Does this seem like alot of homework for yr 2 ?

[MrsMorgan]

In yr 1 and up until now, ds had 1 maths sheet and 1 literacy sheet a week plus 5 spellings.

He is struggling generally at school and so it was a battle to get him to do it, but I always make sure he does. 2 sheets can take over an hour though.

They have now changed the homework (in preperation for sats [hmm), and he has the following.

A sheet with 6 circles on, labelled Who, What, Where, When, Why, and I felt. He has to write key words in the circles on whatever the topic is (this week it is a party he has been to).

Next he has another sheet with the same headings on again, but this time in each box he has to write a sentence, using his ideas from the first sheet.

Then finally, he has to use all of the previous information to write a recount about a party he went to.

This is in addition to a maths sheet and a list of words he needs to be able to read and spell by the end of term.

I think this is way too much. Even if I split it up it is still going to take ages. Last week it took him over an hour to write 4 sentences.

Does anyone else have a child in yr 2 with this much homework ??

Whaaaat ?

It really sound like you would do well to start looking for a different school.

that's outrageous Mrs M. They're only 6 ffs.

At your meeting I think you need to agree a maximum length of time he should work on these sheets. The teacher can then differentiate what she would like him to do for homework within that time and review after a week or two when he has/has not completed it. It should be about building his confidence and sense of achievement by giving him tasks within his capability initially and gradually building up. Not sure of you saw my reply to another of your threads but perhaps setting an egg timer for shorter bursts of concentration/breaks may help him focus.

sounds like a lot to me

we get one worksheet per week (takes dd 5 minutes), one lot of easy spellings per fortnight (she likes me giving her spelling tests, so no problem), and reading books (no suggestions as to how much / how often, so I try to read 1/2 a book each day)

surely they need a bit of time to themselves to choose their own activities. Mine get home from school at 3:30, and have dinner at 6 (after dinner is baths, reading books, stories, bed) - its not really fair to fill all that time with homework at their age - especially if they also do some activities like rainbows, swimming etc. How do they fit in playing with friends or going to the park?

No, my DS2 is in yr 2 and has spellings each week and reading books to read (at his own pace).

That's all and that's fine imo.

(Homework is for the parents' benefit (ie they think the DC should get it) btw as a rule. Most teachers ime are less than keen)

Seems like there is a range of homework given.

DS1 is in year 1 and gets on a weekly basis:
-1 book a night to read out.
-10 spelling words + 6 dictation words + 3 sentances
-1 math bonds sheet
-2 math worksheets
-1 literacy worksheet

Seems like a bit, but he is able to do everything (except reading) in 1 evening (spending a max of 1 hour on it) + about 5 minutes 2 other days (usually just quizzing in the car on the way to school).

I do know that some of the younger boys do struggle, and they are not forced to complete all homework - just do what they can. In fact, many of the younger boys are exempt form the extra spelling words and dictation until the teacher feels they are ready.

I do know that homework will dramatically ramp up towards the end of the year (to get ready for 7+).

My 6 year old girl is in year 2 and gets, in a week recently,

-10 spellings
-1 sheet of written work to do, eg a
find some capital letters in some sentances or pick the right word to go in a sentance.

• Practice number bonds to 10 and 20
• learn times tables 2, 5 and 10
• learn analog and digital time
• learn 5 xmas songs for play.

!!!!

THe number bonds and times tables bits have been the same the last few weeks. They are ongoing. But she does not know them yet.

I THINK IT IS WAY TOO MUCH ! for 6 year old.
we cant get it all done.

She is a bright child -- learnt to speak early, v early comprehension of what adults say to her. Also I was quite academic and lots of DH's family went to Oxford ! But she is struggling and saying she is stupid because others can cope !

One mum has sppken to the head. But no change.

There is a huge difference between those who are older in the year, ie 7 already, or those who have older siblings,.... and the rest of them who are younger or dont have older siblings.

I feel maybe she is being used to make their sats look good but at the cost of her confidence.

Just out of curiosity, what does everyone feel the purpose of homework at this age is?

I kind of understand in my son's case. The school is trying to gear up boys to take the 7+ exam, and there is quite a bit of work to get through. Homework seems to be to reinforce the concepts discussed at school. If he wasn't aiming for the 7+/8+, not sure that I'd understand the extra work.

I just read the OP and think this amount of homework is ridiculous to the nth degree. Six to seven hours at school and then that?

Burn it, sorry, but burn it and read him a story. What a nightmare.

imo Sofa the purpose of hw at this age can only be to tick boxes/allow the parents to do what the teachers have failed to do/to put the child off homework and school for the foreseeable future.

Mrs Morgan, that sounds like far too much hw.
DD1 - in yr 2 has one sheet per week (and not every week) which takes about 15mins and spellings which we spend about 2 mins on plus the usual reading books

Sounds like the school are trying to get you to do their job for them!!

And having to miss goldentime to catch up ...ridiculous.

Dd2 gets spellings, reading book and one other task, which is usually a literacy or numeracy worksheet. Sometimes she has to write about something, but then will not get a worksheet.

I do recall that dd1's teacher went a bit worksheet crazy in Y2, but that was after the Easter holidays, not before Christmas.