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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Learning over Christmas?

35 replies

Tailtwister · 22/12/2013 08:46

DS1 has just finished his first term in P1 (Scotland) and we're really pleased with his progress. He's taken on a huge amount, not only in the classroom but coping with after school activities/club until 4pm 4 days. We had a formal teacher interview in Nov where the teacher said he was coming on as she would expect and there are no issues with his progress.

He's now off until 7th Jan and my initial thought was to just give him that whole time to relax and play. However, another Mum has said she's going to continue with reading and number practice (Biff, Chip and Kipper etc) over the holidays as she thinks they slip back a lot if you don't.

WWYD? There hasn't been any instruction from the teacher to do this and no homework set. I have some Reading Tree books at home, should I be doing some of these? We read together, but DS still isn't overly keen to do anything other than read the frequent 'easy' words himself so I don't push him.

(I know I've posted her a lot with anxious questions, so all replies are much appreciated!)

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Cat98 · 22/12/2013 08:56

The only 'work' we will be doing over the Christmas holidays will be reading - he will still read to me most nights, just a page or 2 though. Ds is in year 1.
Other than that he will be relaxing, playing, seeing family etc.
I think they need a break.

kimlo · 22/12/2013 08:59

dd2s school hasn't sent home a reading book so Im just going keep reading to her at bed time and get her to sound out some of the words because this is what I always do at bed time.

She is ready for a break though because she does 8-6 at school with breakfast and after school club and because of the difficulty I've had getting holidays in she hasn't had a week off since August.

Littleoaktree · 22/12/2013 09:07

Ds1 (reception) is reading to me every night (his choice) and then I read him a story. He's actually doing better with his reading since he broke up (1.5wks) ago, I think because he's less tired than when he was at school.

He's been practicing his writing with writing Christmas cards/present tags etc but fun stuff not formal writing practice, he's using numbers/sums etc in everyday stuff (eg helping me cook - finding weights that add up to 6oz) but that's about it.

wonkylegs · 22/12/2013 09:13

We read everyday anyway but I don't count that as work as DS loves reading. We will write thank you letters (practicing writing) and do chores for money (uses a chart to keep track of chore money & spending - maths) and I'm sure DS will play on the computer for a bit (he loves BBC KS1 bitesize games)
We won't be sitting down to do actual work but will continue learning by doing stuff as part of our everyday iykwim.

SeaDevilscanPlay · 22/12/2013 09:36

DD is in reception and just turned 5. We have two reading books so will go over them, some spellings and a mind map on fairy stories to complete. These will be done, but apart from that we will be having a chill out. DD is very tired after the first term and she needs some r&r!

Minime85 · 22/12/2013 09:58

going to keep reading and encourage any writing but not push it.

Original poster

Tailtwister · 22/12/2013 15:59

Excellent, no formal learning then! We'll keep doing what we would normally do (learning through every day activities), but I won't do anything over and above that.

Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate the feedback.

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nonicknameseemsavailable · 22/12/2013 16:03

we were told to just practice reading and writing in day to day life, or something along those lines anyway. So writing Christmas cards and thank you letters, sounding out road signs and simple words in stories being read at home. I wouldn't worry about anything else, we won't be. If you want to practice any number work then do it when walking up the stairs or to the shops or something.

one of my daughters has been doing adjectives so we are using the most 'exciting' language we can to encourage her to learn and use more interesting words. doesn't require anything formal and is fun.

They only get 2 weeks off, they need the rest and they should be allowed to enjoy Christmas and seeing family but I think practicing reading is important to avoid forgetting sounds they have learned this term.

Tapiocapearl · 22/12/2013 16:04

We will be reading some of the free online Oxford reading tree books at reading owl. Ill also be reading to my boys daily.

WidowWadman · 22/12/2013 18:58

My daughter (reception) likes reading, so that's a fun activity for her. Mind, she hasn't brought a new ORT book home in ages, so we'll have to stick to books that are actually fun to read.
She also keeps practising writing and leaves little very random notes everywhere. Not being prompted, just because she likes doing it.
There was a note in her learning journey that she needs to get a bit neater in her handwriting, but I won't put pressure onto her beyond what comes from herself. As it is, she likes the practice.

noramum · 23/12/2013 06:50

DD is in Year2 and we have a homework, like we have every holiday. dD has to write a poem. No big deal, it will cost us 30 minutes.

