How much homework does your 1st grader have?

My girls are in 1st grade this year and have IMO alot of homework Mon - Thurs. We have reading a story in there reader and discussing it. Study power words(3). Write your 10 spelling words 3x each. Then math, which is a worksheet for one and writing the numbers 1 - 25 for the other. I consider this to be an overload frankly. After 6.5 to 7 hours of school a day for 6 and 7 year olds I feel that is enough. Plus they have site words they need to know. They are also expected to know there color and number words. They have stated they will read to your kids the 1st sememster only. after that the kids must do it.

Am I alone in feeling this is an intrusion, an overload? As adults we get a break in the workplace more than our kids do. Is it any wonder that kids kids today are considered hyper. When is there time to be kids supposed to be? Sorry to be on my soapbox. I just think that they want alot out of kids that are still very young.

I am going to clarify that I am not trying to put any teachers or anyone else down. I feel the need to clarify this as lately alot of posts are turning into something negative.

 

For first grade, that sounds like a lot.

I agree with the reading every night, but I think you can tailor the rest of the homework to your children. Homework can turn into pointless busy-work if they're doing stuff they already know how to do. If they write the spelling words correctly on Monday, I wouldn't have them do it again until Thursday as a refresher (assuming the test is on Friday, and assuming they don't need handwriting practice). And if they are capable of printing the numbers 1-25, I see no point in making them do it every day!

Jackson got a ton of busy-work last year, in 3rd grade, and it led to a ridiculous amount of homework -- mostly worksheets. I changed the homework rules to suit his needs and our time, making sure his assignments were done on time and he always read 30 minutes a night. But the other stuff (flashcards, spelling words, etc.) we did on an as-needed basis only.

 

When my two were in first grade, they had a very, very simple math sheet a few nights per week, ten minutes of reading per night, and then the spelling list from h-e-double-toothpicks: 110 words each week, including 20 "-tion" words that included words like "interruption", "corroboration", "irritation", "inundation", etc. A friend who teaches in the older grades told me that the kids actually weren't supposed to be tested on the difficult words -- they were just for practice in sounding stuff out -- but the kids' teacher insisted on it. Needless to say, it was quite time consuming mastering all of the words each week.

The kids had less homework in second through fourth grades. Now that they're in fifth, they still have only one easy math sheet, a spelling list (a dozen words now, different words for each child in the class), and twenty-five minutes of reading each night. I assume they'll have a few essays and projects as well, but that remains to be seen.

 

My boys just finished their second week of first grade and have yet to be assigned any homework.

Their homework assignments begin this upcoming week and include:

1) drawing a farm and labeling five things in your picture
2) writing their first and last name three times neatly
3) making a card or a picture for a firefighter (on 9/11)
4) teaching your family something you've learned about your class animal

They also are beginning sight words work, some math worksheets and some other writing examples, but I don't have those listed in front of me.

I'll let you know as the year progresses if I think it's too much or too little; right now it certainly hasn't been intrusive at all and I know my guys are anxious to start homework.

 

We only started 1st grade this week, but I am hoping we don't get that much!

So far my kids brought home a worksheet for this weekend that talks about a book they read this week. They need to fill out the worksheet with a little paragraph about what their name means and how they got it. This seems kind of over my kids heads, but we will see.

I know starting next week they will bring home a new book every night that we are supposed to read a few times before returing the next day, we are supposed to read 20 minutes each night (I will combine those two together) and then I am assuming they will be bringing other stuff home as well.

I agree homework in the lower elementary levels is just plain ridiculous after being in school for seven hours!

 

Last year DD had a math worksheet every day, spelling work once a week that had to be turned in (we did it nightly though), a reading passage, learning her sight words, and reading her AR books. Yes I think the homework assigned to 6 and 7yos is crazy.

 

We're in a Montessori school, so no homework except suggesting that they read 1/2 hr. each night.

 

The homework I mentioned above is all for one day, every day but Fri. If they don't do this they are kept in at recess the following day to do it w/ the teacher. This happened to Emily. We did the 1- 25 but I guess she didn't turn it in. On her homework sheet it said she had done it at recess. i was mad! I sent the paper back saying it had been done at home. She sent it back saying no they had done it at recess. Hello! They may have done it at recess but it wasn't that one. I KNOW what the one we did looked like.! (Emily has a hard time w/ writing & it takes a long time for us to get her work done.) So now I am flipping the paper over and initialing & dating it on the bottom of the oposite side. This is my future proof, lol!


BGtwins97 that is incredible that they made 1st graders learn these words! Makes me feel silly for complaining. I just resentthat after 7 school hours they have all that homework. ASnd it makes me feel blackmailed into by if we don't do it they will stay in at recess to do it.


How do the Motessori schools work?

 

New teacher maybe?

