Now when I was a child homework was something simple, at least while in primary school, like some easy sums, reading or some spellings that we had to learn by the end of the week. My sons school; however, has decided that it wants parents to make boardgames with their children, construct skeletons and do a whole range of projects for which, we are expected to supply all of the arts an craft items required out of our own pocket. Not to mention the time and effort. Which when you are faced with an 8 year old who would much rather be out with his friends or playing his Nintendo ds, is no easy task.
Our home has now become a battle ground each evening as I fight to keep my son focused on the massive task ahead, in order that it is ready and complete when it is handed in on Friday.
I do this because it is expected, but should it be. Shouldn't school be for school work and home be a place where kids can relax and unwind a little?
I know I loathed even the simple homework that was assigned to me as a kid. So I can relate to my son reluctance to partake of his far more complex homework.
That said, we have also had some fun with some of the project and it has helped Kye and I to spend a little more time together than we perhaps would, now that he is older and hanging out with mum is not cool.
So there are I think good and bad sides to this new kind of homework, but I was wondering what your take was on homework?
Do you think it's a good or a bad thing and why?
Maybe your children do something different for their homework and if so what?
I'd love to hear from you.
Love and hugs Joss xx
My son will start kindergarten next year, and I've heard they give out homework starting then. It's crazy. Maybe 30 or 40 minutes of homework in an evening is fine, but kids need to just have some fun. Between dinner, homework, and after school / evening activities, do kids really have time for playing?
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids but I remember my sister talking about this when my nephew was in school. It seemed the parents were expected to do as much homework as the kids and the assignments took all evening. I can't understand this as to me it seems obvious that kids need time to relax and have fun in the evening after a day at school.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, I'm guilty of giving homeworks because I believe kids need it. However, kids need to play and stretch and so, homework has to be given in moderation. It would definitely miss the point if homeworks stress out the kids and parents alike. Especially with younger kids, I usually give them a holiday from homework if they did very well in school.
ReplyDeleteWe've been home schoolers most our lives. I put the two youngest in public school for a year while I have a baby. Figured that might keep me sane. Might. But anyhow, I've been blown away by the amount of homework the kids are bringing home, and the fact that they were required to basically supply the class with all the pencils, paper and crafting supplies that the classroom needs... I'm rather appalled. The government collects enough taxes to pay for those supplies. They just need to cut down on some of the "administrative" positions.
ReplyDeleteAs far as time spent doing work, when we home school, we finish an entire school day in 2 to 4 hours, so I don't know what's wrong with public schools. They really should be able to cram everything into 7 hours.
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I don't have kids. I do have nephews, deices, and godkids. (And though they are all grown now, had lots of younger cousins too.)
ReplyDeleteThat being said- I think homework sets a bad example. It gears the mind up to accept bringing work home. Then adults, having been raised in that mind set, bring work home. Results in less family time, less bonding with nature and learning the values that keep societies together. Less time for lessons from Grandpa on how to track animals, and more time spent on how to carry a fraction when a word problem asks about splitting candy on a train traveling to Denver. We are losing skills that humans had since the dawn of civilization.
No, I don't think making a craft project every week is going to help in the long run.
On the other hand... those are cute rabbits.
Can't really comment much on homework because I don't have any kids of primary school age in my circle of acquaintances, but I struggle to see how the new system teaches kids anything. :-/
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