Comments on: Homework in kindergarten, revisited http://www.parentingbytrialanderror.com/2009/11/02/homework-in-kindergarten-revisited/ flexibility in raising kids Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:02:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sarah E. Ludwig http://www.parentingbytrialanderror.com/2009/11/02/homework-in-kindergarten-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-3158 Sarah E. Ludwig Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:11:15 +0000 http://www.parentingbytrialanderror.com/?p=2109#comment-3158 Kim, I LOVE this idea and I'm going to implement it immediately. I do want to support the teacher, of course, so this suggestion is perfect. Thanks so much! Kim, I LOVE this idea and I’m going to implement it immediately.

I do want to support the teacher, of course, so this suggestion is perfect. Thanks so much!

]]> By: 3carnations http://www.parentingbytrialanderror.com/2009/11/02/homework-in-kindergarten-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-2837 3carnations Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:23:28 +0000 http://www.parentingbytrialanderror.com/?p=2109#comment-2837 My son gets one assignment per week, and they're always fun. Last week's assignment involved reading 8 pairs of words and determining which rhymed, then coming up with a rhyming word for four other words. My son gets one assignment per week, and they’re always fun. Last week’s assignment involved reading 8 pairs of words and determining which rhymed, then coming up with a rhyming word for four other words.

]]> By: Kim Kankiewicz http://www.parentingbytrialanderror.com/2009/11/02/homework-in-kindergarten-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-2834 Kim Kankiewicz Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:58:23 +0000 http://www.parentingbytrialanderror.com/?p=2109#comment-2834 Sarah, I think we've gone overboard on homework for young kids, too. My parents are lifelong teachers, so I tend to sympathize with teachers and know it can be frustrating when parents undermine educators instead of partnering with them. But assigning a lot of homework in kindergarten seems more likely to frustrate supportive parents (case in point: you!) than to win over the uninvolved. Anyway, for your particular situation, could you determine an amount of time that would be reasonable for your family (half an hour?) and set a timer when Logan starts his homework for the day? When the timer's done, he's done. I was a kid like Logan who could easily devote an hour to a coloring page. (For me that was a form of play, by the way, until I started worrying about grades.) I know I would have benefited from some help setting internal limits and learning to do good work without going all out on every single assignment. If you talk to Logan's teacher in advance, and frame the discussion in terms of what you've observed in Logan and his work habits, she'll know you're supporting her and will also be better able to support Logan. Maybe during that conversation you can agree on a reasonable amount of homework time, and you'll then feel permitted to have Logan stop working when he's reached that time. Sarah,
I think we’ve gone overboard on homework for young kids, too. My parents are lifelong teachers, so I tend to sympathize with teachers and know it can be frustrating when parents undermine educators instead of partnering with them. But assigning a lot of homework in kindergarten seems more likely to frustrate supportive parents (case in point: you!) than to win over the uninvolved. Anyway, for your particular situation, could you determine an amount of time that would be reasonable for your family (half an hour?) and set a timer when Logan starts his homework for the day? When the timer’s done, he’s done. I was a kid like Logan who could easily devote an hour to a coloring page. (For me that was a form of play, by the way, until I started worrying about grades.) I know I would have benefited from some help setting internal limits and learning to do good work without going all out on every single assignment. If you talk to Logan’s teacher in advance, and frame the discussion in terms of what you’ve observed in Logan and his work habits, she’ll know you’re supporting her and will also be better able to support Logan. Maybe during that conversation you can agree on a reasonable amount of homework time, and you’ll then feel permitted to have Logan stop working when he’s reached that time.

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