Homework is a constant fight.

[DooinMeCleanin]

Is this usual?

It takes over an hour to get dd1 to practise her spellings and times tables each night. She must be constantly supervised or she won't do it. She spends twice as much energy crying, howling and arguing as she does doing her actual work.

This week she has been making a fact sheet on Meerkats all week. It has taken her a full week, to draw one picture and write approximately 6/7 lines.

She was happy to sit and watch Meerkat Manor for hours on end, but we had to fight her to get her on the computer to research properly. We had to fight her to get her to write proper notes. She happily drew the picture in the end, but had to keep being reminded she was doing homework as she kept getting distracted by everything.

She is 8. Surely she should not be breaking down into hysterics when she is asked to copy down a spelling she has gotten wrong?

My mother could never understand why I was an avid reader and poor speller. I never see the words-reading a book is like going to the cinema-I was the same as a DC.

DMC Yes, get that spelling book out ready for tonight
Bubby64 That's interesting! We've got non-identical twins like you and they are like chalk and cheese.
One is a worry-wart perfectionist who makes endless lists of what she has to do and does homework every night obsessively.
The other puts it off, puts it off, LIES ABOUT IT, finally admits she has HW then finally does the minimum to get by and hands it in on the deadline.
Snag is they are often doing the same HW for the same teacher but not always as they have slightly different options
It's a nightmare!

Well, first bit of homework came home last night- couldn't do it last night, as had last night of Cubs (were pulled up to Scouts!) so they have to do it tonight, we shall see how this homework agreement works!
Crossword Its even more strange, as mine are ID twins, and are deff chalk and cheese! DS1 obsesses over things, and TBH did really well at school last year, and went from near bottom of class in math and literacy (has always been top in reading) to near the top, DS2, who never really had to try to get OK results, was overtaken, and instead of competing, seemed to give up! He has promised to try harder this year, especially as it is SATS year, and he wants to be "streamed" in the same classes as his friends at High School next year. The home work thing will be the test of this me feels!

Promise her that her home work will not take longer then 10 minutes, then let her set the timer on ten minutes, once the timer goes off that's it.
Also break her homework into smaller chunks, so if it takes 15 minutes to do the whole thing, break it in two, without even knowing she will be putting a lot more time into it, and eventually she will get used to it.
I agree there is no use in fighting over it and making a big fuss, but rather find strategies that work for her, homework might not seem important at the age of eight, but it will take the whole new meaning in about three years time, when your DD start secondary school, and the amount of homework and revisions will become humungous.
She needs to get used to doing her homework, and get into habit of sitting down concentrating at her work, of course with you praising her along the way.
Perhaps try and avoid doing it straight after school, let her relax, eat, pop out for a while, refresh herself, once she is in she will be ready to sit down and do it. If you can, plan something fun for the weekends, and tell her about it in advance, "It is better you finish your homework during a week, little by little, so you weekend is free so we can do so and so" depending what you have planed to do with your DD, good luck.

We had quite time consuming homework last year...lots of spellings etc butbwhat really got my heckles up were the projects. Of course Mum ends up "helping" ie doing the dratted thing and it really ruins half term holiday...for what educational benefit? We have now changed school and the homework that is given is purposely done at a level so the child can do it alone. MUCH BETTER!

I never did any homework until I was about 14, I am perfectly capable of working alone in the workplace, I am intelligent, I have a good job. I did however have a great childhood where I spent the evenings after school with my family playing games, spending time with my mother, cooking, conversing and generally doing nothing. I loved school because there was no pressure. My son has to sit for an hour and a half every evening after school doing, "homelearning" he hates school and is miserable. What are we doing to our children. I sometimes feel that homework is for the parents who are too busy for their children. Sorry if that upsets some of you out there. Read Alfie Kohen, The Homework Myth, you may change your mind about greeting your children with, Have you got much homework? or spending the short space of time in the evening saying come on, finish your homework!!!!!!!!! Maybe you could always play with them??? I know I wish I could, they leave home very quickly and you will never get this time back.