Snotty note in homework diary....

[snackattack]

My dd(4) is in her first term in reception - a lovely school but very academic and they do tend to push them rather early (my opinion - dh thinks it's fine!). Anyway, she gets 6 reading books a week, flashcards every night bar one and writing practice three times a week. In reality it only takes 10-15 mins a night but it's still quite a bit for a 4 year old. Anyway REALLY peed off to read in dd's homework diary the following "X is STILL getting some of her numbers 1-10 the wrong way round, she needs to practice more at home. Please make sure she does this". Am I right to be fuming about this?? She's only 4 ffs and she's doing bloody homework every night as it is and now they are WHINGING about her getting her numbers mixed round the wrong way. I've just tested her and she did them all except the 5 and the 9 which she did mix up... but isn't that totally normal at this age??

Help me out please. Am I being over-sensitive? Thanks.

they are being ridiculous

I would tell them how much you already do ,maybe they don't realise.

Perfectly normal to mix them up. My dd1 is in year 2 and she still gets her 9's back to front.

I think you need to speak to the teacher. No need to be snotty, just explain that IYO it is too much for your DD and she won't be doing it all.

BTW it is too much.

Thanks ggirl - they do realise - we have to document their reading and homework every night and also they "test" their spellings every morning. I know we signed up for this school knowing that they were highly academic but I think it's just a bit much really...

It's insane.
My 4 year old gets fuck all in terms of homework and that's how I like it.

I would move schools pronto. That is way over the top and yes, muddling numbers at 4 is more common than getting them all right. Apart from the numbers thing, schools with this pressure to make them read really winds me up - some kids need more encouragement than others, but all you're going to do by forcing a child to get through 6 books a week is put them off reading forever. It shouldn't be a chore - it should be a delight.

Poor little thing is sitting in front of the TV exhausted and I'm thinking "Do I really have to drag her away from Dora the Explorer to make her practice bloody numbers when she's been at school all day already!!?" Give me strength.

ffs, she is 4. She shouldn't even be doing homework! Whats that sort of pressure going to do to her?

that's ridiculous it's PERFECTLY NORMAL for her to be getting them mixed up, and sooooooooo much homework. dd1 only started books after christmas and then 1 aweek.

My ds has just started Reception.

He gets 2 books per week (self-chosen) and recently some letters to copy (if/when he feels like doing it).

They are learning to write their own names, learning sounds and counting atm (from what I can gather!)

Your dd's school is expecting far, far too much imo.

It's far too much. Especially for first term reception.

6 reading books a week?? Ds is [brag alert] an extremely confident, fluent reader but even he would find 6 reading books a week too much.

Have you spoken to any of the other parents about this? what's the general feeling around homework at the school? There is nothign wrong with wanting to stretch the children from an early age (imo) but this seems OTT.

The trouble is that this is the ethos of the school, which you have presumably signed up to as a parent. 15 minutes a night is not a lot.

Oh god don't start me off on homework. I think schools are insane about it. Makes me very very angry What on earth all this achieves is beyond me really it is.

dd is also in reception and gets no homework. I'd send it back if she did! 4 yo's should be children.

Bloody hell, my 4 year old hasn't had one book yet.

Quattro - you are right - it was our decision but I did have concerns from the start. Dh did not have any concerns and was very keen for her to be stretched academically. She's been reading fluently for a while and she loves it, but i do think that it might put her off her love of books. I'm more annoyed with the comment about the numbers because frankly what the heck are they expecting from these kids if fluent reading, writing pretty well and spelling some words, along with doing basic maths is NOT GOOD ENOUGH at 4 years old..It's madness... Need to have a serious word with dh about whether this is something that should continue for our dd.

Waaaay to much!! Dd is also at a very good school (Ofsted outstanding, very good results, full of educated parents who demand their dc become brain surgeons [wink)
However, in reception they had no homework. I think perhaps 3 letter sounds per week. Nothing else. Oh yes, two reading books (self-chosen) per week, but no pressure to read them if the child did not feel up to it.
Now in Y1 dd gets weekly spellings (6 words at a time) and two books. And that is all she will be getting. Which is fine for Y1.

I don't think pushing young children this early helps. Certainly at this school, the children perform above average at both Y2 and Y6 SATS, and that is without homework in the first few years of school.

I would write a polite note in teh diary to tell them that your dd works hard, she will get the numbers when she does, and that you are not prepared to put more pressure on her.

Yes, I think you are right. I'm going to write a polite note.....when I'VE CALMED DOWN

I agree that if you chose the school for it's academic then you can't really complain about volume of homework.

However, receiving that note is not on. Your dd is in reception and is bound to get numbers and letters wrong, no matter how much homework practice she gets.

It would concern me that it bothers the school so much, that a 4 year old gets numbers the wrong way round.

Forgot to say, my dd is in Yr 3 and doesn't get as much homework as your dd. (she gets approx one hour's worth over the course of a week)

A 4 year old getting homework like that? Insane.

I chose my dc's infants school because it was cuddly

to make you feel better, ds doesn't seem to get that much homework (in my opinion) in yr 7 !! In reception at the beginning when he was 4 he could barely write anything- he is now pretty smart and writes lovely imaginative pieces..think they are being a bit much at your child's school snackattack.

Flippin heck - My DS2 is in year 1 and teacher stopped me today to tell me how pleased she is with the effort he's making, as he now know most of his key words! Also thank you for the efforts you make at home, which are basicially reading to him/with him everyday for 5 mins daily & 15 mins homework at the weekend.

Sounds ludicrous to me, but presumably you knew about the homework demands when you chose the school?

I'd be more concerned about the ongoing pressure on you and your child, than the snotty note TBH. Was STILL really written like that?

actually, not sure how that would make you feel better - what I wanted to say was they are being a bit excessive and that seems far too much to expect !