11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi

As OH was home early tonight, I got him to check DS's homework. The work had been done correctly but was rather sloppy and messy, OH had a go at DS and made him do it again. DS was already very tired and got all upset and tearful - you know how it goes! Anyway, silly question but does it matter that it's not all neat as long as it can be read and understood?

At a PTA meeting last week, the head was saying how much she disagreed with homework and that the main reason it's given is because parents ask for it. Along with another parent/teacher there, they agreed that it was a waste even at high school.

Having got DS through the 11+ we are now trying to get him to read more (he would rather be drawing - he is getting rather good though! ) - isn't this enough????

Plumx

I wouldn't worry about homework. I had an argument with DS2's teacher at his previous choir school because he was doing homework at 7:30 each night (aged 8 and sometimes up to 4 pieces of work) and expected it to be as good as class work!

As far as presentation goes, your DC will eventually get embarrassed about the state of his work and be neater or he will just always be sloppy and have poor handwriting. Given he is a good drawer I expect the former to happen - when he's 18 though!

Plum wrote: Having got DS through the 11+ we are now trying to get him to read more (he would rather be drawing - he is getting rather good though! ) - isn't this enough????
Plumx

Hi, if you'd said "he would rather be watching TV" I'd agree with the reading thing but I wouldn't beat yourself up about the reading if he's doing something like drawing - a fine use of his time.
I, too, deplore homework. I'd like it to be confined to reading over what was taught in class that day, maybe doing a few sums to show they've understood so far, reinforcement stuff not just pioneering.

Milla wrote:...I'd like it to be confined to reading over what was taught in class that day, maybe doing a few sums to show they've understood so far, reinforcement stuff not just pioneering.

I totally agree!

I always end up feeling like a tyrant when I make my two do homework. They only get homework on the weekend,but this is, in real terms the only time the have to themselves. Weekday evenings are taken up with karate,beaver and cub scouts and the gym or swimming,which we encourage because, unlike when myself and OH were young, they live in town,away from friends and can't just go off and play. All these activities seem to take so much time(especially if you include travel) that it seems unfair to ask them to do homework when they do have some free time and as for making it neat...

Teh homework I set depends on the subject, but usually using the skills/knowledge from teh lesson or collecting data/information for the next lesson. The latter is a bit of a lottery though, you can end up with some interesting material or nothing at all..

I sometimes give a game to play at home, though again that depends on how willing parents are to help.

Hi

Thanks for the replies - makes me feel better knowing there are others out there of the same opinion.

Milla - I have to confess that DS is usually watching TV whilst drawing! Having gone through the animal world he has now moved onto cars - I blame Jeremy Clarkson....

Plum

My DS is in yr 7 and gets 12 pieces of homework every week with each piece taking 20-30 minutes at least to complete. On top of this he has just come home tonight with a project for one subject which has to be minimum 100 pages long and with all pictures and diagrams hand-drawn. All this needs to be completed in 3 weeks He doesn't get home till 6pm every night and this on top of his regular prep has made him and me very unhappy bunnies.