Comments on Girl's Gone Child: Less Homework, More

My daughter only had to read a book everynight las...

2009-11-18T16:29:31.223-08:00

My daughter only had to read a book everynight last year in pre-k. But this year in kindergarten, she has more. But she loves it, too. And i am going to let her continue to love it as long as she will. ha.

god it is a huge shame that we're pushing thes...

2009-11-18T12:59:21.372-08:00

god it is a huge shame that we're pushing these kids so young.
glad he loves homework.... now.
you see, he is only four!

at least you've documented this for future reference when he's refusing to do homework because he hates it and always has!

(i'm the dork who loved doing my phonics workbook in 3rd grade and got in trouble b/c i finished it way early)

Hey, just to give you a little "Amen" he...

2009-11-17T14:07:17.025-08:00

Hey, just to give you a little "Amen" here, my daughter is 3 and goes to preschool in Burbank. We went on vacation for a week and they sent her a packet of worksheets to do. I was like, "Whatever. You can do one if you want to. You're three. You don't have to worry about homework."
Now they send homework twice a week. I was about to rebel when little Blue Eyes looked at me and said, "Mommy! I got HOMEWORK today!" She was so excited about it and will do it as soon as she gets home because it is her favorite thing to do. I hope this lasts till she's in high school, but somehow I doubt it.

(And also, I'm a bit selfish, but when I get home at 7:00 pm, the last thing I want to do is watch her do home work. I want to play!)

I work in as an aide in a kindergarten class, and ...

2009-11-16T18:42:55.875-08:00

I work in as an aide in a kindergarten class, and we give the kids homework--about 15 minutes or so a day. FOr some kids, obviously, it goes a lot quicker, and for some it takes longer. HOnestly, some of the kids REALLY need the practice, or they will keep falling behind. Unfortunately, those are the ones that seem to have the parents who have different "philosophies" about homework. It's a shame, because it's hurting those kids in the long run, and it's only 15-20 minutes a day--time that would REALLY help!
I've never heard of homework in preschool though.
I will say that both my kids loved doing workbooks in preschool though--my mom bought some for us, which I planned to stick at the bottom of the coloring book stack, but the kids liked them, and got excited about doing the work. It made them feel competent, and grown-up. My daughter got tired of it pretty fast but my son (a first grader now) still loves doing homework of any kind--especially if it is something that older kids usually do.

I understand that hours of homework every day is excessive but I think 15 minutes a day is an achievable goal for any family, and it teaches the kids good study habits, which they'll need forever.

Wow, I totally had the same reaction when I starte...

2009-11-16T10:52:41.352-08:00

Wow, I totally had the same reaction when I started reading your post. Homework in preschool???

But reading about how much he likes it made me think a bit. As a teacher, I've read a lot of research that says children decide whether or not they are interested in school by they time they are in second grade. Now, I know you are sort of an anti-school person, and I certainly don't blame you (I still can't believe I decided to be a teacher) but fostering a love of learning and a love of school at such a young age is going to be important later on. Not because how well you do in school determines how well you do in life, but because how well you do in school gives you even more options for all the awesome things you could do later on. Basically I'm just saying it won't hurt, but of course it's a good idea to make sure he knows that you learn the really important stuff through life experiences, not just school, and of course I know you will teach him that.

Your kid is nuts ;D But honestly (and i wish i ha...

2009-11-16T07:35:07.468-08:00

Your kid is nuts ;D

But honestly (and i wish i had the links) schools are getting a LOT of flak for having homework that early, and many are trying to ban it. Turns out that the studies say that it actually does more HARM than good for most kids. Not to mention all the time it takes away from the things they should be doing at that developmental stage.

But obviously if Archer likes it, than it's not doing him any harm! I remember telling the teachers that homework was stupid & i could be doing more productive things in elementary school. Sure enough, i really didn't do any homework until college! haha..

I don't know. The point of homework is to rein...

2009-11-16T06:54:54.910-08:00

I don't know. The point of homework is to reinforce the things you learned while you were at school. I mean, it's one thing to do something in the classroom, with the teacher's supervision, but once you get home and you try it on your own, it's a whole different thing. That's how you get it to STICK.

That said, there's a difference between some quick practice to reinforce learning and BUSY WORK.

Our boys didn't and don't have homework in pre-school. Elias had very limited homework in Kindergarten. Now that he's in first grade, he has nightly homework mon-thurs, but it's pretty manageable. I would have been up in arms too, but I think it's pretty cool that Archer actually likes it! Embrace that as long as it lasts!!!

When I first saw what the topic of this entry was,...

2009-11-16T04:33:09.072-08:00

When I first saw what the topic of this entry was, I was going to comment that when I was little I LOVED homework. I used to finish mine in record time, and then stare longingly at my sister's pile as she worked her way through addition and cursive. I just used to feel so grown up. I love that he loves his special assignments! What a smartypants! Maybe someday he'll grow up to deliver babies too!

Don't worry, his love for homework will be a t...

2009-11-15T23:30:59.578-08:00

Don't worry, his love for homework will be a thing of the past by 4th grade.

That's when my kids started getting homework. They never had any before that. I hate it when my 6th grader has 8th grade Algebra homework. I'm clueless.

its great he likes it but I still think it sucks t...

2009-11-15T20:34:15.927-08:00

its great he likes it but I still think it sucks they give it to him??

Totally. I'm about as anti-homework as they co...

2009-11-15T20:00:23.336-08:00

Totally. I'm about as anti-homework as they come, trust me. I don't believe in it AT ALL. Especially in Elementary School (seriously, WTF?)

