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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

Reception homework

74 replies

sweetie66 · 09/01/2009 13:57

Hi I need some help regarding what is an acceptable level of homework. DD started reception on Tuesday. Wednesday she came home with a list of letters and words she has learn to read and write. They are I, A, We, Up, For, And. Now we have just been given the list nothing else. I am not sure exactly how I am supposed to help her learn these and don't want to teach her to form the letters the wrong way. Also going straight into words seems a bit advanced to me as she doesn't know her alphabet yet. She was in the school nursery but the teacher there told us they only really begin to recognise letters and they don't do it properly until reception. I have a book which I am using to help me BUT do you think it is a bit much for a 4yr old? Also should I approach the teacher and discuss this with her? I don't want to seem PFB on DD first week!

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seeker · 09/01/2009 14:01

If this is not some sort of misunderstanding, it's outrageous and completely ridiculous. Go and talk to the teacher.

NoBiggy · 09/01/2009 14:01

Easiest thing, when you drop off in the morning, just ask the teacher what she wants you to do with the words.

We're still forming letters here, making a few words from a small selection and reading them back, and DD's been at school since Sept (think the letters started coming home in November).

frogs · 09/01/2009 14:37

Reception? Homework? Sorry, brain will not compute.

Dd2 is in Reception, just turned 5. As it happens she can read pretty fluently already, but I'd be v. unhappy if she was getting anything more than a weekly reading book.

In her reception class they do Projects. And Outings. They build 3-D maps in the playground and learn to make compost. They go on trips to the local petshop and to the park. They do learn letters and do writing, but it certainly doesn't take centre stage, nor should it imo.

imaginaryfriend · 09/01/2009 22:49

Dd had no homework in Reception, just a reading book or two each week. She was sent home with some little cards with first letters and sounds on to practise but not to write or learn to spell. She started with basic letter sounds s a t p n then the most basic blends such as is in it.

weblette · 10/01/2009 12:19

Ds2 also started reception on Tuesday. He might get a book home to look at in the next couple of weeks, he'll eventually get some key words to recognise, certainly not to spell or write.

A talk with the teacher would certainly seem in order.

muppetgirl · 10/01/2009 12:27

we got a book 3 x's a week for last term

yesterday they added words that they would like ds to read and write (ds can read them but writing he hates)
In the 'look, cover, write check' way

He has
and, up, I, a and the

His letter formation is very dodgy so I think this is a little 'running before you can walk'

next week he has another 5 words.

CorrieDale · 10/01/2009 12:30

I think it's bloody outrageous and this was the reason that I haven't applied to our local school. The reception children there get homework every single night. I felt sick, literally, when I heard that. My friend, whose daughter is at this school, says that they have time for tea, homework, bath and bed during the week. What kind of a life is that for a 4/5 year old????? When do they get to play??? I get so angry thinking of these children's lost playtimes, just so that the school can get an outstanding from ofsted. Too bloody high a price is being paid IMO.

Seona1973 · 10/01/2009 15:06

dd (5 and started primary 1 in August which is the same as your reception year) gets a few words to write, a book to read and a word box with words to practice. She didnt get the writing to start with but got 3 words a week to practice saying at home (words they had done in class) she now has 39 words in the box - the writing started towards the end of last year after they had had a bit of time to practice writing them in class - she has a specific booklet to write them in. She gets homework Monday to Thursday and tbh it takes all of 10 minutes to do if I can get her to do it as soon as she gets home from school. DS (2) gets his paper and pencils out too and does his 'homework' at the same time.

coppertop · 10/01/2009 15:21

When ds2 was in Reception last year the only things he brought home were his reading books and a little booklet with phonics sounds for him to practise.

They did some spellings at school but there were never any words sent home for him to learn.

franch · 10/01/2009 15:31

DD1 started reception in Sept. She has brought a book home (chosen by her) for us to read to her every day since the start, then after a few weeks she started bringing home very simple books (starting with one word per page, with a picture opposite, and gradually progressing to basic stories) for her to read to us, twice a week. That's it.

Many schools, DD1's included, have a 'curriculum evening', 'phonics evening' or whatever, early in the 1st term, where everything's explained to you (ie what teaching methods they use and how to help at home). You definitely need some guidance and I think it's very reasonable to ask.

