Lorraine
October 9. 2009 12:55

Eek, homework in Kindergarten...

This brings back bad memories: An uber-academic local Kindergarten was the catalyst for our decision to send our kids to a Waldorf school.

Later they moved to very challenging prep schools but then, as now, I made a point of never doing any of their homework--or even checking it or reminding them to stay on schedule.

My feeling is this: If you have to do your kids homework for them, or coerce them into doing it, you need to reconsider your school's curriculum or pedagogy.

Often age-inappropriate homework is the elephant in the room. And parents are afraid to mention it for fear their child will be considered less than brilliant.

Donna Chaffins
October 18. 2009 08:37

I wish I could take credit for it but Cody is an excellent reader.  He was reading (quite well) at three.  So he reads the questions and then if he doesn't understand something he will ask me what it means.  And he doesn't even want me in his room while he does it.  So he does his homework independently.  I look at it afterwards before we put it into his kids book for school the next day.  If I do see a mistake I'll ask him to look at it again and usually as soon as he looks at it again, he'll immediately see his error.

I do dread when he get in high school and I may not be abe to, easily, help him with his homework.  I had a friend tell me recently that her son, who is in the 7th grade, brought home math homework that her husband said he didn't do until he was in college.

Cindy Campbell
October 23. 2009 22:38

Homework has been an issue since Michael was in 1st grade!  I admit to overdoing their HW at times.  Michael is not very independent and Alex is very independent.  When they are really having a hard time, I definitely help, but when they haven't tried- i make them do as much as they can first.  My kids have writing issues so writing sentences is the worst chore in the world.  I tend to let a teacher know if the work is extreme, but I encourage them to do work.
At the kindergarten level, Amy, I wouldn't sweat it.  Most educators know that untill 3rd grade Homework is really just about a good learning habit and they should try to do their best.
The homework battle continues today with my 7th and 4th graders, but I usually can get away with not doing much anymore except on those rare days when work does not get done.  Although, 7th grade is pre-Algebra and my math expertise is definitely needed to help with this, as well as science occasionally for clarity.
All i can say is good luck and God bless you for even monitoring the homework as little or as much as you do.

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