Teacher asked me to ‘support his learning’ - should I write back and explain??

[Janus]

I have a boy in year 4, aged 8. Homework for English for the past few weeks has been Alice in Wonderland, my son has hated it! 10 questions each week on falling down a hole, growing big and small, knave of hearts stealing tarts etc!
Last week’s was awful and was all about her falling down the hole and one question was

What does Alice mean when she says ‘Reaching the heights I am now would be an impossibility’.

Erm, I didn’t know the answer!! He’s 8, he didn’t know the answer! He has cried every week we have done this homework. We have no communication book any more as our school didn’t think we needed them so I wrote on this question ‘X doesn’t know how to answer so I’d have to answer for him’ and then left it blank.
Getting homework back the teacher has put
‘Please support his learning!’
I sit every week and do this English with him, maths he’s much better with but I will help if he asks. This week the homework is finally on the Victorians and he has loved answering these questions.
I hate that she thinks I can’t be bothered to help. Would I be wrong to write a note and stick it on this week’s homework saying something like
‘I just thought I’d reply to your note of last week. X has found the Alice in Wonderland homework very hard and this has resulted in tears each week. We both honestly didn’t know how to answer that question so that’s why we left it blank. I don’t want you to think I don’t support his learning, I sit with him every week and make sure it’s completed and never late.
I’m a bit angry to be honest. One question in the whole year we haven’t done! We’ve completed every other piece of homework, often handed in early but never late.

The Indian education system in the early 90s was based on the English education system of the 1950s. Has some kind of feedback loop now produced a national curriculum in England based on the Indian education system in the early 90s?

@Reginabambina
I couldn't work it out we are not all blessed with your intellect as they say for every up theres a down
what some people gain in intelligence they lack in basic fucking manners .

None of these complex mathematical answers are what is being looked for in a y4 child. You should look at the basic book through the eyes of a child. It’s easy to get the book and have a look through it. Often parental distain is detected by DC so what about the angst you will face at secondary school when he “hates” books. At least be positive and think about the general story in the book as opposed to no response or clever clogs answers!

Why should @Reginabambina have to do her child's homework?
My mum was never expected to help me with my homework nor did she wish to.
It's weird imo that children are being judged on what their parents can do!!

I meant @Janus

I hate the book because we have been doing the handouts (an A4 sheet with part of the story on it and then 10 questions on that exert) for 4 weeks and each week he has been in tears, absolute sobbing tears, because he gets so frustrated with it. So yes, I guess I am negative.
This week is an exert on education in the Victorian times with 10 questions and he has steamed through it because he’s understood and found it interesting to find out what children had to do to get the cane!!
I have 4 children, I have always sat down or at least been in the same room (if they are finding it easier) with each of them and helped. However, to completely have to write the answer (although this time I couldn’t!!) is a complete nonsense - it makes the teacher think he’s much more capable than he is and this may actual impact with his learning.
So Sanji I feel I am supporting all my children thank you but there are honestly not enough hours in the day for me to read all the books they are and, as it turns out, they are not reading incase I can help!

I still don't get you, OP. If you think the homework is pointless, just ignore it. If you think you are doing enough, say that to the teacher, when you were offended by their comment.
The point is, the teachers choose what to teach children, so that the children can progress. They are not doing it all just to annoy parents and children cry.
I can see that some teachers are better than the other. And sometimes children don't get it, or like what they were taught. But being negative together with your child won't help them, imo. And I always let my child do/not do the work, the homework is never for the parents. If he can't answer the question, just leave it blank, and write a note that he tried, but couldn't do it. Why do you even think about doing it for him?

I’m not sure you read my initial post?? I very clearly wrote for the teacher that he could not answer the question so we left it blank as I would not answer it for him. I don’t see the point in dictating an answer, I’ve said that.
So, I went to see the teacher and explained I felt I was doing enough.
So I don’t get you Sanji to be honest or your reply!

Goodness, you have made me a bit worried about year 4! I love reading and have read this book but I wouldn't have been able to answer this question out of context.

I don't think DD will be able to answer a question like this by year 4 and we are already fighting regularly over homework.

I am a secondary teacher and I really don't know what is going on with primary homework. The expectations on all concerned are ridiculous!

To be fair Phineyj, all other homework has been achievable and almost enjoyable!! We just had a duff week, please don’t be put off, I quite like homework and engaging with it in a strange way!!

I think I totally misread what you have said, OP. I am sorry. I think you have done everything right.

Thank you Sanji, I’m sorry if I came across as harsh, I don’t know why but this piece of homework has got to me! Thank goodness was it’s nearly the weekend!!

No, it was my fault. I was wrong, and I am the one need to apologize, not you.

Sounds like we are friends! Thank you x

I'm one of those who would as a teen have gone with the smart arse answer and quoted Carroll's Humpty Dumpty.
'When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more not less.'
As a year 4 I would have wanted to write whatever got a tick and a mark, and that is a dull dull way to learn literature!
Having a chat about why the word 'would' makes that sentence so hard to pin down would be supported his learning, but wouldn't get a tick and a mark.
Another lit grad here - what is the mark scheme answer?