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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

So how important is homework in Yr 5????

31 replies

drosophila · 22/02/2010 17:31

DS is scatty and hates homework. WOuld much prefer to play on Wii or watch TV. It is a constant battle to get him to do homework. I have to be on his case all the time. He is academically very bright but the teacher told me today and said it is becoming a real problem as he hasn't been doing much homework since Sept. The school has a relaxed attitude to homework and this is the first year that it has been consistently given although.

I am torn between thinking that homework is not essential and can turn off an otherwise able child and that it encourages discipline.

She wants to talk to us about it on Parents eve and I would welcome any thoughts advice.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

equisetum · 22/02/2010 17:34

homework is the spawn of the devil. Primary/secondary its all a pita and i loathe seeing it in the bag.

probono · 22/02/2010 17:38

Primary homework, don't bother with the battle. I would limit screen though and tell him to read a book for an hour.

Save the battle till Y7. Then ask his teachers to

a. praise the fact that he's handed in hw before they look at it (to separate the handing in from the standard)

b. put him in detention straight away if he doesn't, no second chances.

They probably won't do it but I think it's the only way myself.

BendyBob · 22/02/2010 17:42

Well in my heart I completely agree with every word of equisetum's post.

But I do get on at dc to do their homework (and they do it) because in the long run it makes life easier for them. Who needs the inevitable earache of being in constant trouble with the teacher? It just turns school into a battleground.

Sometimes though - like the time dd was landed a humungous project to plough through - I really have to question the wisdom of it.

Original poster

drosophila · 22/02/2010 17:53

Funny enough I have been really pushing reading.

My sister is a teacher and she always reckoned that homework was for the parents except reading which needed practice at home.

OP posts:

probono · 22/02/2010 18:38

I agree with her. Primary homework should be abandoned except for reading and a bit of times tables (but only extra to what's done in class. None of this "learn your 6x by Friday at home"). Reading is more important than anything.

Openbook · 22/02/2010 19:03

I'm with probono personally but if school is making an issue of it , it becomes a matter of cooperation with school. it is probably a school policy and beyond the choice of the individual teacher.If your son has been told it has to be done I think you need to support them and tell him that he must do as he has been told. If he still refuses he will have to take the consequences of whaever sanction school imposes. I wouldn't want it to be an issue between me and my offspring but would make it clear to son that I expected him to cooperate with school and agree with the sanctions they impose. Of course if they don't impose any sanctions I don't think it's up to you to be heavy about a policy you don't agree with.

Original poster

drosophila · 22/02/2010 20:04

I know he misses break time and is made to do the homework that has not been done.

OP posts:

Openbook · 23/02/2010 11:18

If you talk to him about the benefits of getting the damn stuff done but keep it between him and school and don't add your own punishments apart from serious disapproval of his refusal to obey the rules. School might want you to be more proactive (nagging, grounding, removal of privilages(sp?) but if you don't approve of / believe in homework , don't feel you have to go down that road creating problems between you and son.

Builde · 23/02/2010 12:31

Well, our primary has just done a review of its homework policy and gone through all the most recent research evidence. Apparently, homework achieves nothing, if anything it hinders independent learning. (We're talking primary age here).

So, it is going to reduce all homework to one bit a week that will be task based (no time consuming projects). It has kept homework because about 50% of parents like it (They surveyed the children and parents too).

So, if the school are relaxed, don't make him do it! However, if the school expect it to be done, you should probably do it (or ask the school to review their homework policy!)

EllieMental · 23/02/2010 12:37

I hate homework with a passion but then I have to physically sit and write it for my child as he can't so is very very time consuming.
Having said that, there is a lot of homework at 2ndary so I'd be using Yr5 as a chance to step up gear a bit otherwise it will be a massive shock to the system. Developing essential skills like time management and work planning...
Is there any scope for producing what the school wants in a slightly different format? eg doing a storyboard instead of just writing a report? Using mind maps, bullet points, or even animation? Just to sprk some interest and enthusiasm?

Openbook · 23/02/2010 13:09

I'm always sceptical of the idea of doing something early in order to prepare children for something that will be appropriate at a later age / stage. I think the home / school link is a very important aspect of homework but this can be achieved with reading at home which most people seem to be happy with.

FernieB · 23/02/2010 13:18

I agree with EllieMental (like the name). Hate the homework but do think it helps them to get into good habits for secondary school. I try to encourage mine to do homework the day it is set and to set aside 45 minutes each evening for work (they rarely use the full 45 minutes).

Fortunately, most of their homework is finishing up what was started in class, so it's usually a case of completing the last couple of questions at the end of the page!

probono · 23/02/2010 14:26

"I'm always sceptical of the idea of doing something early in order to prepare children for something that will be appropriate at a later age / stage."

That's such a good point.

I'm sick of hearing it, as if it was received wisdom. "Well he'll have to do homework in four years time so he should get used to it now."

What? Why? Where's the sense in that?

