Kingergarten Homework

[humblemumble22]

Hi there!
My daughter started kindergarten this year and needs to complete various homework tasks each week (3 compulsory and 3 not compulsory). It can take around 90 minutes across the week the complete the homework. (one recent example was to find rocks and write letters on each to spell one of the terms high frequency words - so we had to go and find 13 rocks)

I don't mind doing the homework, however out of 8 weeks, only 2 weeks' worth of homework has been marked. I know teachers are busy, but I feel that we are going to the effort of completing the homework each week, the teacher should at least be checking it. The homework is nothing complex so think it would be a quick check and a little comment.

I don't want to be an a-hole and complain to the teacher - but wanted thoughts from other parents and teachers in this community.

Appreciate the feedback! :)

HUMB MUM.

How old is your daughter? I am assuming not UK because of the term kindergarten? Also assuming kindergarten means under 5 in which case she is still very young. I am all for doing similar activities with them at home at that age as they learn through play (wouldn't personally be keen on nursery having it as compulsory homework but appreciate cultural expectations are different). I'm not sure what marking you want from the teacher though. You can guide and correct your child at this age so I would expect nothing more than them to verbally praise the child at school for doing nice homework. Written comments are meaningless for a young child

Kindergarten can mean Year 1 (5-6 years). In some countries, I think it might even go up to Year 2/6-7 years. Though we could also be talking about 3 year olds, so it is hard to say without knowing their age.
I fundamentally disagree with homework for primary aged children but I don't think the amount of homework is unusual.
Teachers don't often have time to mark, it may be okay to just say you're supporting her education in other ways. Though this may depend on teacher / school.

Is your issue the amount of homework or the lack of acknowledgement? The example you describe sounds like a fun way of reinforcing learning, it isn’t something that can be graded. Recognition would be nice, but I would much rather the teacher spend time on planning a fun lesson than marking 30 lots of homework with ‘well done’. Also agree with @prescribingmum that written feedback is not meaningful for the child at this stage.

Homework in kindergarten sounds mad! Although I find myself wondering if you’re based somewhere like Germany where kindergarten is quite a bit older in age than in the UK? (I confess it was, in part, the 13-letter high frequency word that made me wonder this!)

What you describe sound like activities at home to support learning rather than homework. If its being done with an adults support there isn't any need for marking per se.

To be honest, at this age especially, you are as much if not more responsible for your child's learning. You should be helping your child learn basic literacy and numeracy because they're vital skills for your child to succeed in life not because a teacher is telling you to or giving you/your child positive reenforcement for it. Even if you're seeking that reenforcement how exactly do you expect them to mark a few painted rocks?! If you think the activities are worth doing then do them. If you don't then don't do them but do something equally as fun and educational. I find it a bit bizarre that parents should need such coaxing to help such young and dependent children such important skills tbh but it's the way if the world. In an ideal world I totally agree that kindergarten kids shouldn't need 'homework' for such things to sink in, their parents should just be doing it instinctively