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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

calling for an end to homework?

20 replies

cygnet · 10/02/2010 16:56

Hi ! I'm a complete newbie, so if this is the wrong forum, or format, please let me know!

I read this in our local evening paper here in Edinburgh, and it really struck a cord. I've got two at primary and two different sets of homework - and I can't be the only one! I wondered what other mums thought of this?

www.Mumsnet.com/s/C?a=304287a-1244606277

oh, it's the bit at the bottom, about homework, btw!

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Original poster

cygnet · 10/02/2010 16:57

Oh I am such dweeeeebbbbbbb!!!

this is the link edinburghnews.scotsman.com/susan-morrison/Susan-Morrison-Meeting-gobbledegook-really.6046723.jp

Sorries!

OP posts:

DorkTurnspit · 10/02/2010 17:03

Yup Homework sucks and if you both work you usually end up doing it a 7 o clock when your kids are past it. It should be banned but I don't think that will ever happen, the parents at our school keep complaining the kids don't get enough - weirdos.

GrimmaTheNome · 10/02/2010 17:09

I wouldn't ban it but I'd strictly limit it.

DorkTurnspit · 10/02/2010 17:12

I don't see the point in it at all reading is enough.

StewieGriffinsMom · 10/02/2010 17:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

probono · 10/02/2010 17:21

I agree completely. Six hours of school is enough up to ten years old and if it's not enough they are doing something wrong at school.

lovecheese · 10/02/2010 18:25

My DDs school does set homework but it does not interfere with after school/weekends/general family life; DD2 is in yr1, G&T grouping, and has spellings and reading; DD1 is in yr4 and has reading, spellings, an enjoyable numeracy and literacy task and an optional task each week; school has a policy of not setting homework over weekends or holidays and I really feel that it is well thought out and manageable and reinforces what they do at school, and I as a supportive parent like doing it with them.

lovecheese · 10/02/2010 18:27

p.s on the subject of ORT books, my DD2 loved them, I think she wants to marry chip shop or flipper or whatever his name is when she grows up...

MillyMollyMoo · 10/02/2010 18:49

and if it's not enough they are doing something wrong at school.

And there lies the problem, far too busy ticking ofstead boxes and dealing with behaviour that in our house was stamped out at 3 yrs.
Homework is needed to explain what the teacher didn't have time to.

LaurieFairyCake · 10/02/2010 18:54

I think homework is necessary as it prepares them for secondary. It's too much of a jump otherwise.

I am in favour of them having more in the way of half term projects rather than the odd ten minutes here or there. DD really got into the one she had on Spain in year six - probably spent about 15 hours on it at Easter.

ktee1 · 10/02/2010 18:55

I have mixed views on this. i think it's an essential tool to inform parents of the work that their child is doing in school, and can see how it enhances learning, but only where parents are dedicated enough to spend the time with their child to do it.

NikkiH · 11/02/2010 10:06

In my view homework should be kept to no more than half an hour of written work plus spellings / times tables to learn and reading.

DS2 at primary school gets set homework on a Friday for handing in on a Tuesday. It's normally two worksheets or tasks and practically always takes more than half an hour and he's in Year 3. Reading and spellings can be done during the week.

DS1 has already been through this school so I know the homework situation is only going to get worse for DS2 and will reach the stage when it will take over weekends again just as it did for DS1 when he was in Year 6.

Ironically DS1 gets less homework now at secondary school than he did in primary. At least that's how it seems but as it's normally set one day for handing in the following week it could just be that he can manage it better and it's not all having to be done at the weekend as it was with primary school.

It's homework during school holidays that really gets my goat though. Not unusual to have 4 or 5 pieces to do or maybe a substantial project which can take up a great chunk of the holidays and lead to stress from all concerned if you've planned to go away for the whole time. I don't take my kids away for holidays during term time so why should they have to do school work during our family time with them?

wordgirl · 11/02/2010 10:12

When I was at primary school there was no such thing as homework and it didn't seem to be a problem. When we moved to secondary school and got given homework it was novel and exciting (and therefore got done).

mazzystartled · 11/02/2010 10:14

DS is only in reception and I have been horrified by friends telling me their children at other schools often have three pieces of homework set per week.

One of the reasons we chose his school is that homework is only given to YR3 & above. From then given Mondays and Thursdays. This seems like an acceptable amount to me, although the proof of it will be what this homework actually consists of.

Lower years just have reading books sent home - DS reception teacher said to aim for 5 mins 5 times per week - we can manage that.

Strix · 11/02/2010 13:09

I would like more homework for my year 2 DD. The homework she gets takes about 15 minutes each week. Surely, she would be well servwed with a bit more challenge. And, as another poster said, homework is my window into what they are doing at school and that helps me drop these same topics into conversation over the weeknd and after work.

ampere · 11/02/2010 20:55

I am pro at least junior-school homework but with these provisos:

It is regular- home one day, back 'x' days later. Surely 'routine' is the name of the game?

It reflects and extends on what they DC is learning in school,

The point of it is outlined for a parent so if the end result is a grasp of mental length calculation you can adapt what's been 'asked' to make sure the DC understands

The school issues 'how we do maths these days' guidelines so as to avoid you confusing the DC

and finally: That the bloody stuff gets marked! If you're not going to mark it don't set it. At the DSs last primary eventually I gave up writing in the Y3 reading diary as it was obvious no one ever looked at it, for example! The teacher should ask the DCs to hand it in on that given day OR to supply a good excuse! Though this Primary is better, it's me who has to threaten pocket money deductions when Ds2's (8) h/w which was allegedly due in on Monday (and may have 'disturbed' Sunday to complete!) is still in his bag on Wednesday morning! DS1's Y6 teacher is much more on the ball which is as it should be for a DS who is eyeballing secondary.

Builde · 12/02/2010 16:55

Our school has just reviewed its homework policy in light of recent research and child/parent consultations.

It has decided to only set a shortish piece each week (from year 3) that is task based and easy to do (no complex projects that need lots of parental input and resources) and provide an in-school 'homework' club to allow children to do it at school.

Seems a good compromise between the evidence that homework is not beneficial to children but that parents want their children to some. (to keep them in touch with what their children are doing at school.)

I love our school - it does everything in a thought out way.

Builde · 12/02/2010 16:57

Oh, and no homework during holidays.

And it must be marked by the teachers.

joe999 · 12/02/2010 19:42

I don't have a proble with my year 2 DS being set homework. On a Friday he gets 1 sheet of maths and one sheet of English work to do, usually the work is an extension of what they have done during that week and I assume is to check that they have taken it in to the point they can do it on their own.

I quite enjoy this half an hour or so with him and like other mums have said it gives me a good idea of what they are doing in school - and how they are coping with the work.

DS is also given a holiday diary to complete during half term and other school holidays - not really homework as such, but does give them a chance to practice handwriting, which for my DS is no bad thing!

Both DS and DD also bring their reading books home with them every night and take them back the next day - either myself or DH will read with them at various points in the week, and always make a note of progress in the red reading diary, and the teacher does the same whenever they read in class.

Madsometimes · 12/02/2010 20:40

I agree with Builde that homework should be short tasks that dc can do without parental input. When my dc get a research on the internet task, my heart sinks. I do not want my children on google without me, so I have to sit with them, sifting through what is appropriate and what is not.

In the end they print out a sheet on the topic and copy it verbatim into their books. When I say why didn't you put the info into your own words, they deny copying it and say, "Look I changed at least three words, so it's my own work." I give up.

Luckily these research projects are fairly rare. Normally it is worksheets and spellings.

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