Stack loads of Hw over half term!!!

[Verbena37]

Have just checked out the school website homework page for half term for DS year 5.
I'm completely peed off with the amount.
English... Write a 500 word story for Chris Evans thing
Maths... Do 10 maths problems (ok I guess)
IPC... Research global warming and make a 3-5 minute presentation to be presented in front of the class after half term.

FFS!!!!
Every week......his class tutor gives some of huge project type homework.

The school's own HW policy states one piece of English, maths and science per week....each one no more than 20 mins max. Well this is a whole lot more than 20 mins each.

The irony is that the IPC teacher wrote at the bottom 'enjoy your well-deserved half term holiday'
Some bloody holiday this will be!!! It takes 3 hrs to get DS (10) to write a small paragraph.

Adults generally don't do work in their time off......why should kids?

Sorry but if kids can't remember what's been taught the previous week, surely that says something about the teaching??

DS is currently making a stop-go animation with his Lego, whilst watching Mr Bean

Verbena

I think it's too easy to say a kid returning to class after 2-3 weeks off for Christmas or 8 weeks in summer (both typical length of holidays in US) can just pick up from where they left off. Many children do absolutely no reading/ writing/ maths over the entirety of holidays - frequently returning to school quite rusty. They soon get back into the swing of things but saying that's the teacher's fault is a bit harsh Verbena. They know it - but need a bit of time to refresh their memory/ renew skills.

Certainly after 20 years of not playing the piano I have definitely forgotten quite a bit. I know the music well, can remember the composer/ period of music/ etc... but I couldn't play a Bach Concerto or a Mozart Minuet any longer. I suppose that's my piano teacher's fault - following your logic.

It also was the case in refreshing my memory to help Dd1 solve nth term problems for her Y7 maths homework. We got there in the end but when DD1 asked for my help I had to admit I didn't remember and had no clue where to start. Both of us needed to look it up on the internet, refresh our memories about the method and then tackle the problems. After 1 or 2 DD1 was back in the swing of things and did the rest on her own.

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Look I get that there are parents out there who really despise homework and see no value in it whatsoever. I get that because academic debate about the benefits of homework in this age group is 'heated' and inconclusive - both camps (pro homework/ anti homework) can cite studies supporting their views - which of course confuses parents further.

But if you were to ask me how to get good at a musical instrument - I would say practice and regularly, daily preferably. I see homework (getting good at core skills in primary of benefit in secondary and further/ higher education) in that same light. I totally accept that others might not - I'm just putting my view out there for you to consider....

It is entirely your choice - but given your DS enjoys making stop motion films - have you considered encouraging him to try that in terms of his presentation on global warming? Get a few facts (glaciers melting - sea level rise may mean the houses of parliament will be flooded) and then model/ draw/ etc... it in a stop motion film? You're there anyway apparently - he's doing it anyway - why not tackle this assignment in a creative way that your child is likely to enjoy? He may learn something along the way as well.

Oh don't be so dramatic. That's one morning work for a ten year old. Hardly an essay a day.

Needabumchange..... Sorry but how on earth can you say that?
Writing 500 words is certainly not in everyone's capability in one morning, let alone the other two lots. Ridiculous!!

Verbena37:

What happens if your DS doesn't do the homework? Is it a huge issue - our school could care less. Occasionally they bring kids in at break to do work they haven't done (often My Maths or something that requires computer acess) - but often there's no 'issue' if you don't do the homework.

If you do decide to do the work - Seriously consider doing a stop motion film for his global warming presentation. He'll enjoy the process of making it (just base it on some facts) and it gets him out of writing for at least this task!

I think if he's finding 500 words a huge struggle - he can do with the practice and your support. Long term he's going to be expected to generate a lot more in future.

I do get your frustration - don't get me wrong - and it is entirely your option - but sometimes avoiding the hard things/ hard work/ practice is just displacement - you'll have to do it later.

I do hope you & your DS have a good half-term.

My 6 year old has 2 reading books and a couple of small tasks to do, she won't mind doing it. But I can see why you wouldn't want to be writing a 500 word essay in the holidays, I personally would get him to do the presentation and encourage him to have a go at the other 2 tasks

Thanks pastsellbydate.

The big cup of ice is now in the freezer....freezing into a glacier which will then feature in the stop-go movie . I'm actually a physical geographer so will enjoy helping him make it.

The maths but will be fine.....he is way ahead in maths and finds it easy.

The 500 word story is going to be adapted from the IPC captains log he wrote weeks ago and got a good mark for.

