Homework on Week-ends?
 

My step-son is in the sixth grade and his first year in middle school. Obviously there was a massive increase in homework (as opposed to elementary school) but what KILLS me, is that he has homework on the week-ends. I'm not anti-homework by any means, but this week-end thing really bothers me. Can't kids have some sort of a break? And not only that, *I* resent having to stop whatever plans we have so he can do homework. I've not expressed this to my step-son at all, God knows he doesn't need me to make homework a negative thing. I was just curious if Ledgie parents in other areas (I live in The South-NC- where the schools are at the bottom of the list) are experiencing the same thing, and how do you feel about it?

How much weekend homework is he given, generally? Is it something that can be done all on Sunday evening, or is it so much that he ends up spending half the weekend working on it?

Well, he's the type of kid to do it all in one sitting (and it's ALWAYS on Sunday night), but I would say anywhere between 1-2 hours, depending on the subject matter.

1-2 hours total? Or 1-2 hours per subject?

1-2 hours total doesn't seem like that a big a deal to me. I think I had about that by the time I got to 6th-7th-8th grade. 1-2 hours per subject seems like a hell of a lot to saddle a kid with on the weekend, though.

But a decent amount of weekend homework can be a good way to teach kids time managament.

Yeah, that sounds about right for his grade. Pretty normal. On top of the weekend homework assignments, most likely he will have one or two 'big' projects this year to do (science, etc) that will take several hours on the weekend, maybe two weekends in a row.

The nice thing is at least teachers usually give the kids tests on Fridays so they don't have to worry about them all weekend.

Kids do get a break, its called summer vacation. LOL. I think most people, if given a choice would much rather spend an extra hour or two at work on the weekend (any 1-2 hour slot they choose!!) and get mid- June to Sept off to do whatever they want! Whooo hoo-- we would be a very happy society!

Hang tough mom, the workload will only increase every year.

my good friend had a son in NC schools, and he had homework starting in kindergarten....he's just in 2nd grade now...the amount of reading was huge, and the teachers chastised my friend if she couldn't get it done with him every night....i remember having a TON of homework for my accelerated classes all throughout school...finally, in 11th grade, I was allowed to give up the crazy ENGL class....it was hours of homework....I hated it so much! I think the schools are giving more homework now, and earlier. I feel so bad for parents who work full time...it's like you're in school all over again, too.

Sigh- I know you're right. I guess the week-ends are so about decompressing for me. But when you put it that way, it totally makes sense and I will explain it to him like that the next time he complains. :)

When he first started in middle school, it was a nightmare. The homework usually took 3 hours a night. But once he adjusted to everything, we got it down to about an hour or so. I was so excited this week-end because I was actually able to help him with his math! Somehow I have a feeling that won't last very long. :rolleyes:

Homework takes some adjusting for everyone. The frustration level can get quite intense (for both the child and the parent)...just remember, children are an investment and the time and energy you put into this child will pay off ten fold down the road. You are responsible for forming his positive attitude toward work and teaching him to relish accomplishments. Keep your head high, be strong for him and you will raise wonderful, successful young man.

I always did my homework Friday night. It only took a couple hours of my time. Then it would be done for the weekend. I still had time on Friday nights to go to the football and dance.


....and it's ten times worse in college!

Wow. I never even got homework on Friday nights. Monday through Thursday, that was it. Then I went to college...

My daughter had homework in Kindergarten. It was only one page a night, though. She's in first grade this year, and I think her teacher is brilliant about the homework situation. On Monday, the spelling homework assignment is given for the week. So, you can do it all Monday night, or, you can spread it out, and turn it in on Friday. Also, math homework is given at the beginning of the month, and is due at the beginning of the next month. There is a minimum of what needs to be done. So, she does one spelling assignment and two math assignments nightly. It works beautifully.

Now that's how you teach kids time management! Sounds like a wonderful teacher.

that is awesome! i was always such a procrastinator, that I was trying to shove everything into 1 or 2 nights...this teacher really knows about time management...for the kids and the parents!

