Homework and Primary School aged boys - a nightmare (All About Our Children)

Member Name: maria14

Product:	All About Our Children
Date:	07/01/09 (61 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Includes parents in the learning process

Disadvantages: Too much makes children and parents miserable

I have a son whose 10 and a daughter who is 9. They go to an excellent state primary school. My only gripe is - HOMEWORK.

In addition to a line of spellings to do each night, 2 maths sheets and 2 english sheets, they are set projects, where they must research, for instance, a famous Victorian and then write a lengthy piece of work. These projects are to be done over a number of weeks.

In addition, they have to complete reading records to show they how much they are reading at home.

For my daughter, homework is rarely a problem, because she loves school and judges herself by the standards they set. Most girls are the same.

For my son, it is a nightmare. He doesn't like school full stop, though he is bright. The very idea of finally getting out of there at the end of the day, only to have to start doing work again, seems to him to be completely and utterly unfair.

And that's where the deception begins. I've got no homework, or I've already done it, or 'She said we didn't have to bother with the second sheet' etc.

Recently, he has changed stragegy to 'I've lost my bag' or 'I've lost my homework book and she won't accept it in on loose pages.' And his joker card is - I just don't know how to do it.

And then when by stealth, pleading, or threats, I finally manage to get him to do it, a report comes back that it is not of the required standard.

It is THE main bug bear between my son and me, and it is a shame because he is a smashing lad. He reads a novel every few days (though he refuses to fill in his reading record, because they have to complete a brief synopsis of the book.) He is mad on current affairs, particularly American politics. His favourite treat is to be allowed to watch the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He reads the newspapers - proper ones.

He has taught himself to touch type, because he is writing a novel!

And yet, we argue because he won't do his homework.

I feel it is knocking the stuffing out of him, and making him even more anti school than he was before. I've been in to see his teacher. We discuss strategies to get him to do the work, but the idea of reducing the homework is not on the agenda at all.

It is worse for other mums because their kids won't read. I don't have that problem, at least.

If he did his work without protest or procrastination, it would probably just come within the 30 minute limit set by the government. (Not including the time he spends reading, because he doesn't view this as homework.)

If any one can give me strong arguements for kids as young as 9 and 10 to get such alot of homework, I would be genuinely grateful to hear them.

But as far as I'm concerned, particularly for boys, it is counter productive. Some homework OK - so parents have an idea what their children are studying and can be involved in their children's learning.

But not this amount, nor of such complexity.

Suggestions re getting him to do it would also be useful. I have yet to resort to doing it for him, but I sense that day is coming.

Summary: Schools have them all day - why do children have to come home and do schoolwork?