We've been in school for seven weeks and my first graders have not had any homework. Each night they bring home two spelling words but they are so simple that we've never had to "study" them.

 

Wow, if Joel had that much homework, we would have been in trouble!

Last year, in first grade, Joel had reading from his reader, that he did at night before going to bed, and had to practice his spelling words with me. (10 words a week) We didn't have to hand in the practice, we just had to do it. After a few weeks, I realized I didn't have to practice, Joel always knew them. They practiced enough at school, that he go frustrated doing it at home. So all he really had was reading.

Every once in a while he had some worksheets that he didn't complete in class.

In my opinion, your 1st graders work load is a bit much!! Like I said, Joel would never have been able to do it.

Now in second grade he has one worksheet per day. Math one day, phonics another, Bible another, etc...

 

It is alot. The teacher hasd been there for years. Emily is having a really hard time w/ this workload. It took over 3 hours Wed. It makes me feel so frustrated. E was placed in first grade conditionally. I am thinking of requesting her back to k-5 but I know it would hurt her feelings. Her twin sister & cousin are in 1st grade too. E is already telling me Kierstan is smarter than me. :cray:

 

QUOTE(Kathlene @ Sep 8 2007, 05:49 PM) [snapback]399018[/snapback]
How do the Motessori schools work?


Montessori has very little homework for two reasons. The first is the belief that the kids work hard enough in school that they need a break at home. The second is the philosophy that their time at home should be spent doing family-related things so they learn how to be good, contributing members of the family....

 

While it does sound like a bit much, is it taking both girls that long to do the homework or just Emily? If is is just Emily, I would talk to the teacher about modifications, since it was a question about whether or not she was ready to go on in the first place. If both are taking that long, then it is a different issue. I remember when my niece was in K or 1st, she never had homework, and my brother was talking to the parent of another kid in the same class, and that parent was complaining about the ton of homework her child had. It turned out that what wasn't finished in school was sent home, so my neice was easily able to finish--hence no homework, and the other child was struggling, which was why they had a large amout.

My point is to talk to the teacher, it may be that they aren't getting the work done in class, which is why so much is coming home. Also, I don't know if they are together or not, but if Emily is feeling "less smart" and they are in the same class, you may want to look at separating them, so they don't have the constant comparison.

 

QUOTE(sharongl @ Sep 9 2007, 01:02 PM) [snapback]399464[/snapback]
While it does sound like a bit much, is it taking both girls that long to do the homework or just Emily? If is is just Emily, I would talk to the teacher about modifications, since it was a question about whether or not she was ready to go on in the first place. If both are taking that long, then it is a different issue. I remember when my niece was in K or 1st, she never had homework, and my brother was talking to the parent of another kid in the same class, and that parent was complaining about the ton of homework her child had. It turned out that what wasn't finished in school was sent home, so my neice was easily able to finish--hence no homework, and the other child was struggling, which was why they had a large amout.

My point is to talk to the teacher, it may be that they aren't getting the work done in class, which is why so much is coming home. Also, I don't know if they are together or not, but if Emily is feeling "less smart" and they are in the same class, you may want to look at separating them, so they don't have the constant comparison.




Thanks all. Sharong they are in seperate classes. This homework is assigned Monday for the week. Kiersatn can do it alot faster but it still takes a little time. It does seem as if Kiersatn is smarter sometimes. Emily just has a harder time. She has a problem working alone. She doesn't send home un finished work . She puts a grade on it. She is supposed to be a really good teacher. I'm not saying she isn't but I don't like some of the things she has done. It honestly irked me when she sent home a paper the first week marked work on neatness -9 or somethinbg close to this.

I went to open house and made a point of saying Emily was placed in there conditionally and was receiving OT & ST till we lost our medicaide. The school wants her to be tested for ADD because then they can give her adidtional help. I will gert her tested but not interested in the meds, personally. (I don't feel she needs to be medicated and we personally disagree w/ it for her.) I am open to a Dr. changing my mind if necesary. However, I believe it to be a possible learning disability.


Anyone want to share how there child or shildren were diagnosed as LD?

 

That is a lot of homework for first grade. Does you county have a homework policy? Our does and it states how many minutes of homework a night each grade can have. First grade is 15 min. per night, of course this is for the average first grader so it could take a child shorter or longer to do it.

We just finished the second week of first grade last week and at most my DD has a book to read and a math sheet that took all of 5 min. to complete.

I would check and see if there are any kind of guidelines and if it does not improve definitely talk to the teacher, that is a lot of homework.

BTW-I used to teach first grade and would never have given that much homework in one night, that sounds like it is a weeks worth.

 

I can give you a ton of info about LD's. Also, please feel free to post your questions in our Educational Issues and Acheivements Forum and/or PM me with more questions.

