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Homework vs. Family time
Andrijana January 13, 2010
GeeJay, I agree to some extent. Kids don't have too much control but, we as a parents have to be mature enough to put stop on futile efforts and pushings. Each one of us has his own limits though, it's nice to believe that we can do anything just if we set our minds to it...Yeah, sure... We can push to certain level and, if not careful, even break it (us or our kids). We have to control them but, in a same time to observe behavior and listen to them and just stop pushing when there is no results. Last school year I tried home schooling aproach. We did good but, difference was obvious. 3 different kids, 3 different ways of learning speed, expressing, absorbing things and even communicating with people and different reactions on a very same things they are exposed to but, both united in wish to go back to school. One still complaining about homework and, skipping it, all the time but, longing to stay there. It is social aspect, not learning one, that will make them willing to stay hour longer. And that is why they have so much to do at home. They don't cover it all in school and then they have to fill holes with homework. Reasons are different, from incompetent subs, disruptive classmates, SOL tests with 4 offered answers and 25% chance to get it right even if you are without idea what is it talking about, to simply different abilities of kids in class. But knowledge is lacking anyway. I am constantly compareing material that my nieces do in math (in EU) at the same age. It is FAR ahead of us. And they go in school from 7:45 A.M to 1:10 P.M (about 5 hr.)and have homework for almost all subjects ( including chemistry, physics, biology, history, geography, from their 5th grade) but, not always written homeworks but reading and reinforcing school lectures. No one even think about complaining about homework if there is plan to go to university or any serious college. But we have to set some real goals and personal priorities. I accepted fact that my kid will brig home Cs,Ds and even Fs and that it will be constant struggle to do any homework. I made peace with it. He may never be an phD. as I was figuring, as natural thing to happen but, maybe he will invent perpetum mobille in his garage one day or, just be good plumber or even below average plumber...LOL... as long as he is healthy, happy and does legal job - it is ok. It looks to me that, we often try to shape our kids according to our own expetations, visions and dreams and, not by what they really are. One lazy butt may actually be an rebelious mind, unrecognized exrordinary ability, autism, depression, many other things or,... just lazy butt... There is no prescription for balance. One size doesn't fit all. Teachers will be giving Fs for missed homeworks even to the brightest ones, you have to eat it and look at it as part of life... Albert Ainstein was failing math, Balzak proclaimed retarted for illegible writting, Edison almost trown out of school...LOL But, as I said, each one of us is different so,... you may see something better than I do and give me some insigts that I lack. It is good that place like this exist so we can discuss different views and think about them.34522
matys11960 January 13, 2010
Repetitive homework is given to test parents, not the children - don't we know that by now?34521
sutulat January 13, 2010
I encourage ALL parents to talk to their children's teachers if they have a problem with their children's homework. I am an educator. Teachers are not trying to hurt anyones family time. Most of us are parents too! We do not give homework just for the sake of giving homework so that we, in turn, have to take home the homework to grade and take away time from our own families! Teachers are here to work WITH the families to help make your children life-long learners and good responsible adults. There may be exceptions, but no teachers I know use homework as an academic grade. As I said before, I give homework as a review of skills taught in class and to teach responsibility. I don't enjoy using my limited number of copies available to copy homework packets or check it over on the weekends, just for the fun of it. As for the physical activity, again, check with your child's school or teacher. We as elementary teachers are required by law now to teach physical activity on the days that children do not have p.e. Yes, in addition to teaching reading, writing, math, science, social studies, health, responsibility, respect, social skills, etc., we also have to teach physical activity as well. I'm not complaining! I just want people to realize and respect the job we do as educators. So, my request to all of you, is get the facts and try talking to your teachers before making assumptions that may not be true. If the teacher is unable or unwilling to help you, go to the principal. You should always stand up for your children, but make sure you have all the facts! Children feed off of their parents' attitudes towards teachers and school, so be careful!
34520
pumpkin January 26, 2010
It is hard sometimes to balance homework and other activities; but we work it out. Sometimes my husband will work with the kids while I run errands; or sometimes we do it together. We each work with one of the children. It is good to have homework, I just wish my work day was shorter. It teaches them discipline as well as let them know everything is not fun and games. I have been guilty of not providing snacks before homework; as of today, that is in my past. They must have snack before to alleviate distractions.
52575
2MUCHHOMEWORK July 15, 2010
I'm so tired of the hours involved with doing homework! And not with just one child but two.I can understand a few problems or a chapter of a book,but when every subject comes home and then some useless constuction or creative writing project comes home my sense and senseabilties want to come unglued! Is it to much to ask the educated to get together and come up with a plan on what days certain subjects have homework or better yet use the 7 to 8 hours thier in school to get the job done.If my employer gave me an addtional 2-4 hours of work to take home and not get paid for it, well I'm sure most of us would have the same answer. And to all the Teachers who truley blessed because they can and actually show up everyday to teach stop putting up with the disruptions that cause the need to send homework because you ran out of time.And as for the pay,I would agree you don't get paid enough .In the same breath get together put a stop to the multiable districts that are overpaying administrators way too much for a whole lot of nothing and divvy up that money among teachers with performing classes.I want to have(what little time) with my children doing family things. not fussing so they get homework done! I might see them long enough to say goodnight and it starts all over again.
58205
conniemaks5 August 31, 2010
Adults who work outside of the home generally work 8 hours per day. Are we expected to go home and work another 2-3 hours? Why do we do expect children to learn all day and then go home and study for hours at night? Why do we do this to ourselves? It's crazy. Familes need time to play games and laugh, go outside in the fresh air, go visit grandma, do volunteer work, etc... I don't think any child should have more than 1 hour of homework unless they are having difficulties in a subject. I feel there should be a state homework policy which gives homework limits to teachers. I appreciate teachers and we all want our children to succeed, but there is more to life than homework! 60522
Chrissymc September 5, 2012
There is more to learning then just book work....My son Has no time for anything. From the time he gets home until bed time he is doing homework. We eat dinner while doing homework. He can never do the things he needs at home because, if homework is not finish he sits on the wall at school. Where do I get to be a mom if I.m just another teacher. How do I teach him how to be a fun loving parent for his own kids one day if it's all about homework....80449
Chrissymc September 5, 2012
And for you teachers who say " you also go home to grade papers and do Homework with your own family so we should just except it" HELLO you get out at 2 to 3pm try getting out at 5 or 6 like the rest of us and by the time you get the kids from daycare and get home make dinner bath the kids, clean the house and ect how much time do you think we have left. Then ask yourself what time do you crawl in bed? Let me guess 9 or 10 right? .......
WE ONLY WISH!!!!
Teachers do your job so we don't have to.....80450
Chrissymc September 5, 2012
And for you teachers who say " you also go home to grade papers and do Homework with your own family so we should just except it" HELLO you get out at 2 to 3pm try getting out at 5 or 6 like the rest of us and by the time you get the kids from daycare and get home make dinner bath the kids, clean the house and ect how much time do you think we have left. Then ask yourself what time do you crawl in bed? Let me guess 9 or 10 right? .......
WE ONLY WISH!!!!
Teachers do your job so we don't have to.....80451
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