with 3 is an absolute pain.

If you tell your dd is she only going to do 30 mins 2 or 3 times a week, you will probably find she achieves more.

Crowler - I appreciate the point that homework gives you a handle on your child's aptitude. But do you really need to know this every single day?

Crowler · 27/01/2014 19:13

My son in year three has an older brother in year six who is just about wrapping up 11+ exams so to be fair I've long since lost perspective on this matter!

I doubt I did as much with my oldest when he was this age. I just have a different view on the whole matter now.

VikingLady · 29/01/2014 20:37

I'm sure I read on MN some time ago that primary homework was unenforceable. Is this not true? Hell! I was planning on refusing it for DD (except reading, which we would do anyway).

All research shows clearly that there is no link whatsoever between homework and achievement at primary level, and only within certain limits at secondary (linked to work in class, marked with feedback, at GCSE age iirc).

Crowler · 29/01/2014 21:38

I can't accept such a sweeping generalization as: "there is no link between homework and achievement at primary level".

Homework takes many forms, as does achievement.

Blueberrypots · 30/01/2014 09:13

My DD1 has gone from a school with no homework policy (except reading) to a school that sets a lot of homework (Y4).

In the beginning it was a nightmare, it seemed to take her most evenings and we had several meltdowns. Then after about 6-8 weeks or so she massively improved, she can do it much faster, has learned to touch type and to be more independent. I have to say though that they only set homework they have already covered in school so the idea is that they should be able to do it fairly quickly and independently.

We are now getting much closer to the 20-30 minutes per night (excluding reading).

I also don't like homework after a long day at school, BUT as the secondary schools around here set around 2 hours per night from Y7, I think it is good she is getting used to doing it very quickly and independently as I see it as good practice for later. More of a practical consideration though!!

Gileswithachainsaw · 30/01/2014 09:19

2 hours :o

What the hell are they doing all day where there's still two hours of work left to do??

Gileswithachainsaw · 30/01/2014 09:19

That was meant to be Shock ignore grin

LydiaLunches · 30/01/2014 09:27

Same here with the maths, 30 questions covering a massive breadth of material, most of which she hadn't been taught. School said to do 30mins but that doesn't fly with DD1, so it takes 3x30mins, plus spelling sentences and a comprehension each week. Reading is her downtime anyway so no problem. In the bath at 6:30pm, so 2.5hts to fit in everything. Only music and swimming as extras, would never have time for brownies etc!