... We actually went out and bought a grip of "Homework Books" for Archer this weekend with worksheets and various homeworky things and he loves it. For now.

I would not be pleased if my 4 year old came home ...

2009-11-15T19:54:08.609-08:00

I would not be pleased if my 4 year old came home with homework, but it is great that Archer likes it! I work as a teacher, and I feel a lot of pressure from parents and administration to assign homework. I don't even think that a lot of it is necessary. The school day is long enough, after school should be all about playing! Also, just so you know it is super annoying to get asked for extra homework. You can find books at any bookstore that Archer can work through and they will have great pictures.

Don't get me started on the homework for littl...

2009-11-14T20:37:49.928-08:00

Don't get me started on the homework for little kids. It drives me insane! I don't even have a child in school yet, and she knows what it is. She's two and is all, "when I go to school I'll come home and have homework to do and books to read."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?

Grade one homework is fun for no one! We have to r...

2009-11-14T20:27:32.377-08:00

Grade one homework is fun for no one! We have to read the same book every night for a week, giving the kid more responsibility each night until Friday when they can either read it themselves or at least repeat it verbatim thanks to the mindless repitition. It would be OK if the books were real stories instead of "Feet" and "Hair"
My daughter reads the books to me on the first night and then writes things like:

Why can't I read book that's written properly? Why wouldn't you just say 'I wear socks to keep my feet warm.' instead of 'I wear socks. I keep my feet warm.' And who cares about feet anyway?"

In her reading journal.

There is a lot of whining at homework time in this house...from all of us.

"I want more homework," he sighed. "...

2009-11-14T18:22:54.788-08:00

"I want more homework," he sighed. "It's so fun."

^^Archer's so freakin' cute! Sigh. ;D You have an awesome little boy. ^o^

Good for Archer :) I do feel sorry for all those...

2009-11-14T18:16:51.069-08:00

Good for Archer :)

I do feel sorry for all those other kids and parents though. Plenty of time for homework when they are OLDER!

My daughter is four years old too and goes to scho...

2009-11-14T13:37:25.041-08:00

My daughter is four years old too and goes to school for just thirty minutes one day a week to get a therapy session. Anyway, she comes home with two worksheets to do for homework. I love doing it with her, but I'm hopeless. I loved school (once I got to college).

Oh my hell Emily!!! That is so funny! I so relat...

2009-11-14T08:16:15.249-08:00

Oh my hell Emily!!! That is so funny! I so relate to this subject! I am a free spirit sinner with an open mind and mouth. I seriously thought my kids would be in eternal detention. And they would have to say, "I learned it from watching my mom!"
Totally the opposite~straight A's, sweet, almost nerdy, and well mannered. I am thankfully perplexed by the outcome.
Regarding homework in pre-school: I think it seems wonderful that a young child can show interest and dedication, but we need to encourage them to be children.....they are this age ONCE. I have regrets for letting my proud momma come out in me, and not really acknowledging that my son might need me to take control of the situation.....tell him that he will have plenty of years to devour this stuff.....now, go play with your playdough and skateboard :)

Just a great read for a Saturday afternoon! Thank...

2009-11-14T07:33:11.376-08:00

Just a great read for a Saturday afternoon! Thanks.

Archer is a very neat kid with his own definate id...

2009-11-14T07:01:26.684-08:00

Archer is a very neat kid with his own definate ideas and opinions...now that he gets from you:) Having those opinions differf rom yours is what makes him unique right?
i introduce my son Wilson as a "moderate Republican" haha, who would be conservative were it not for his bohemian mother balancing him out. But now he's goingon 10 and i have to stop cause i don't want to influence him.

loves you becca.

Wooooooooow oh wow. Wow. I can't believe that ...

2009-11-14T06:28:16.027-08:00

Wooooooooow oh wow. Wow. I can't believe that A) they have SO much homework, and B) he loves it!

We're hoping/planning to unschool Jazz, but now..hmmm.

Preschoolers like homework; it makes them feel lik...

2009-11-14T06:14:03.576-08:00

Preschoolers like homework; it makes them feel like big kids in "real school." THey're still at the stage when homework is a novelty and it CAN be fun if it's done with the right approach.
My kids' early homework came in the form of mazes and puzzles and easy activities like counting all the doors and windows in their house and writing down the total. Back at school there would be a discussion of the different kinds of houses. It didn't take much time and the kids enjoyed it.
Later, when they started at a very good private day school, they were ready for more challenging homework. Some parents were lobbying for eliminating gym in order to have time for more math classes! Given that kind of environment it's good to have a kid who likes homework.

Rebecca, if you can, get your hands on a copy of a...

2009-11-14T01:52:46.969-08:00

Rebecca, if you can, get your hands on a copy of a movie called "The Rage in Placid Lake". Starring Ben Lee and Rose Byrne (it's an Aussie film).

After reading this post, I'm sure you'll totally relate!

Love what Lola sd! I agree, what are they doing A...

2009-11-13T22:06:03.569-08:00

Love what Lola sd! I agree, what are they doing AT SCHOOL? My 15 year old daughter has 3-4 hrs of homework a night. It's crazy. Love Archer's positive outlook! xoxo

That's...awesome? I mean, that's awesom...

2009-11-13T20:15:00.613-08:00
That's...awesome? I mean, that's awesome! He loves his homework, but...I still can't get over having homework in preschool. Isn't preschool about learning things like sitting in a circle on the floor and taking turns? Lower-case A is for first-graders!

So, yeah. Go, Archer!