Homework

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How do the rest of you manage homework with your little ones?

I have a 1st grader and a 2nd grader. The school policy is that the kids should be given a quiet place to sit and do their homework and parent should encourage them but not provide assistance or help. My 2nd grader is an exception to that rule because of his special needs but otherwise the school does not want parents to “do” homework with their kids. The thinking is that when the kids do homework on their own, it gives the teacher a better idea of how they are doing, how much they understand the coursework, when they may need extra help and if they may need more challenging work.

I dont quite agree with this approach. I think that by sitting down with each one individually and getting all the homework done, its a great opportunity for me and for my sons to learn together, to reinforce what they learned in school, to help if they need it, to know what they are working on so I can ask them appropriate questions etc.

I find it impossible anyway to adhere to school policy since it doesnt apply to my older son. He requires assistance…so I sit down for homework with him… my middle son of course would feel left out because he wouldnt get the same amount of attention as older son.

How do the rest of you handle homework?

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Re: Homework

MO3, excellent topic.

I have a kindergartener who gets a lot of homework for some reason! Every Thursday, she comes home with this fat package that has math, general science and activities and writing homework, enough for the entire week. Parents are expected to help at this level, and personally, I am all for helping out, be it the parents or siblings. You get a chance to observe the hurdles you kid may be having as well as recognize their strengths. Also, it develops closeness when working together.

But of course that doesn't mean the parents do their homework for them because that wouldn't really help them to learn and make mistakes. So there's a balance there.

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Yes...I agree Niksik. But then again, I cant bring myself to allow them to turn in work that is all incorrect. That would kind of foster sloppy and fast work I think. So what I've been doing is writing a sticky-note on papers that they had alot of trouble with. The teacher can see eraser marks and all but I clarify where the trouble is etc. I let them do their work, I point out something that we need to "look at...do you think this is the right answer?" and further discuss and correct.

When I was growing up, my parents always checked my homework and if it was wrong I had to go back and do it over. My way is pretty much the same...I dont give them the right answers but we can arrive at the right answers when we work together and I like this better than just plopping them in a quiet corner know what I mean? The school policy way I think would just foster laziness.

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Re: Homework

My 2nd grader's school requires a parent to sign the home work before its turned in. Even though she is pretty independent with homework, this gives the parents a chance to check it to see if its correct.

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I agree MO3, I think I would do the same.

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M03, is your question about how to manage the extra needs of the older one? Or to keep the middle one from feeling "left out"?

Desi sensitivity
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Re: Homework

I didnt have a specific question really, Sahar. Other than how do other parents handle homework. I think it works really nicely for me and for my boys when I sit with each one while homework is done. Our school policy is against this so I am wondering about the policies of other schools and how other parents handle homework time.

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Re: Homework

I sit down with my second grader while he does his home work. Sometimes, I will let him do it alone, check it and then point out mistakes (if any)and make him re do it or just check it in between while he's doing in. No way, will I let him turn in homework unchecked by me. Regarding, how will the teacher judge him (well, what are they doing while they are doing classwork during the 6 hours of school). Mama, parental involvement will mean little if we just sit as silent spectators while teh children do their homework. I make sure that I tell my son "why" and not just "how" when I explain him something and always encourage him to tell me how a ceratin question should be answered.

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I agree with you MO3 about the school policy.

Teacher can't give that much time to each child better than the parents. Parents can explain better.

Why don't you give different time to do homework that way you can help both other wouldn't feel left.

You have to train your kid to do their home work on their own. Once you train them then they will do themselves as school want.

In the bigining if you want you kid to be smart or smartest in the class or get picked up for extra genius schooling then you have to teach them yourself and more than the course of the school.

That way kid will love to read and love to go to school.

You can tell them that what or how to do and then let them do. Just let them try themselves and if they get stuck then you help.

Teach them ahead of class and achieve great result later.

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Re: Homework

We have a 1st Grader at home and all he gets is 20 min of book reading and a poem here and poem there. Mostly mom who take care of reading (because I have a home office and I work late night) but if she is unavailable for some reason (cooking, her own studies etc), I read books with him.

In addition to the little home work that he gets, I print him match and English worksheets from internet and he is always looking forward to those sheets. We also have kept aside free time for him when he can do whatever he want to and 90% of the time he choose to paint/draw things and we totally encourage him in that.

After every 3/4 months, we mail the copies of his report card and his own drawings to Dada/Dadi - Nana/Nani (Pakistan). On his last birthday beside his present, dada also mailed him a book that he got printed in Pakistan composed of my son's drawing .....and my son always keep it handy to show off :)

Wht r u doing ?
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Exactly. Doing homework for the kids is too bad for them.

MO3. Oh don't do this to teacher that is sending note. She might mind it. She is teacher she will know herself.

What you have to do as you help your kid you know where the hurdles are. Where your kids are wrong.

Teach him and explain him first. then ask him to do on other page then ask him to do that on the homework page. That way he will get practice.

Whatever is you doing is very wrong according to me.

What I would suggest buy Reader Rabbits games and let your kids play they will learn. In the begining you play with them and then let them play themselves.

Reader Rabbit cd's are so good for teaching kids.

What you have to do is find out their course from teacher and then you teach to your kid yourself ahead of teacher teaches that and if there will be anything which your kid won't pick up from you he will pick up from class.

Find out all the weaknesses in your kids work them on all (teach and explain) and then let them do themselves.

Flexible timing or late sittings
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Zabardast.

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Re: Homework

My bad I just read you don't need what to do with homework. I gave my gr8 advice without the need.

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No prob, Gr8...observations are always welcome!

You're right about giving each boy their own time, we already do that and it works well. They (kind of) look forward to homework time because its special time with mama.

About sending the note...i dont know. I've done it once or twice for each son and it always had really positive effect. The teachers send home "extra credit" homework for them to do, focusing on the trouble area. So we get lots of extra practice on topics that they have trouble with.

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Re: Homework

^ Masha Allah.

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Homework MAYHEM!!!!!