homework... how much is too much?

[Zoe Pearn]

Wow! I have been thinking exactly the same thing lately! Glad I'm not the only one!! Josh is in KINDER and has mountains of homework (sums, dictation sentences, phonics, sight words), plus two different home readers every night (so 8 books a week as he doesn't get them on Friday) and then a "news" project each week that he has to "research" on the internet. I seriously cannot remember doing the stuff that he's doing until so much later... I just think it's too much & completely takes the joy out of the first years of school IMO .

They expect them to know so much at such an early age - and it's horrible because he gets frustrated and thinks he's "stupid" if he struggles with things... He's SIX!! It shouldn't be like that at all - they're only babies

 

[Stacey42]

My kids are 4th & 5th graders. They have always had 20-30 minutes of reading homework, since 1st grade. Now they have to answer questions about what they read, whereas before they just read. They have weekly spelling and always have. 3rd grade seemed jam packed with homework for both but it has eased off now. The 5th grader has math homework most nights but only 5-10 minutes or so worth. They both randomly have science or social studies worksheets and projects.

It's a little tight Sept, Oct, April & May when they have football or baseball as they get off the bus at 4 and have 60 minutes to do homework and eat supper before leaving for practice on Tues & Thurs but they have a 30 minute bus ride and have formed a habit of working on their homework then. Plus they are often given time in class to it if they get their classwork done.

 

[nikkiARNGwife]

At Avery's old school homework was a nightmare...1st and 2nd grade he would have to write spelling words 5x each every night, 1-2 pages of math, full pages of handwriting and reading and phonics as well.

Thankfully now that he's in the public schools they don't send home as much...we read every night and Mondays and Tuesdays he has Math and Language and Thursdays usually science or SS but each assignment only takes between 10-15 minutes...plus we have to study 15-20 minutes each night for his weekly tests. No homework on Wednesdays except to read AR books and study if needed.

In all we don't spend over half an hour each night which is wonderful compared to the 1-3 hours it would take him at his old school.