madwomanintheattic · 10/01/2009 15:48

seona - dd1 did P1 in scotland and hers was very similar. word box with nes words to learn every week, adding in all of the yr r words etc as the term progressed. we realy enjoyed it and used to put them all face down on the table and turn them over, read them and post them into the tin, and see how fast we could do it. dd1 loved it!
dd1 then moved to england for yr 1 (was disgusted that she went from p1 to yr1 lol) and tbh i was actually really dismayed at the english system. i guess it depends where you start lol!
ds1 and dd2 both went to yr r in england (dd2 in sept, so now) and mostly just get the whole reading book homework, but dd2 has now been promised spellings, which she is ecstatic at the thought of. they also do education city numeracy and literacy, but not in the first term.
Is it a double intake at the school or is your dd the only one to have joined at this point for another reason? it does sound a bit odd that they haven't assessed her to see which/ if any letters she knows etc before they start reading and writing homework lol. It may be that she accidentally got the list in her book bag that was meant for some of the sept start children? they are usually grouped to ability etc... unless she astounded them with her knowledge on the first day and they have included her in a group already lol! either that or they are a bit harsh on the jan starters and expect them to catch up fast, which i doubt tbh...
i would just smile sweetly at the teacher and ask - i think there is normally a homework book which describes, or it will have been explained at a yr r parents meeting etc... which i'm guessing you haven't had...

madwomanintheattic · 10/01/2009 15:49

might have to go back and learn mine again lol, looking at all those typos...

NAB3lovelychildren · 10/01/2009 16:00

Homework in Reception is just wrong.

Reading books fine once they start putting letters together.

My DD is in year one and doesn't have homework yet.

madwomanintheattic · 10/01/2009 16:09

NAB, come and tell dd2 that - she wails if she doesn't get homework like the other two. it was bad enough explaining to her that she couldn't get a reading book on her first day. this term we've had 'i haven't got spellings. why haven't i got spellings? mrs x said i'd have spellings in jan. where are my spellings?it's jan and i haven't got spellings.' repeat ad infinitum.

NAB3lovelychildren · 10/01/2009 16:13

you give her things to do then

madwomanintheattic · 10/01/2009 16:22

i knew i was going wrong somewhere...

she's playing chess at the mo lol

christmasDECOration · 10/01/2009 19:18

my ds started in reception on tuesday and we have had homework every night.

tuesday - a reading book and sheet to practice writing S

wednesday - new reading book, sheet to practice writing A and 8 sight words to learn to read

thursday - new reading book again, sheet to practice writing P and the same 8 sight words

friday - he didn't go in cos he was too knackered

my next door neighbour has a dd in yr 1 she says they have reading, handwriting practice, spellings every night and maths home work twice a week

poor ds is so tired he can't function bless him

AnneOfAvonlea · 10/01/2009 19:52

My DD started in Spetember.
She now gets a library book once a week for us to read to her.
An ORT book 2-3 times a week for her to read to us each day.
Keywords to practice when we can.
A book each Friday to practice to write the letter over the weekend.

NuttyTaff · 10/01/2009 20:06

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NuttyTaff · 10/01/2009 20:10

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kyrasmummy · 10/01/2009 21:39

My DD started in September and got picture books till after the October half term.
Now she brings home a ORT book twice a week, 3 phonics on a Friday, story sack for over the weekend and has just recently bought her first key words home.
I only read with her on school nights as she is sooo tired as her tea and is ready for bed by 6pm, we do the rest at the weekend but if she doesn't want to do it, i don't make her, she's 4.5.

Clary · 10/01/2009 22:41

That seems quite astonishing. She's only just started school? What's going on then?

Some of our FS2 children in the class I help in (they have all been there since Sept as well) are barely at the mark making stage and can't even write their name - and they are almost 5 too.

I would deffo ask the teacher but it seems a bit much in the first week.

Even a list of words to read is a bit soon isn't it?

Clary · 10/01/2009 22:42

To clarify: I don't mean what's going on that she's only just started school, I mean what's going on that she's getting homework after being at school a few days.

Original poster

sweetie66 · 12/01/2009 13:20

HI Everyone. Thanks for your responses. It seems that I am right in thinking this is a bit too advanced and a bit to much straight away. We generally don't get to see the teachers as we have to leave her at the playground and then teacher leads them. Think I need to make an appointment to discuss it. I think what annoys me most is it has been given with no proper explaination of how to "teach it" I haven't done letters for about 35yrs and also DD is left handed and I am right so she does it completely different to me. We have been doing book work as DD calls it so she can write her name but never thought we would go straight in to words like this. NuttyTaff she also bought home a book with no words and I admit I was completely stumped as to how to read it to her. Not very good at making up stories so felt it was a bit of a waste. She much prefers to sit and look at the book while I read a story. Christmasdecoration my DD was exhausted too! She kept saying she was tired and I kept having to say to her she had to do this. Felt awful. By Friday she could hardly keep her eyes open. I am so glad I have asked for your opinions and I am right to feel this is too much

OP posts:

frogs · 12/01/2009 13:26

Not just is it too much, but I'm a bit about the fact that the school have not had a meeting for new reception parents outlining what's expected and how you can support your child. DD2's reception class even held open mornings where parents could go in and spend the morning shadowing their kids to see hwat they do all day! They've also had at least 3 meetings explaining how the phonics system works, how they teach kids to read and the optional homework packs (Firm Foundations, it's quite a funky new system that you can choose to get involved in if you want to).

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