He really is awesome! I just love 'em. And, it's not just time management. It's also about organization, and being responsible for your stuff. It's hard to keep all these math pages together for a month! I wound up buying a folder, and she hangs it up on the fridge so she can keep track of it better.

That's great! I'm (pleasantly) surprised that the teacher is a "he," though! The lower the grade, the more likely it seems to be that almost all the teachers are women.

Actually, at my K-8 Catholic school, the only male faculty member while I was there was the PE coach.

I think there's actually a move at present to get more men teaching lower grades. My friend's kindergrarten teacher was male (but really bizarre).

I was thrilled, just so she can have daily interaction with a male. (her father's deceaced...) Plus, he's about my age, and very nice to look at! :eek:

... I'm hot for teacher!!!! :D

My son's daycare (Pre-K) is closing, so we're checking other centers in the area, with Pre-K curriculums. One that we're visiting this week gives a worksheet for homework M-Thurs. On Thursdays, they're given a "show & tell" project to bring in on Friday. I couldn't believe they start with the homework this early!

Here in MA? :eek: Lucky! Although, I really never did my homework. Shocking ain't it? ;) College sure was a "fun" adjustment. :lol:

If I got a vote it would be for 15 min more homework the rest of the week and give it a rest over the weekend. Sheesh.

I get soooo much homework on the weekends. :mad: It really pisses me off.

In Middle School (Grades 6-8) the work was actually unbearable for the first couple of months. They really do slam you with HW, Tests, and projects. I couldn't believe the huge adjustment I had to make. I am sorry to say it but 7th and 8th grade are a LOT worse. But High School seems to be better for my friends in Public School. They tell me they don't get a lot of HW and the tests are easier. Me being at a Private School doesn't help. The work load stayed the same for me...

That might seem "better" to you right now, but that sounds unfortunately typical to me.

Oh, it will help. Just give it a couple of years.

You will benefit from this when you go to college, assuming you're going. You won't have the adjustment that most people have to the increased workload. My ex's younger brother did swell his freshman year in college for this reason. :thumbsup:

Having just graduated from college myself, I really think that all this homework will help my son adjust when *he* goes. It's just the week-end thing that grates on me. I'm going to start enforcing (heh) getting started on it Fridays after school. That way he can have the rest of the week-end to relax and chill.

I usually did mine during the week, didnt end up having much on the weekends. Back in the "Old days" that is...:laugh:

Explain the first comment?


im hoping it does!

Thats a sigh of relief!!!

I hope I don't have to take math in college! :lol:

I want to major in english and get a minor in education.

I just meant that while right now it might seem to you that your friends have it "better" because they have easy tests and little homework, you're going to be much better off when it comes to succeeding in college and afterwards, and that the state of their public school seems unfortunately typical because a lot of US public school are going down the crapper these days.

Try and get as much math out of the way in high school, then! Take whatever AP math classes you can and do well on the AP tests. Many colleges that have basic math requirements will let you waive them if you did really well on AP tests.

AP math gimme a break. I am in CP Algebra 2. The lowest math level in the junior year (CP, Acc, Honors, AP). I am terrible at math. If I have to take it in college I will but I am really geared towards English. IMO your brain is either one or the other.. Good at History and English bad at math...JMO.

Sorry that you're struggling! Depending on what college you go to, you may very well have to take some math, unfortunately. A lot of universities these days have some variation of "distribution requirements." That is, they require students who plan to major in one of the liberal arts to take at least one or two lower-level classes in most or all of the major disciplines. (And you can often waive these requirements with AP scores.) Things might be different if you go to a smaller liberal arts college or something, though.

Well... no.

LOL

Yeah, I will figure it out. Hopefully when I go to college I can g et into a low level math class.

I like that system from the sounds of it.

Frankly I think the better the teacher, the less homework they give. I'm not saying that giving kids less homework makes them better teachers, but to me it signifies how much the teacher is willing to be responsible for the student's learning within the actual class time...using that time effectively.

I think that homework should be largley remedial work for struggling kids, as well as just general revision a'la the time-flexible plan mentioned by Sara above.