Homework in Primary School

[weezypops]

Do you think it's right that kids get homework in primary school? How much should parents make sure they do it? Should they be allowed to skip a night if they've been busy etc?


Last year, in reception, Felix had reading every night, some Bug Club reading books once a week and a few bits now and then - some maths games, some words to learn etc but it wasn't very strictly enforced. This year (year 1/2) he seems to have a lot more - reading every night, he has to think of and write down words using certain digraphs on mon, tue, wed and thur, has 'words of the week' to learn and write on mondays, Bug Club on Wednesdays and Maths on Fridays. As well as this they're given occasional projects to do too.

I just feel like it's too much. We've always read at night, that's not a problem, but I feel like having to do this every night is a lot to ask of little ones. Some nights there just isn't time to do it, or he's busy doing other things. I mean, this week he had friends round on monday and wednesday, which I think is really important from a social aspect, then this afternoon he's been telling stories and creating treasure hunts - all good learning activities, yet he's still expected to do tonight's homework and really should catch up with yesterday's too.

I don't mind them getting some, but think they should be better about taking other things into account like after-school activities, fun learning things done at home etc. and that it shouldn't really be rigid until senior school. Felix doesn't mind doing it too much but does tend to rush through it to do something fun, and I can imagine that a lot of kids really hate it!

What do you think?

[nubs]

Jack has reading everyday spellings weekly plus maths and literacy homework twice a week - I do feel at times its a lot but sometimes its a struggle to get it all done but it'll help him in thE long run x

[Jenn]

We have reading - we can do it as and when - but everyday is good if you can.

Friday we get a maths worksheet. really easy tho and doesn't have to be returned

Friday we get spellings and tested the following Friday

Then as and when - maybe twice a week/once a week/3 times a week whatever - we get a sound sheet/sentence sheet which is just basically to look at with you child. Again you don't need to do anything just talk and nothing needs to be returned to school

They have a topic and we are encouraged to work on it as and when but not enforced

We will get holiday homework tho - like make a game for maths week, make a hat, shield, find out about your family etc - nothing hard or long tho

I think I read somewhere that key stage 1 is up to 90 mins at home a week. But I may have just made that up? Cannot think where I got that from? So 10 mins a day of reading and a little extra for spellings etc.

5/6 year olds should still be learning through making mud cakes, treasure hunts, cooking, gluing, play dough and den building

[Leanne&5children]

Alex has a reading book everyday, they like to have them read at least 3 times a week we do it every night, even if its 5 mins a night, he also has writing worksheets which we've been told to let do at their own pace, even if its just colouring the pictures this are right effort to get him to do

[rachel jane]

Ted has a reading book to read and it gets changed when its read which bad mummy me doesn't make him do it everynight so he changes his book twice a week. This week he had a maths sheet and 10 spellings and he had to make words up with sounds and some sentances. All pretty easy.
Connie has aspire tasks and she has a list of things to do each term and she has education city to do on the computer and a reading book.
Louise that is a ridiculous amount of homework although i did find that Ted had a lot last year.

[XxJack~AcexX]

I do think they get too much.
Jack in Recepetion was reading and spellings and maths games etc and Year 1 the load upped lots but in year 2 he gets lots. Different levels to some of his friends too. He always gets maths, and literacy weekly and reading every night.
I suppose its hard to say that they need to do it every night whats expected of him, but the odd time I think no he doesn't need to read again tonight then he doesn't. So yes he will have the odd break too. x

Bless him he has gone up a reading level. He is now 1 away from being a Free Reader x

[Schmushe]

I think you have to remember though that Felix is in a yr1 / yr2 class so he will be expected to do everything that a yr2 child would be. I know when Josh was in it a few years ago, he would come home with reading nightly, spellings weekly, plus maths and literacy homework, plus holiday homework and headteachers homework!
It really is amazing how much they expect kids to do these days and with after school, weekend clubs and musical instruments, there really isnt much time for kids to just be kids and play and socialise with others.

Alexa currently gets, reading nightly - weekly literacy and maths homework, plus holiday homework and headteachers homework once a term. I think that is sufficiant for her, especially with everything else she does - she often comes home and doesnt want to do anything cause shes worn out in the daytime.

Let kids be kids! They grow up so quickly!

[Gillybean]

the kids come home with reading every day which they don't always do it. Dill gets spelling and times tables plus a sheet of maths and a sheet of literacy. Abigail gets mini projects like designing a poster for number bonds, maths sheet and a literacy sheet too. nit a lot and usually Dill does most of his in the first evening