No homework set for my year 5.
Reading in bed [evening electronic device ban..] will be what he does.

DD (Year 6)
French:

• Read a book of her own choosing (but needs to be suitably improving to impress teacher) and write a review
• Select a newspaper article (ditto suitably improving), highlight the main points, write a summary and a short opinion piece
• Usual weekly correction of exercise books

English:

• Read Tom's Midnight Garden and write a review
• Finish Island of the Blue Dolphins
• Usual weekly spellings and definitions

That also seems a lot in what is supposed to be a holiday break for relaxation and fun.

I agree! And it's actually less than she used to get in Year 5 (as in less time consuming - obviously the work itself is more challenging).

I might tell his tutor next week at parents evening that whilst I don't mind simple, helpful homework, I really protest that he has presentations/projects/art sculptures etc every week ! It's beyond ridiculous.

Some teachers love giving "presentations" as homework. It outsources all the teaching to parents and the actual giving of presentations uses up lesson time that they would otherwise need to fill...

DD2 y5, about right I think:

• diary write up for one day of the holiday (done)
• 'practice test' from a CGP maths book (done)
• double page worksheet for English (not done yet)

DD1 y11 will be doing ~30 hours work covering preparation for controlled assessments and revision. I will be doing ~15 hours of the work with DD1 as she needs help doing revision notes for science.

My year 5 has the 500 word story for the Chris Evans competition as homework as well plus one page of maths. We are not doing it in one go. A few lines each day.
Remember it is a maximum of 500 words, they do not have to write that many.

(DS1 is revising 4-5 hours a day for his AS mocks, DD should be revising for year 10 exams but is away on a GCSE PE ski trip!)

Ds has had far too much homework to do this term so far. Including writing stories, writing up science experiments that we need to do at home and I think there must have been complaints!

But, we've had a nice letter asking if we can review certain things in preparation for next half term. It equates to 15 mins a day - realistic and achievable.

You don't need to do 500 words. Let him do as much as he is satisfied with or feels able to cope with.

I can tell both my boys really need a well deserved rest. Me too! I hope your ds can have a mostly chilled out time.

You need to point out to the teacher on parents eve that the school states students should do 20 minutes on three topics only and that it's unacceptable that's she's setting more.

You could always set your timer and get DS to complete 20 minutes of maths, 20 of writing and 20 of he other subject.

DS didn't do any homework till year 7 - except for reading. He did extremely well in his SATs. It would have been negative to force him to do homework. But also I know that our school homework isn't thoroughly marked by the teacher.

Thanks ladies. I feel better now; knowing that other schools have set too much as well.
He has thought of using his vast wealth of Minecraft knowledge for the story so 500 words shouldn't be a problem !

I asked him loads of the maths probs last night and he did then in his head so he should be fine writing them up.

The global warming project will be stop-go animation.....DS will love doing that.

And yes violet I will defo bring it up at parents evening.

DS yr6 has not been set any homework. Teacher has put a printed note in the diaries telling them that they have all worked hard this half-term and she looks forward to hearing what they get up to with their family and friends. In term time it is 30mins 4 nights per week plus reading own book.

That's lovely. Wish all teachers were like that.

Time him for each subject and after half an hour stop him.

As a teacher I would find that fair enough.

Fwiw I totally agree with you about holiday homework and don't give any. Doesn't stop some parents complaining though!

Surely the parents that complain could just focus on giving their children some spellings, tables and reading challenges. Plenty.
Why call it a holiday otherwise!!

DD2 was in Yr6 last year and she did get a lot over the half term - but most of it was optional so we did the minimum. She has always been an avid reader and someone who writes stories for fun though.

Now she's in Yr7 and for this half term she has.... nothing.
Yr9 DD1 has one piece to do - she got an extension because the teacher held on to her self-researched source material to show it to colleague - got a bit carried away there but all was well after some negotiations.

The two weeks before half term were very homework heavy for both of them - I feel this is a very fair trade-off.

DD (Year 6) has been given too much of homework as well.

First she must produce a piece of creative work on Kenya with some sorts of information. WE have just finished creating a two ft paper mache model of Mount Kenya and a little set of fimo animals for the safari park. Fact file included.

Then she must write a short but unnecessary piece of writing on her religious beliefs. She is ten years old for goodness sakes, she doesn't know why she doesn't believe in God.

Also had to do a two page maths worksheet, a two page science worksheet and she must write a poem based on spring for some in-school competition.

Can't believe the teachers expect them to do all of this, met up with my Brother and his family. There secondary school aged child had one piece of homework for the whole holidays!