Primary hw for a recalcitrant child is hell for the parent: there aren't any real sanctions and it's usually boring and pointless and the children are usually tired. Result: they don't learn the importance of homework, they learn that it's horrible and, worse, optional. That when the parent insists and says "you must", it's meaningless because not much happens if you don't.

peanutbutterkid · 23/02/2010 14:46

Friend swears that her Yr6 child is getting way more (1-2hours per week more) homework than her Yr7 child (at secondary). Because the primary school is very bothered about SAT results, but the High School can take a relaxed approach.

LoveRoses · 23/02/2010 15:26

Personally, I think homework is important as it consolidates what the child is learning / has learnt at school and can also be used as a yardstick to test the child's level of understanding of particular areas/topics being covered at school.

E.g. if dc finds a particular section difficult, then I know that's an area I'll need to focus on by sitting with them to help work through it, etc..

As a child, I enjoyed doing my homework as soon as I got home from school but that was aeons ago .

Having said that, it does vary with each child. Ds in yr1 gets his homework every Friday to be handed in the following monday and boy, does he nag, nag, nag to get it done immediately he gets home from school...

On the other hand, ds in yr3 hardly ever brings in any hw because "Miss always forgets to set any" . Funnily he is on the top set of his class and is one of his teacher's favourites...

abride · 23/02/2010 15:37

Projects are the worst. I don't know who primary schools set them for. I can't see much educational benefit for the children. And we didn't need the school to find creative ways of filling out free time: we could do that ourselves via cooking, making things, etc.

Builde · 24/02/2010 10:13

"I'm always sceptical of the idea of doing something early in order to prepare children for something that will be appropriate at a later age / stage."

Completely agree...there is always a panic that if a child doesn't start young they will never start. But, this isn't an intelligent approach at all and ignore children's real needs and development.

It starts with sleep, (they must get used to getting to sleep on their own), then weaning, then preschool, then homework.

cory · 24/02/2010 10:20

I am not enamoured of homework in the early stages, but as you approach Yr 6 I think it is useful to get started, because secondary school is very much project based and you learn to organise your work (preferably without too much parental input).

My Yr 5 ds is very young for his age, but he knows he has to do it (or get detention) so he does it. Doesn't take him very long; it's the faffing around and whingeing that takes time.

I think dd would really have struggled with the projects in Yr 7 if she'd never had to make herself do homework before then.

abride · 24/02/2010 10:56

I don't understand the preoccupation with projects, which seem to require a lot of parental input. Some of them seem to be of limited academic benefit, too.

MathsMadMummy · 24/02/2010 11:11

My DD (2.8) is already asking to do homework! Probably because she sees my DSDs doing it when they're here (even though they both hate it; they're in yr7).

I'm quite pleased she's such a little geek if I can start her off with the idea that homework is FUN then hopefully we won't have problems. I always enjoyed homework even at A level, and it's certainly helped me now I'm doing an OU degree - I'd have no motivation if I didn't enjoy it.

I have a bit of a beef with the automatic assumption "it's school-related, therefore it's boring". I'm really lucky my parents passed on their positive attitude to learning.

Madsometimes · 24/02/2010 11:50

Slight hijack, but what course are you doing? I am doing MS221 and cannot bring myself to look at the books!

MathsMadMummy · 24/02/2010 12:20

I did MS221 last year (exam when DS 6 wks old). I really enjoyed it. I always find the start of a course a bit scary but once you get into it you'll feel better honest! Just take the first step and read the course guide/introductions or similar. I really liked the section on the Fibonacci sequence - brought back fond memories of my dad teaching me it

I'm doing M208 now, good so far as it's mostly revising MS221.

Did you do MST121? Block C will be a piece of cake if you have.

Madsometimes · 24/02/2010 12:34

Thanks MMM, yes I did MST121 last year. Block C you say... Hmm calculus!

Well nothing ventured, nothing gained! Well done you for doing your exam with a 6 week old baby. I'm very impressed with that, I thought I was doing well getting dressed when my lo's were that age!

Sorry OP, hijack over!

I also have a Y5 child, and she does not like doing homework either. I do not allow wii or ds during the week, only at weekends. Once my dc start computer games I cannot get them to switch them off, so the easiest thing is to have them in the first place.

I do allow TV when she comes in from school, but only because she is too tired to do anything else apart from zone out for an hour. She gets tea at about 5 pm, then homework. She can watch a little TV after homework time, and then it is bedtime, unless it is a brownies night. Normally homework time comprises of 80% complaining, plus 20% doing.

probono · 24/02/2010 12:41

i did mst 121 but got about mst 221

you are frightfully clevah I think

BendyBob · 24/02/2010 16:36

'I don't understand the preoccupation with projects, which seem to require a lot of parental input. Some of them seem to be of limited academic benefit, too.'

Gosh yes amen to that.

Dd had a huge project to do in yr5. I went and complained discussed it with the teacher who was immovable in that it all must be done.

Then I cottoned on to the unsaid truth of the matter. The parents do 90% it.

I hadn't figured it out because dd is my eldest and we hadn't been there before. It was the only way she could possibly hope to produce what was required.

So I 'helped' her and I'll probably do it again with my younger ones when they get to yr5. As long as the school have nice projects to 'display' all is well.

And when I looked at the rest of the classes work I knew without a doubt that all the parents had done the same too (a few even admitted as much to me).

Academically it achieve hardly a thing .

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