Do you think this is strange too?

[Eggrules]

There are a group of very competitive parents attached to my DS's Reception class. Up until now children take their coats off then go through the cloakroom into the class. Since going back after half term, some parents are asking their DC to come back out and hand them work to give to the teacher. I thought it was odd but didn't think much of this until today. A mum I now quite well joined in today so I asked her what was going on. Some parents are sending examples of work in for parent's evening/consultation next week. Teacher/ TA did not ask for examples.

Isn't the point that children demonstrate skills independently?
Why not put work in homework diary/ book bag?

A few years ago when we started producing Learning Journals in reception, it was suggested that parents contribute to them with 'work' from home. Maybe this is what is happening? Bit pointless IMO.

This morning, there were three children wanting to show their additional work. Same procedure - they came back out of class to collect it after taking coats off. One child had about 10 pages; another came out put their parent had forgotten to bring homework to school. Teacher just said thank you. This isn't something to be tackled with a child anyway. I agree that the teaching staff should be looking at what progress is being made independently.

There are journals that parents can write in. You can send work in through a book bag. We do 30 mins of homework most days but this just time spent going over what he has already done. Just mentioned it to DH; he thinks it is crazy and said 'you aren't sending going to send stuff in are you'. Nope.

??? 30 minutes of homework most days ???? I think we are in a different universe. We do about 5 minutes of practising writing letters sometimes from sheet he brings home and 5/10 minutes of reading book when he has one well. Pleased this isn't our school.

DS does write some very sweet things completely off his own back. eg he made a newspaper/does cards etc, but I wouldn't think of taking them in, unless DS wanted to take them to show and tell.

Yep 30 mins up to 5 times a week. I understand that homework (especially at this age) is an issue that divides opinion. If you believe your child learns all they need to at school; if you don't believe that primary aged children should do homework; if you would rather your child went to extra curricular clubs instead; or whatever reason you don't want to = fine by me.

My DS really struggled last year and this has made a big difference. We sit down with a snack for 30 mins as soon as we get home. We go over what he has been doing in class and read his school books. I am not trying to move him ahead or push him beyond what he can already do. He goes to bed at 8PM and so still has 4 hours to play and watch tv. This approach works for us, mornings are too much of a rush. I am self employed and take a break to do school run and start work again at 7PM when DH comes home. It works for us.

Tgger If my DS wanted to take newspaper/ cards etc in for show and tell I would let him, but would try to discourage him. This is down 100% down to competitive parenting going on. I don't send anything from home in.

That's cool, you do what's best for your family . I'm just surprised as I think you are talking about reception? Just we don't have school books (other than one reading book once a week) and I have no clue (or not much) about what they are doing in class other than the odd sheet of handwriting practice etc.

It really seems to help him remember what has happened in class - it means I can keep track of what he is learning too. Each term, school sends home a newsletter that explains what they are working on. In addition, the teacher will occasionally make a personal suggestion. They set Education City fortnightly and my DS has two reading books a week (school books).

He attended school nursery for half a term before Reception. His teacher there told me that she he was under prepared for school. He used to cry everyday because he couldn't do what the other children could. He couldn't hold the pencil and writing his name was completely beyond him. He should have been learning through play at nursery for 15 hours per week for 2 years. I do feel guilty because I dropped the ball.

Please go into school tomorrow clutching a copy of "War and Peace" and announce loudly to your ds "Take this in and tell Mrs. X how much you enjoyed reading this last night"

Then the next day copy down the proof to Fermats last Theorem and send it in to show "A little bit of maths you did last night".

Hopefully it will make the teacher laugh if nothing else.

Make that Monday, not tomorrow. Don't want to look too competitive.

Buy a megaphone and then broadcast "darling, don't forget to show the teacher this short story you and your two month old sister have just had published in Time Magazine." Then repeat it several times as you walk back to your car as if you were really only teasing the device. Then seeing other parents looking terribly inferior and ashamed, say, "sorry, I didn't realise anyone else was listening."

DeWe that may make the teacher laugh (I did)

Learnandsay "sorry, I didn't realise anyone else was listening."

Great suggestions.