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From the lens Homework and Your Child.

  • Tamara Sep 19, 2009 @ 11:23 pm | delete
    I am the boss of the homework around my house (well, mostly the boss) becaus I homeschool my ODD/ADHD son. This means I can tailor lessons around his good times of day (often late at night or in the car) and have him do the work that will help him progress.

    Right now I use a combination of Charlotte Mason and eclectic techniques...we are working our way systematically through arithmetic, sometimes just two or three problems at a time, we use programs like freerice and funmath.com to practice multiplication, and he is learning to narrate what he reads (orally for now). I give spelling words, but not because he needs to learn to spell, they're really just copywork, an excuse for him to work on his handwriting.

    Our goal is to spend about an hour a day on formal reading, writing, and math, about another hour reading fiction and nonfiction books, doing science experiments, creating artwork (he's into stop motion animation at present) and going on field trips with our co-op.
  • Eric Sep 11, 2009 @ 2:34 am | in reply to Paul | delete
    Sorry Paul, from your response, you undoubtedly have no children. I am in the same boat as Hollie (but no ODD child, but have 3 children. Children need time to be children.
  • eftemofreedom Sep 8, 2009 @ 1:16 am | delete
    this is great this is what my son need because sometimes he skips his homework and other school assignment. I've been having a lot of difficulty in teaching my son to do his homework instead I'am the one who is doing it for him which is sometimes good because we are having some quality time together learning. so what i did to achieve this was enroll myself and my son to an eft training. WIth eft in mind anxiety or depression from school work or home works were all gone. they help to improved our minds to focus very well. this is done by tapping out with the use of your fingers. it is much like an acupuncture but its different it uses your own fingers to tap out some certain areas from your body to keep your energy awaken.
  • Rose Aug 13, 2009 @ 8:35 pm | in reply to Paul | delete
    You are so right!
  • Paul Jul 9, 2009 @ 6:23 pm | delete
    I cannot believe the number of people who are falling for this ridiculous "let's not do homework" theory. They all seem to be part of the "let the kids do what they want" ideology. Kids do NOT know what's best for them; they simply want what they want, and wish to do whatever they like and have no consequences. Life isn't like that. ADULTS know what's best for them; that's why we're the adults and they are the kids. Kids need guidlelines, rules, consequences and supervision. To simply let them elect NOT to do homework is irresponsible, and is undermining what the school and teachers are trying to accomplish. As a kid, I too hated homework. But in hindsight, I realize it gave me the extra practice that I needed.
  • Andie Jun 15, 2009 @ 10:29 pm | delete
    I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree! I am starting to trust that my child knows more about what's good for him than any indoctrinated, bureaucratic public school system. Instinct is something that should NEVER be taken away. And I have had the same experience. Homework is almost silly at such a young age. They simply don't have the concepts of why it's important, and logic or explanation does nothing to substantiate it. Let the children be children. Learning should be so inspiring at young ages (and older for that matter), that they should not know it's "school".
  • Nicole Mar 6, 2009 @ 10:21 pm | delete
    I am having a lot of difficulty with my 7 year old and hw and she doesnt really get a lot of hw but the teacher did say that she would be fine without it now she doesnt want to do any of it
  • Hollie Mar 3, 2009 @ 1:55 pm | delete
    My son is 6 years old and in 1st grade. He has 2 homework papers every night and is supposed to read a book also. I work until 5:00 at night and by the time I get them picked up from daycare and get home it is about 5:40. Now, it is time to do homework (which usually requires constant supervisison (odd) and try to get dinner going. (Sometimes my husband is home to help, but he swings shifts every 7 days, so not very often.) We do manage to get the 2 homework papers done, but I havd advised his teacher that reading a book every night is impossible. He goes to bed at 7:30pm because he has to get up at 5:50am to get ready for the bus. We read our weekly books on the weekend, prior to them being due. It does work much better, however some nights it is enough to drive me crazy. By the time homework is done, its time to get in the bath and ready for bed. No time at all in the evening with my kids for anything fun.
  • Georgina Lowe Jan 30, 2009 @ 12:51 am | delete
    I recently found this resource for my son on the internet to help him handle all of his studies and he is really enjoying it. It's called "grade boosting secrets" www.GradeBoostingSecrets.com
  • Timothy(Grandfather) Nov 17, 2008 @ 8:06 am | delete
    Our 6 year old grandson now lives with us and goes to the area school system. He is confirmed with ODD. The school works hard to help however he is on medication for the school day, now he can perform at school. The problem is that the medication wears off after school and the homework is a very difficult project for him to perform. I have told the school this but he still gets home work Tuesday and Thursday nights. He does get most of it done but it still is very difficult for him and us. Being a retired police officer I find this ODD matter a very difficult situation. This child never acts or performs as a normal child does. The home work matter is a constant battle and getting him back up in the AM is another issue that we are trying to tackle at this time. I appreciate and enjoy the Doctors emails weekly. Thanks again.
  • aaron Nov 7, 2008 @ 10:00 pm | delete
