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Secondary education

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Original poster

Harry Potter homework??

44 replies

typoqueen · 09/10/2018 13:42

DD's year 7 english teacher has set 4 weeks worth of homework, make a Harry Potter quiz, a game, lesson and a 2 page alternative ending to one of the books, problem is she has never read any of the books or watched a film (Harry Potter has been something she has never shown interest in reading or watching), should i explain this to the teacher and ask for alternative homework?

OP posts:
cheminotte · 09/10/2018 13:43

Aren’t they reading it in class?

ProfessorMoody · 09/10/2018 13:45

Then she needs to read? It's a simple concept.

Are you going to helicopter if she has to write an article about the destruction of the Amazon rainforests but hasn't been there?

PristineCondition · 09/10/2018 13:45

She could read or watch the movies, that would solve the problem

Original poster
typoqueen · 09/10/2018 13:46

They read 1 chapter 2 weeks ago in class but nothing since then x

OP posts:
AlevelConfusion · 09/10/2018 13:46

Er get her to read it or at least watch the first film.

SoupDragon · 09/10/2018 13:48

The first book is pretty short so I would encourage her to read that.

It seems odd to make this the homework without reading at least one of the books being part of it though.

JeanPagett · 09/10/2018 13:49

I would raise it with the teacher. It sounds like he/she is assuming all the kids have read the series rather than expecting them to go off and read seven books, which would be a pretty unreasonable amount of homework.

It doesn't seem like it would be hard to adapt for your DC to do the same work for any other reasonably well known children's book.

JohnnyKarate · 09/10/2018 13:50

Just get her to read the book. She has plenty of years ahead of books she wouldn’t normally read being set as work for English lessons.

Bluesanatomy · 09/10/2018 13:53

I wish I had Harry Potter homework when I was in school.
The first book is only short - get her to read it.

Doobydoobeedoo · 09/10/2018 13:54

I wouldn't ask for alternative homework.

Borrow a copy of the first book from the library for her and she can do the tasks based on that.

Not having read the later books may even be something of an advantage when it comes to writing the alternative ending. She won't know what comes next so won't feel as constrained as others might.

ProfessorMoody · 09/10/2018 13:57

Why pm earth would they have to read all seven?? The first one is fine.

They'll be set other books to do homework about too. That's the whole point of English Lit lessons. You can't just "see the teacher" because she hasn't read something.

The entitlement is unbelievable.

Original poster
typoqueen · 09/10/2018 13:58

Well obviously i know she will now have to read the book, but was just asking if i should inform the teacher she has not read one as yet and with only 3 days notice to complete H/W

OP posts:
ProfessorMoody · 09/10/2018 14:00

No. This is secondary school - the teacher doesn't need to know about something so trivial.

halcyondays · 09/10/2018 14:03

It seems strange to set homework on a book unless it's one they've read in class.

cheminotte · 09/10/2018 14:04

This sounds very similar to DS’s homework and is pretty flexible.
Eg for the quiz she can choose some ‘facts’ from the first 3 chapters and base it on that:
Harry Potters aunt and uncle are called Jack and June - True or False?

She does need to get on and read it though, you could also get her the audio book - it was our first free one on audible.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 09/10/2018 14:04

with only 3 days notice to complete H/W

I'm confused you said in you first post it was 4 weeks worth of homework and now she has to do it in only 3 days? I really wouldn't bother the teacher, she is 11 years old surely she doesn't need to even concern you with this problem let alone her teacher. At 11 she is old enough to realise she needs to watch one of the films or read one of the books. It is after all her homework tasks not yours.

The homework sounds perfectly reasonable for Yr7 as regardless of your daughters lack of interest in Harry Potter 99% of the year will have read at least the first few books or watched at least some of the films.

combatbarbie · 09/10/2018 14:04

3 days notice.... sod that! I would be telling the teacher tbh. If the homework has been set on assumption that everyone in class has read or seen the film's then that's ridiculous.

My opinion would have been different if it was the book they were studying now but to have read one chapter....not a chance.... unless she's she's supposed to be reading it at home?

Original poster
typoqueen · 09/10/2018 14:05

thank you at last someone who gets my point.

OP posts:
crrrzy · 09/10/2018 14:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

Original poster
typoqueen · 09/10/2018 14:08

Headsdown, i printed off the 4 weeks homework that was sent through TODAY first one has to be handed in on FRIDAY and the next 3 fridays

OP posts:
ProfessorMoody · 09/10/2018 14:08

You said 4 weeks of homework Confused

JeanPagett · 09/10/2018 14:08

It really does sound to me like the teacher is assuming prior knowledge of the series.

I don't think they intend your DD to have to read a book in three days on top of homework from other subjects.

Is it really ridiculously entitled to double check that? It sounds like the exact same homework could be done for literally any book the teacher is familiar with, so it's not like you'd be asking for some huge accommodation.

ProfessorMoody · 09/10/2018 14:09

Right, so only one part has to be done by Friday. Perfectly possible. Please don't bother the teacher - how ridiculous.

JeanPagett · 09/10/2018 14:10

Plus the first HP book is hardly Shakespeare, it's not like your daughter will be missing out on a vital element of her English education by not reading it.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 09/10/2018 14:11

So she has to do one part in the next 3 days, get the film and watch it tonight its 2hrs 40mins. Then tomorrow night she can write a quiz based on the film. It is not going to take her longer than 20minutes to write a quiz. I honestly don't see why this is such a hardship?

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