My son began 7th grade three weeks ago. He has math four days a week and his teacher assigns homework every night including Friday. In the three weeks he has been back to school, they have covered about 100 pages in their math (pre-Algebra) book. Most of the class, including my son, got D’s and F’s on the first test. I don’t see how these kids can possibly be assimilating this information a quickly as they are moving through the book With the homework four nights a week along with homework in the other classes, there is no time to review what they are doing in class, much less study for tests.
I really feel like the weekends are family time and no homework should be assigned and that the homework four nights a week is excessive. However, if four nights a week is reasonable, I feel that one of those nights should be set aside for review and study. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?
Re: How much is too much?
My son was in the 7th grade last year. This was a very frustrating year for our family. There was too much work assigned in some subjects, and independant long range assignements were far beyond what we would consider appropriate in7th grade or in 10th grade. Many parents thought it was wonderful. Many parents complained to other parents rather than addressing issues with the school. Maybe this is good college preparation (I do not know). My son suffered through the material with us, and definitely met with average success (average here is a B). Kids learned how to get through it the easiest way possible(ie: cliff note usage is frequent, as well as relying on notes and work from older sibs, parents hire private tutors). Had I complained, using your example of math, they would gladly have put him in an easier math class (where he already knew most of the material) instead of giving an appropriate assignment. So I pretty much shut my mouth.
Wish you much luck. For us 7th grade was exhausting.
Re: How much is too much?
Good luck to you too, amyf.
Mom, your note addressed exactly what I have been afraid of. I have been basically sitting with him and “doing” homework with him, something I never had to do before. If I don’t, there is no way he would have time for down time or play, something we feel is absolutely as important as school (although school comes first). We have a meeting coming up to discuss 504 accommodations. In the past, we have only used one or two such as seating and keyboarding. I think we may have to ask for reduced homework, or end up doing much of it with and for him…
Re: How much is too much?
I understand. I found the iep to be a problem too. Think it through. My son found that some teachers at this level are more intolerant of learning differences than at the elementary school level. He felt having an iep created a problem with some subjective grading, with some teachers. It helped with some other classes, but my son felt that a couple of teachers did not like him, because they would rather not deal with the small amount of individual needs that he has (and they really are very small-mostly accomodations).
Re: How much is too much?
I am a teacher of 5th graders with varying abilities. The purpose of homework is not to see how well the parents know the material, so be sure and let your child’s teacher know that he/she is overwhelmed. We sometimes have trouble remembering that it’s the BIG picture we need kids to remember. So if your child can get the big picture doing 1/2 the work, then that’s what should be done. I hope his/her teacher understands this.
Martha
San Antonio, Tx.
I will get back to you on this, my son just started 7th today, he is supposed to have assignments in 3 classes daily as homework. I am sure we will be having some meetings as I already have questions based on the welcome letters, gotta make sure they are reading through the iep. That and math and geography are at the end of the day so gotta keep up with how the meds are holding up that late in the day, he is on 1 20mg SR ritalin a day with 5mg short acting for homework(we’ll probly need it!!!) Good luck to your son!!