Basically, in 1st grade, the characteristics of children of ADD and LD are very similar, and don't be surprised if they don't come up with an LD diagnosis at this time--here is why. In order to be classified a child has to have a significant difference between their IQ score and their academic achievement--and the difference generally comes out to a 2 grade level difference. So, since she is in 1st grade, in order to qualify, her academic level would have to be at a preschool or below level--so if she knows her letters/numbers/even a few basic sight words, she probably won't qualify--right now--especially since it is so early in the year. This is why most people won't even test for LD's before 2nd grade.

As for the testing process: they will administer an IQ test, academic testing, do a behavioral eval and interview you as part of the social eval--much of which you should have gone through when she initially qualified for speech and OT. Before they can start testing, they will call you in for a meeting to discuss what evaluations should be done--at this time you can also request OT and speech.

One other thing, ADD is a medical diagnosis--school testing can point the way to that, but a Dr. needs to give that diagnosis. In addition, an diagnosis of ADD doesn't automatically mean that child needs medication, but it does allow them to have adaptations and services which they wouldn't ordinarily get.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any questions.

 

QUOTE(Kathlene @ Sep 9 2007, 05:38 PM) [snapback]400072[/snapback]
Thanks all. Sharong they are in seperate classes. This homework is assigned Monday for the week. Kiersatn can do it alot faster but it still takes a little time. It does seem as if Kiersatn is smarter sometimes. Emily just has a harder time. She has a problem working alone. She doesn't send home un finished work . She puts a grade on it. She is supposed to be a really good teacher. I'm not saying she isn't but I don't like some of the things she has done. It honestly irked me when she sent home a paper the first week marked work on neatness -9 or somethinbg close to this.

I went to open house and made a point of saying Emily was placed in there conditionally and was receiving OT & ST till we lost our medicaide. The school wants her to be tested for ADD because then they can give her adidtional help. I will gert her tested but not interested in the meds, personally. (I don't feel she needs to be medicated and we personally disagree w/ it for her.) I am open to a Dr. changing my mind if necesary. However, I believe it to be a possible learning disability.
Anyone want to share how there child or shildren were diagnosed as LD?



I don't know if your DD's have always been seperated, but if you want a reason to get a different teacher, can you see if they will put them together? Most schools won't just change teachers because you ask them too, but in a case of seperated twins you might be able to convince them that they are having a hard time being seperated. I know bad to lie but this is your kid's education and you don't need her to start lacking confidence this young. Trust me I deal with it every day with DD. The simpliest worksheet (and I mean REALLY simple) can be drug out to an hours work because she doubts her work so much she refuses to do it. It sounds like both girls have the same homework at night, but how the teacher is during the day can make a very big difference in attitude about school.

 

You guys have given me some things to think about . The girls have always been seperated. I had no idea there was such a thing as a homework policy, honestly. Where can I found that info out at? It sounds like this amount of homework is not the normal thing in first grade.

 

I agree that it sounds like WAY too much homework. I'm sure she must drag it out just because of how much she has, I dont think ANY 6 y/o would sit that long and do their work well.

Abby and Lilly are in 1st and have a work sheet they come home with on monday (to be done mon-thurs) that has sight words, a couple short stories, word groups like -it or -ig words on it and writing practice, they are just finishing up the aphabet right now (we've been in since July 23). The teacher wants them to take 20 minutes a night doing this sheet and reading a book of their choice (if they finish the worksheet in under 20 min). They have a reading goal they must meet in each term also....so Abby and Lilly read their AR books from the school library that they are tested on after the worksheet. Right now it's a bit too easy for them. The hardest part are the AR books if they choose chalenging ones. They have September b-day's...I think this plays a big part. ( I hope I explained this ok!!! geezz!)

It may not be a bad idea to see about getting them in the same class as a pp said. My girls have been together pre-k - 1-st. I think we'll seperate them next year. BUT I really like how they have the same homework and will miss that when the time comes!!

 

I really have to disagree with putting them together. If one is already seeing herself as not as smart as her sister, seeing her sister breeze through the work at school and home can be devestating for her.

Good luck with the evals.

 

QUOTE(Kathlene @ Sep 10 2007, 01:45 PM) [snapback]401271[/snapback]
You guys have given me some things to think about . The girls have always been seperated. I had no idea there was such a thing as a homework policy, honestly. Where can I found that info out at? It sounds like this amount of homework is not the normal thing in first grade.



Every year our county passes out a school calendar to every child, the first day of school. In it is the school calendar with everyday off, early closing, conferences, etc. Also phone numbers of anyone that works for the BOE and EVERY school policy there is. Does your county do anything like this? If not you can try and check online at the county's website or call the BOE directly, or you could try calling the school as well, but just ask about the homework policy (I wouldn't say what teacher you have at this point, but I would try calling the BOE first).