Reading is not schoolwork, reading is pleasure and we encourage DD all the time to choose a book and read to us, to herself or we share.

We will do some math games, more because DD loves playing in the ipad or laptop and we combine it. Most of the links we get from the school are really good games and it doesn't feel like work.

columngollum · 26/12/2013 10:59

Obviously there's less need to get anything done for the next day during a holiday, but doing something is better than doing nothing, of course.

monet3 · 27/12/2013 09:01

Friends tell lies. Most parents work like crazy with their children in the holidays especially in the younger years. Well, thats what I found when mine were small.

lljkk · 27/12/2013 09:28

Kids definitely don't do formal work over holidays in my community.
I think we've had a week off of reading stories (5yoDS reading, I mean).
And 5yoDS has some actual writing homework over hols which we will get around to (about 3 occasions' worth). He likes writing or I wouldn't bother.

9yoDS has a hangup about writing so he is doing some writing some days for computer time.

mrz · 27/12/2013 09:34

I definitely didn't do work with mine over Christmas and in 20 years of teaching I've seen no evidenvce that any of my pupils work in the holidays. They need time to relax it has been a long first term!

FionasFatFairy · 27/12/2013 09:38

I will check their bags now Christmas is over.

DD1 is in Yr2, she was reading last night, a family joke book fest. Once they achieve a certain level reading becomes more fun.

JingleJohnsJulie · 28/12/2013 20:38

Our school has a no homework in the holidays policy. There are some many other ways they can learn. Take him for a walk and collect and name leaves, talk about the numbers on doors, weigh out ingredients for baking, let him choose his own books at the library but most of all let him relax.

simpson · 28/12/2013 20:57

DD (yr1) has only had homework that involved making something with cardboard and she has wanted to read to herself (and me) more than in term time but that's all.

DS (8) has done a big fat zero apart from chilling!

Nerfmother · 28/12/2013 21:02

All of mine have some hideous model making project , no learning involved at all. Eg think of this word an d make a model of it. No recording what you find out about this word/ not asked for etc. just a bloody waste of time with glue and cardboard. I'd rather have some maths.

lookdeepintotheparka · 28/12/2013 22:20

Both my kids have h/w and quite a bit of it too - not all fun stuff either

I must admit I'm in 2 minds as to whether we do it - they were shattered after doing nativity plays and Christmas school events and both have been ill too. I might just fight my corner when we get back to school!

Saying that, both are avid readers so will read and listen to stories every night. I've also been doing some craft stuff with them so am continuing to develop their fine motor skills

Original poster

Tailtwister · 29/12/2013 11:10

Lots more replies, thanks.

We've just kicked back and done nothing but relaxing and playing so far. DS got a lot of Lego for Christmas which he's enjoyed building and we've been out and about for walks, swimming etc. So, apart from the usual reading (to him) it's been a homework free zone! I have to admit I've enjoyed the break too.

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Swangirl · 30/12/2013 15:15

Both my dc have homework over the holiday. One is in year 5 and she has some maths and a book review to write. My year 1 son has maths, reading, spellings and a family tree to make far to much homework for a 5 year.

noramum · 30/12/2013 15:36

Nerfmother: I agree. This is the first time homework over the holidays actually meant school work. Before that it was all about craft. Not bad but more than once we hardly had the time as we both work and DD was at least partly in a holiday club.

Not to mention that we don't have endless supply available as DH and I hate arts and craft.

TheRaniOfYawn · 30/12/2013 15:53

Mine aren't given any work over the holidays and I wouldn't give them anything above the sort of educational but fun stuff we would be doing anyway. Trips to museums, theatres and libraries, cooking and baking, going for walks and spottingb interesting natural things, that sort of thing. I find that DD (7) always has 5 days or so of doing not much apart from sleeping and watching TV and then she will stay reading something far more challenging than she would ever tackle in term time when she is tired from school work.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 30/12/2013 15:58

I have one in yR and one in y3. As far as I'm concerned the Christmas holidays are a time to relax after a really long term at school. DH & both have time off work and we've been using the time to read, do jigsaws, play games, see friends & family, bike rides and walks as weather permits.

I have never been overly concerned with reading scheme books in any case, preferring to instead read lots of different books with my DC. It seems to have worked so far...

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