Is thing a reasonable Y8 homework

[LynetteScavo]

DDs English homework is to find out what a sonnet is.

Surely the teacher would explain what a sonnet is, and then set something g around that?

DD wants me to explain it to her...I don't feel I have the vocabulary to explain it to her while watching Britain's Got Talent so she said "I'll just search it up on the internet".

She now thrust her homework diary in my face.

"Write down what a Shakespearean sonnet consists of"

She'll understand far better and retain the knowledge if she finds out for herself (the internet is fine for that)
Why don't you think it's suitable?

Tell her the homework is hers, not yours, and you know what one is.

What a strange post. Are you actually a teacher with knowledge of current pedagogical practice? Ever heard of independent learning? Or flipped learning? I expect the teacher will be using their responses in the next lesson as a discussion point, not just getting them to do the work at home so he/she can go on FB during the lesson.

Year 8 not age 8?

I don't want to drip feed....DD is very dyslexic, but has somehow managed to get herself into the top set for English in her small Comprehensive school. She won't understand what she reads in Google as much as if if were explained verbally.

Sorry, maybe that's my issue.

Ah. Ok. That makes a bit more sense now. Sounds odd, but are there any you tube tutorials about it? Maybe seeing someone present it might help.

I'm going to send her round to relatives tomorrow who will demonstrate to her what a sonnet is.

Thank heavens for ad' breaks so I can focus on RL

It's a very typical high school homework. The teacher will probably explain everything to ensure complete understanding once the homework is completed.

Ds is in year 8.
He had bizarre geography homework last week.
It was all about Banksy's Dismaland.
Basically they had to design their own version and draw the map with all the attractions.
Ds thought it was brilliant - a chance to be as sick and un-politically correct as possible.

When you ‘tell’ students something, they really don’t retain that knowledge (which is why you shouldn’t tell her either) as well as finding out for themselves. The teacher’s role will be to guide them on what to find out, then get them to show their understanding with tailored activities and discussion. This is called flipped learning and a perfectly valid form of teaching and learning, as has been said.

The teacher is NU and neither are you for not wanting to do your DD’s homework for her.
She needs to develop the skill of research and writing concise notes, rather than just wanting to be spoon fed all the time.

@aleC4 I am actually crying with laugh at that homework !

@LynetteScavo he took it to his dad's who has a really sick sense of humour.
The stuff he came back with I would have been worried about handing in - references to Brexit, Syrians and gun crime.
Apparently the teacher loved it.
Truly truly weird!

There are lots of resources on BBC bitesize KS3 as they are made for school purposes... DD3 had a similar homework and she found it alright by using that website.

X post with your recent posts that you hadn’t written when I posted.

If she has dyslexia, then I highly recommend that she watches a video on what a sonnet is instead.

I highly recommend this TED TALK for her - these help consolidate knowledge for many of my Dyslexic students.

ed.ted.com/on/bF7DjThq#review

Surely helping your DD with her homework (not doing it for her) is far more important than BGT. That is ones of the reason why its done at home. Bit at outsourcing your DD education to unwilling relatives just so you can watch crap TV.

Ah, kitty, that makes sense...although I do think my DC have perfected copy and paste and change it a bit skills because of such homework.

I momentarily forgot Granny is an Ex English teacher who will demonstrate a sonnet at the drop of a hat. Crazy Shakespeare. Living aunts is visiting too, so there maybe some theatrics. DD wii understand what a sonnet is by Monday morning..but BGT is really amazing right now...

"I will remember this audition for the rest of my life" says Simon Cowell.....crap TV can be gripping
It takes a village to raise a child...Granny can help with this weeks English homework.

@KittyVonCatsington Thank you so much for that link! You're a

This is the kind of thing DD2 also y8 would get for homework.
I would help her find something appropriate, and then bore her with 'Shall I compare thee to a summers day etc etc etc'

Saves the English department having to mark anything.

Ah, kitty, that makes sense...although I do think my DC have perfected copy and paste and change it a bit skills because of such homework.

Which is why I never accept typed up homework, only handwritten (unless their support plan specifically says to), to help ensure at least they are reading what they find!

It's a poem of 14 lines. The final 2 lines usually rhyme with each other. They're often about love. Shakespeare wrote them a lot. Boom. Homework done by an English teacher (who happens to think your child's English teacher's homework sounds just fine...)

@KittyVonCatsington hand written homework...genius! Why doesn't every teacher insist on that? 

@ManicStreetTeacher Boom indeed! I just read that out to DD. She said she will type that out in the morning. She will remember what I said, but her typos might make it illegible.

I won't deprive a Granny of her impromptu English lesson tomorrow, don't worry!

Why doesn't every teacher insist on that?

Probably because of the effort to try and read the handwriting

Seriously though, I prefer it and have found it better prepares them for public exams in my subject. I love tech and use it widely but find handwritten homework helps with literacy for many pupils. Depending on the form of your DD’s dyslexia, I find it can help to consolidate thoughts.