Monday 7 October 2013

Should Primary School homework be banned?


I’ve often heard mums say that they don’t believe that young children in their first few years of school should have any homework at all.  I’ve also heard how having homework really helps the children by reinforcing classroom learning.  To be honest, until very recently it’s never actually affected me enough to have an opinion either way.
My eldest son is now in year 1 (average age 6-7) and we are really starting to struggle to find the time to do all his homework.  I use the royal ‘we’ when referring to his homework, because at his age it really does involve me too.  He is not quite old enough yet to be left to his own devices to just ‘get on with it’.
Across the week he is expected to read a ‘home reader’ book every night, learn 20 spelling words for a test on Friday, complete two math’s tasks and an online ‘reading egg’ task.  It’s not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things and he is very good at doing it once we actually get down to the task in hand.  However, the problem that I am finding is the right time to do his homework.  After a full day at school he just wants to get out of his uniform and head out to play.  Trying to get him to do homework at this time is hopeless as his concentration level is zero – and to be honest I don’t blame him.   After he’s burnt off some steam and had a good play, we’re then heading straight into my favourite time of day……the dinner time, bath time chaos – or the witching hour as I prefer to call it.
This is an even worse time for homework as I now have three children who are tired, cranky and HUNGRY!!!  I need to get dinner on the table quickly and get them all ready for our evening routine.  I just don’t have the time to give him the one on one attention he needs from me at this time of the day.  Leaving it too late in the evening can be just as disastrous as he is now exhausted and those concentration levels are no better.
Some days we get it right and we manage a good bite size chunk of the weeks work, but all too often it often ends up in a huge battle between him and I, which I’m pretty sure is not good for anyone.
So I guess my question is ‘when is a good time to do homework at this age and how much is too much?’  I completely agree that homework really does help reinforce all that they have been learning at school, but at such a young age, after a full day of school, is it just a bit too much to fit into their day – every day?
I would love to know how you feel about all the homework that has snuck its way into your daily routine.  Are you for or against it? Or is there some kind of compromise that I’m missing?

(This articlewritten by me, was originally seen on the Parenting Files)











You can also follow Mrs D plus 3 on facebook - twitter - instagram - Pinterest

12 comments:

  1. I haven't got to this stage yet but have wondered how I will find the time to do it with my kids. I remember when I was in grade one we just had to read a book each night. Are we getting bogged down with too much learning. I'm looking forward to hearing what other parents think. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am interested to hear what other parents think and how they fit it in. I will be at that stage in a couple of years time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's all ahead of me Robyn. I can't imagine how I'll pin her down at the end of a day and manage to hold her concentration!

    ReplyDelete
  4. As a mum of three and a teacher, I hear you! I don't think anybody *likes* homework. As a mum, homework is a battle ground and time waster. As a teacher, it's tedious to set, collate and mark and I wish it were gone... except... homework really is so valuable. As a parent, I've come to realise just how valuable it is - it helps us keep in touch with what our kids are learning *and* lets us know how they are coping in class. It also gives kids a chance to self-evaluate: Have I got it? Do I need to ask for more help? Yay, me - I can do it myself! Why not let homework be special time for your eldest - maybe do it after the others have gone to bed, or early in the morning before school when he is 'fresh' and it is likely to take less time?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Homework is all behind me now. My kids are all at uni nowadays and I don't really get involved in their work, tho sometimes I proof read for them. I personally think homework is too much for at least Years 1, 2 and 3. They are still littlies and concentrating and sitting still all day at school is enough to ask of them. They're tired when they get home from school. They need to chill out, watch tv, run in the backyard, whatever it is they need to relax and just be kids. From about Year 4, I think maybe a little homework to help start them getting used to it. There is no escaping the fact that LOTS of homework is required in high school and like it or not, they need to be prepared and have a little system developed. I think years 4-6 - maybe 15 to 30 mins and by year 7 an hour of homework in preparation for high school. If they start high school with no homework in their past and no homework routine in place - they will struggle. Of course if there were no homework in high school, I'd say NO to homework at primary school at all. I'm no teacher but as a mother those are my thoughts! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. My girls are in Prep and Yr 1 this year and we have really struggled! They both need my help and attention while they do their homework and get very bored listening to each others readers etc. I feel that they need some time to run around outside and have afternoon tea when they get home - but if we leave it too late, it runs into dinner preparation time and so on. I haven't nailed a 'system' that works for our family yet - and we have many years of it ahead of us! I understand your concerns completely.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have six kids in school - 4 in high school of which 2 are 'finished' now apart from their HSC exams starting next week - and two littlies in primary school.

    I hate homework with a passion. Only one of my kids has ever done her homework no worries with no breakdowns. They all get home and just want to chillax and unwind from their day, and I completely get that. When I worked out of home all I wanted to do was chillax when I got home too!

    So I'm not a pusher of homework. If I can get them to do two days of homework a week, that's enough in my eyes. Childhood goes too fast, and I want them to enjoy the time they aren't at school by natural learning and being free to play.

    MC xo
    #teamIBOT

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm not sure if my comment worked! lol So I copied it just in case :)

    I have six kids in school - 4 in high school of which 2 are 'finished' now apart from their HSC exams starting next week - and two littlies in primary school.

    I hate homework with a passion. Only one of my kids has ever done her homework no worries with no breakdowns. They all get home and just want to chillax and unwind from their day, and I completely get that. When I worked out of home all I wanted to do was chillax when I got home too!

    So I'm not a pusher of homework. If I can get them to do two days of homework a week, that's enough in my eyes. Childhood goes too fast, and I want them to enjoy the time they aren't at school by natural learning and being free to play.

    MC xo
    #teamIBOT

    ReplyDelete
  9. I either do it as soon as she gets home from school, and after an Icy pole - OR in the morning when she is fresh and not as tired and cranky! But then again it's not easy when I have the two boys fighting and screaming - it's a lose/lose really right? xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don't mind homework, but I don't think we have as much as you. It's supposed to ben 10 minutes worth a day, which we would get.
    I let the kids chill out once home with TV, then kick them outside for half an hour. Then we do homework at 4:30 which gives me time to have dinner started just before five, and they are free agents after finishing their work. It works for us.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Not sure if my comment came through either?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Its so hard finding a quality search engine optimisation business at the moment, just going to do it myself I think
    You are now part of my reading list, keep up the
    good posts

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your comment. I LOVE hearing from you all and will do my best to reply xxx