YR2 maths homework.

[lovecheese]

Would you expect the same homework to be given to everybody, no matter what their ability is?

No, that would be silly. If so, then homework would be geared towards the average student, leaving the more able as well as the less able being bored/frustrated.

Our maths homework has been the same so far - a table to write out and a worksheet page to finish. Ds wanted to do more pages but I wouldn't let him (usually very reluctant to do homework but not maths it appears).

Hmmm, interesting, SofaQueen; what DD has brought home so far has been really easy, not challenged her at all and completed very quickly. The teacher did write on ways to "extend" the first weeks task, which we did, and we have done our own extending of this weeks task, but should I be expecting more from school? I dont want to be a PITA and certainly do not expect her to tailor homework to each child, but if what we have had so far is going to be "It" then DD is not going to gain very much from doing it. Would you wait a few weeks and if things carry on in the same vein say something? Thanks.

Hi Lovecheese, remember you from Yr 1 chats and here we are again. Yes, my DS has same maths homework as the whole year group, with extension on the back. So far, really easy. Apparently, this term is a 'revision term' to consolidate all that was learned in Yr 1 and then the homework is used to reinforce this, so perhaps it is all quite straightforward for them for this term? But I too will be keeping an eye on it. Don't even get me started on reading books and spellings ...

Oh god, have I made a name for myself if you remeber me from previous threads? .

Go on, tell us about the reading and spellings.......

My DS is a Y2 in a Y2/3 split and so far they have all been given the same spellings and numeracy and literacy homework.

I think they are assessing the children and will move them into different groups and tailor the work more before the end of the half term. Its only been a few weeks, after all......

At DS's school there are 2 sets for Maths and each set gets different homework

At my DCs school the maths is always the same for the whole class, but there are groups for spellings and reading.

It depends on what the homework is and what the teacher is hoping to achieve from the homework.

It is not always inappropriate to set the same homework for all children in a class, esp this early in a school year.

lovecheese, I would wait a couple of weeks to see if this is indeed just an exercise to see what exactly each child knows. If the homework remains really easy, I might just ask if homework gets differentiated and if not, other ways to extend your daughter in maths. If she has no suggestions, I would step in an do things like MathsWhizz and maths puzzles to keep her interested.

The question about expecting more from the school is a bit more political - I would say yes, but many people disagree with my view and think that early years should not be about "stretching". I think that if a child is eager and able, why not challenge them. However, I wouldn't supplement with boring activities like Kumon or tutoring, but real math (as opposed to arithmetic), which is really about problem solving and pattern recognition.

Hulababy, judging by the simplicity of said homework I am hoping and guessing that they are using it as a way of getting an idea of where the children are at after the holidays; 7 weeks holiday is a long time and DD did loads of maths over the summer, at her request.

SofaQueen I completely agree with you.