    it really helped my kids 14 and really routy sometimes i just want to say forget it but this changed my view and his
  • Another Parent Oct 28, 2008 @ 12:59 pm | delete
    I have noticed several disturbing things the past two school years. First, the homework being sent home is Not a review or reinforcement of the daily lessons, it appears to be an Extension of their daily school work. Secondly and with less frequency, 'busy work' sent home as homework (this does not get done.) and lastly, the most disturbing: Propoganda sent home as schoolwork. My 7 year old son had to read about and then write about how he pollutes the planet. I explained how to him how He does NOT pollute the planet and had him write that down. Then I wrote on there 'no propaganda as homework!' for the teacher. She of course had nothing to say about that... I am a life-long student and love learning, I dont see that the current schools foster this even SLIGHTLY..... Yet another reason to take the school system AWAY FROM GOV....
  • Lizzi Jun 25, 2008 @ 5:02 pm | delete
    My son is only 6 and his school is great at recognising that homework would be counter-productive. I have a hard enough job just getting him to read his assigned book and his teacher understands and acknowledges that - also, trying to sit down with him, when his younger brother (3) wants to play with him (which of course he find totally distracting) can be almost impossible - especially as I'mthe only parent that does any of this stuff as dad is usually too busy with work for any of the school stuff - is virtually impossible and I believe that kids should be kids at this age - too much testing and too much pressure!!!!
  • Fidelia Jun 19, 2008 @ 7:48 pm | delete
    I have 2 kids, 8 (has ADHD) & 7 yrs old.I do agree that homework gives not only stress to school children, but parents as well.We would go to arguments every time when I insist my kids to finish theor homework.So,in a way homework creates unhealthy relationship between children and parents.I know that my kids are talented and fast learners,even their teachers acknowledged that.I remind them every morning to pay attention in class and try to complete their work in school so that they can play at home.They like that idea and it also helps to keep away the homework stress.I don't see why pupils should be burdened with homework at home, after spending about 6 hrs in school.
  • Kim May 20, 2008 @ 4:14 pm | delete
    Sometimes between my 3 kids, all we do every night is homework. My oldest daughter, 11, straight A's will have hours of homework to do. I've talked to her teacher and she says it is preparing them for the future. She has no kids of her own, and she thinks that is they are spending 1 1/2 on practices, why shouldn't they spend that much on homework everynight? I've disagreed with her several times. She doesn't budge. My son gets frustrated with us, but at school does great. What ever happened to the pricipal of being a kid? I think all 3 are put under way too much pressure at too early of an age. I didn't even care about college when I was 11! Why should she worry about it now? I say be a kid, work hard at school, but play at home. All work and no play gives us depressed stressed out kids!
  • karen May 19, 2008 @ 7:45 pm | delete
    I really can not say how much homework my child has because she rarely brings home any assignments. Normally, the public schools in East Baton Rouge assign homework based on the age/grade the student is in. Most of the time, the schools focus more LEAP for grades 5 and& and the GEE for high schools. Most of the public schools in EBR are one race Black Population. The private and religious schools do not have to take the I-LEAP,LEAP, or GEE for those schools have a higher GPA and graduation rate than the public schools. EBR parish has some of the worst schools in a TRI-Parish area, Livingston, Ascension, and the EBR Parish public schools that are no longer part of the EBR Parish school system, the cities of Baker, Central, and Zachary public school test scores are far better now that the students are not forced to be bussed far from the cities in which they live to Baton Rouge. Perhaps too the kids are more rested and can test better since they do not have long bus rides each day.
  • Laura May 16, 2008 @ 7:50 pm | delete
    I'm not a great fan of homework,but,like many things,it's part of life. For a child who won't admit to his teacher or peers that he is struggling,this is also a time for parents to recognize their child's struggles and hopefully
    find a positive way to resolve them. I think we place way too much importance on sports in our society. If a child is stressed and an athlete,chances are their anxiety is more about sports performance than school performance. At a certain age,many kids are way more concerned about missing an important foul shot than failing a test. It's up to us to put a priority on education because they're not. We need to stop over-scheduling our children with too many competitve
    activities and just let them be once in awhile.

    Mom of a 16 yr. old ODD,depressed son who didn't attend school for 4 months due to sports and a refusal to do homework,whose family had to relocate to change schools,and is so violent and destructive in his home that he now lives with his aunt.
  • kathy Mar 12, 2008 @ 6:06 am | delete
    I think reinforcement of Math problems, foreign language vocabulary or reading literature is OK for homework - with a limited time like at Junior high level no more than 1/2 hour each or at the high school level no more than 45-60 minutes each - and only a few times a week.

    yes, I agree that when kids come home from school they need time with their families, music lessons/practice or sports activities.

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akane

Anthony Kane, MD is a physician, an international lecturer, and former director of special education. He is the author of a book, numerous articles, and... more »

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