Comments on: Homework an Exercise in Futility

By: Janine

Janine — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 08:19:32 +0000

In reply to Kate @ My Dear Angel. I really believe less is more when it comes to homework. Your teacher sounds like a sensible woman.

By: Kate @ My Dear Angel

Kate @ My Dear Angel — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:26:44 +0000

Interesting read for me. With a Grade One child, I sometimes feel I am not doing enough, though I had asked the teacher how long I should spend and she said ‘we learn all day at school, just fifteen minutes is fine’. That is fine by me too. Otherwise there is no down time!

By: Janine

Janine — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:31:52 +0000

In reply to Lila. I agree it is so hard to enforce when you don't see it as having any benefit.

By: Janine

Janine — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:30:47 +0000

In reply to Allison Tait. I love the sound of your Primary School!!!!

By: Allison Tait

Allison Tait — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:21:54 +0000

I am thrilled to say that our primary school doesn’t believe in homework. We do a reader and that’s it. Mr9’s teacher decided they all needed to work on spelling and times tables and he has a five minute task to complete each night – which he does on his own. I am grateful. Thanks for rewinding.

By: Lila

Lila — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:16:09 +0000

I loathe homework, it’s just so futile. I hate the angst that it causes with my having to chase the teenagers to make sure they are up to date with something I don’t even agree with.

By: vixytwix

vixytwix — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:12:11 +0000

A really fantastic post Janine. Some great responses too. Thanks for the site links up there too ^^^!
I really hate homework, I am no good at it 😀

By: richard walker

richard walker — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:40:32 +0000

In reply to Noreen. Actually the latest German research indicates that more time spent on homework is associated with lower levels of achievement...google Ulrich Trautwein

By: Vicky Nikulin

Vicky Nikulin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:38:19 +0000

Hi – funny you should say that (all of the above). Similar conversations led to a bunch of (non-teacher) parents working at the NSW Department of Education and Communities creating http://www.schoolatoz.com.au. It’s specifically aimed at supporting parents of school-aged kids with everything from homework (maths and English facts sheets and glossaries, assignment starters, ‘how-to’ videos, etc) to information about your child’s health and well being. We also encourage other parents to tell us what’s missing – either through the website or on our Facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/schoolatoz (Sorry for shameless plug, but figure it’s pretty relevant and extremely useful).
VickyN @ School A to Z
P.S. There’s also a free app which is going gang busters with parents and kids: http://bit.ly/nXFCVx Among other things, it has a Spelling Bee game which lets you record your own spelling lists, along with hundreds of pre-loaded words from the Premier’s Spelling Bee ( Australian accents included!)

By: shambolicliving

shambolicliving — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:18:54 +0000

In reply to theresultsmayvary. You have no idea how much better that makes me feel. I too have a teaching degree (although aside from a few days casual teaching here and there I've never used it) and I sometimes struggle with what they want!