Kids and homework!!!!! grrrrrrrr!!!

[Buddy-licious]

I need to vent!!!! Does anyone else get so upset with homework time with their kids? My son is in the 5th grade and he comes home with sooooooo much homework every night. Half of the stuff he brings home has not been covered in class; therefore, I have to teach it to him. I AM NOT A TEACHER!!!! If I would of wanted to be a teacher I would of majored in this in college!!!!! I do not mind helping him with his homework each night but when it interfers with after school actitivies, dinner, family time, play time, etc.... it drives me crazy. My son and I both become so frustrated and we both end up arguing. Tonight I had to physically remove myself from the situation for about 10 minutes....go outside and take a big breath. I do not know how to handle this. Talking to his teachers would not do any good....all the parents that had kids in the 5th grade last year warned me how tough it would be.

Normally, I am so excited for my son to get home from school each day but I am starting to dread it because I know we are going to have to do 2 hours our home work.

Can anyone else relate?

[BubblPopElectrc]

In defense of teachers:

Has it actually not been taught or did he himself not learn the material (meaning he didn't ask questions when he didn't understand, he wasn't paying attention as many students do, etc. )

I can't see many teachers not giving homework that they never covered, but I am sure there a few that don't.

Hope it gets better! Maybe there are some after school homework help that your soon could attend? Often there are and he could ask questions and learn one-on-one with someone.. often a teacher. Plus that would give you a break.

[marcerella02]

hi. as a teacher in training you might consider talking to your principal. Students should be given time to do each subject in class... and then at the end of the day whatever they didn't get done should be brought home. There are guidlines that arne't wrtiten but generally talked about around how much each grade should have. if this is honestly getting in the way of LIFE and is clearly causing issues between you and your son (it was the same for me and my mom!!!) i would take it up with the principal. and i would go int here saying.. look.. no issues with homeworking... an hour or so seems reasonable, and clearly if he spent time talking inc alss in stead of doing his hw.. he should have some.. no question, but tell her as his parent this is creating tension in your family and your son has no time for family, friends and extracirricular, which are honeslty the most important parts of his life. The principal has no choice but to side iwht you IF The amount of homework is ridiculous. Good luck.

[Bizzymammabee]

Originally Posted by Buddy-licious

I need to vent!!!! Does anyone else get so upset with homework time with their kids? My son is in the 5th grade and he comes home with sooooooo much homework every night. Half of the stuff he brings home has not been covered in class; therefore, I have to teach it to him. I AM NOT A TEACHER!!!! If I would of wanted to be a teacher I would of majored in this in college!!!!! I do not mind helping him with his homework each night but when it interfers with after school actitivies, dinner, family time, play time, etc.... it drives me crazy. My son and I both become so frustrated and we both end up arguing. Tonight I had to physically remove myself from the situation for about 10 minutes....go outside and take a big breath. I do not know how to handle this. Talking to his teachers would not do any good....all the parents that had kids in the 5th grade last year warned me how tough it would be.

Normally, I am so excited for my son to get home from school each day but I am starting to dread it because I know we are going to have to do 2 hours our home work.

Can anyone else relate?

It's been hard for everyone. My daughter is now in the 3rd and the other the 6th. Both are in honors class so the hw runs about 4 hours a night. It's ben a rough road for the teachers because of the way that the changed the curriculum. My girls get frustrated as hell sometimes because they have so much homework. I think hw should be no more than an hour. It's nuts that they spend so much time in school learning and applying then have to come home and do more work then like you said at times I have to sit and read the book to learn how to do something or another because it wasn't covered in class.

[Superstarkba]

I see that you are in charlotte, what school does he go to? PM me if you need to. I use to live in Charlotte, thats why I am asking.

[SevenGirl]

Originally Posted by Buddy-licious

I need to vent!!!! Does anyone else get so upset with homework time with their kids? My son is in the 5th grade and he comes home with sooooooo much homework every night. Half of the stuff he brings home has not been covered in class; therefore, I have to teach it to him. I AM NOT A TEACHER!!!! If I would of wanted to be a teacher I would of majored in this in college!!!!! I do not mind helping him with his homework each night but when it interfers with after school actitivies, dinner, family time, play time, etc.... it drives me crazy. My son and I both become so frustrated and we both end up arguing. Tonight I had to physically remove myself from the situation for about 10 minutes....go outside and take a big breath. I do not know how to handle this. Talking to his teachers would not do any good....all the parents that had kids in the 5th grade last year warned me how tough it would be.

Normally, I am so excited for my son to get home from school each day but I am starting to dread it because I know we are going to have to do 2 hours our home work.

Can anyone else relate?

Amen, sister. My daughter is in 5th grade and I am amazed at the amount of homework she has!! The worst part is that half the time I have no idea what the homework is about. My daughter brought home science homework and I think I learned about that in college! (I might be exaggerating a little, but seriously, this stuff is crazy!)

Sometimes I think schools forget that they are just kids. I can't imagine how you work in family time, after-school activities, church, dinner etc. What happened to just being a kid???? They are 10 years old!! I might understand it when they are older, but wow!!!!

I taught school (junior/senior high English before she was born) and I am amazed at how things have changed in the past 10 years. Major expectations on these kids. Maybe it is just her school (and your son's school), but she came home from school, ate a snack, started on homework and worked until dinner time. She ate and then studied a bit more, showered and is now getting ready for bed. Not much family time and I am totally bummed!

Glad you brought it up! A couple parents were talking about it last week and said it is just the way things are in a college prep school.

Thanks for letting me vent!

[fannie]

Yes. I can completely relate. Steven is in 6th this year. Last year, he was so stressed that he was having chest pains. Had to have 3 EKG's ran. Finally ended up that it was ulcers and ended up on meds for that.

This year.... I am homeschooling. School is done by noon and that's that. We have a family again. I'm also schooling Kaitlyn at home, she's in 3rd. Andrew is in 2nd and going to public school because he has a phenomenal teacher this year. He will be homeschooled starting next year.

If you need a shoulder or some help, holler at me. I have been in your shoes!

[chloeandj]

homework is terrible my kids are still young, in 1st and 3rd grades. I'm not looking forward to the future grades!
I finally pulled my kids out of karate because we just couldn't get everything done in a day on karate nights.
I'm told homework should take 30 minutes plus the reading time, BUT it often takes 2 hours. And trying to get them started ugh! I don't blame them though, who wants to go to school for 6 hours and come home and do 2 hours more. After homework, dinner, and baths, i feel like i haven't had any time to enjoy them before bedtime and they feel like they haven't had any time to just lounge around or have fun.

[Shelby&Seymour]

Kids need to have time to be kids! I agree. An hour... maybe an hour and a half at the max for homework.
But I also think that when kids are finished with their homework they should have some constructive fun..... like bike riding, tag with friends,shootin hoops, skateboarding, watching a GOOD tv show....... NOT sitting in front of a video game!!! .... and that is exactly what many kids do!!! I hate to say it, but I would rather see a kid working on homework and extra hour than wasting their time on video games. --- MY OPINION, so please don't throw rocks!!

[Amber_lv]

We can thank our president for all this (sorry) but he did sign the no child left behind thing and that is why there is so much pressure in school now. My son is in 2nd grade and this year so far the home work has been cake (new teacher and very young) but last year he would bring home a homework packet of about 7 pages of homework + a reading page that he had to read and then fill out the answers(in 1st grade) . They have to be able to read to leave kindergarden now to The thing that stresses me out is some of the sheets they send home are so dumb and they don't have instructions so if your child gets lost you don't know how to help them..Last year we did have homework that wasn't taught in class and when i asked the teacher she said because of the no child left behind they don't have the time to teach everything so but it has to be done they have tests on the stuff all the time. I have actually been there for one of his tests and it was very stressful for him they go so fast and even if they make a mistake and correct themselves they mark it wrong I know education is important but i feel like there is so much pressure now days that kids are going to get to frustrated and it will increase the drop out rate. I also have a 14 yr old Sister and her homework is ridiculous OMG i can't even believe the stuff she has to do... BTW we also have to read 30 min a night and you have to write down the book title and sign as well geeze!!

[Amber_lv]

Originally Posted by Shelby&Seymour

Kids need to have time to be kids! I agree. An hour... maybe an hour and a half at the max for homework.
But I also think that when kids are finished with their homework they should have some constructive fun..... like bike riding, tag with friends,shootin hoops, skateboarding, watching a GOOD tv show....... NOT sitting in front of a video game!!! .... and that is exactly what many kids do!!! I hate to say it, but I would rather see a kid working on homework and extra hour than wasting their time on video games. --- MY OPINION, so please don't throw rocks!!

I agree! But i have to say i bought my son a Vetch Vsmile gaming system (for younger kids) Adn it actually is a learning aid it teaches them sounds,colors,sentencing,grammer and alot more so some video games are great for kids!

[Superstarkba]

Originally Posted by Shelby&Seymour

Kids need to have time to be kids! I agree. An hour... maybe an hour and a half at the max for homework.
But I also think that when kids are finished with their homework they should have some constructive fun..... like bike riding, tag with friends,shootin hoops, skateboarding, watching a GOOD tv show....... NOT sitting in front of a video game!!! .... and that is exactly what many kids do!!! I hate to say it, but I would rather see a kid working on homework and extra hour than wasting their time on video games. --- MY OPINION, so please don't throw rocks!!

I agree. But there is the leap frog, that I would let my child play only because its learning. Thank goodness that I am finally our of school.

[Superstarkba]

I have a solution. Let your child once they get older do online school. You don't have any homework only normal school work, which is actually less than what you would do in a classroom!

[CollegeCutieUSF]

One of my coworkers is always saying how she has to spend so much time doing homework with her 5th grader. Last night she was up til 10 helping him write a report and at the end of every week he has 3-5 tests all on the same day! I don't remember the homework being that bad when I was a kid! lol.

[Buddy-licious]

I am so relieved that others can relate to my frustation. Not that I would wish this frustation on anyone!!!!
I cannot believe some of the things I read in the above post!!!!!! Fannie, your poor son having chest pains.....that is horrible!!!! Sounds like home schooling is working well for you.

Kids are in school all day they need some down time when they get home!!!!

In defense of my son, he is a great student. He is in honor classes and his teachers always compliment him on how well he pays attention in class. So I know that he does his best while in school. (his grades reflect this) I do not think it is fair to him to put him in some after school "study hall". I think that would only stress him out even more and seem like a punishment.

Our children are simply getting burned out when they have to work so hard at school then come home and work for hours!!! My son even has weekend homework!!!!

This is only the first few weeks of school.....I cannot imagine going through this entire year this way.

I feel so helpless. Talking to the teachers will not get us anywhere....they are only doing as they are instructed. I guess we could speak with the principals of our childrens schools.