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Homework!!

  • 17-02-2009 7:34pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭


    Please vote on this subject:D

    Im curious to know what others think:)

    Do you like homework after school?
    Would you prefer longer school days and no homework?
    Do you dislike homework after school?
    Would you prefer longer school days with homework?
    No view on this matter.

    Personally I'm sick to the teeth of homework and am enjoying the week off from it. It just makes the day stress free!!

    Homework - whats your view? 66 votes

    Don't mind homework
    0% 0 votes
    Would prefer no homework
    48% 32 votes
    Longer school day with no homework
    28% 19 votes
    Longer school day with homework
    16% 11 votes
    No view on the subject!
    6% 4 votes


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 178 ✭✭Lynskey


    When i saw this under "parenting" i thought i would find a Parent's view on their children doing homework....then again i'm a student so i can't stand the stuff :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 255 ✭✭oh well


    as parent with 3 schoolgoing children at primary and secondary, have to say generally don't mind it. You use it to teach them to work on their own, to plan their time, etc. Its fairly essential in my mind to have homework. How else are children going to learn how to study for themselves as they get older and face exams and college. What I do object to in primary is when a teacher gives inordinate amounts of homework which really just defeats the whole purpose as by the time the child is finished, they are just exhausted. Teachers not correcting homework is just unacceptable too.

    I do enjoy no homework days and certainly this week is welcome at primary level. At secondary level, i'm at stage where I don't have to check anymore. I just help out when they get stuck and generally they get on with it. Mocks start next week for eldest and she is so organised - study every morning, break for town for afternoon and study again in evening. She has always been organised in her study.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    Lynskey wrote: »
    When i saw this under "parenting" i thought i would find a Parent's view on their children doing homework....then again i'm a student so i can't stand the stuff :)

    Im a parent of two children with special needs, and its quite frustrating at times, never mind for the children who have been doing school work since 9.20am!!

    (Were lucky at ages 6 & 8, if we close the 8 yr old's books at 5pm and shes home at 3.30!)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    oh well wrote: »
    as parent with 3 schoolgoing children at primary and secondary, have to say generally don't mind it. You use it to teach them to work on their own, to plan their time, etc. Its fairly essential in my mind to have homework. How else are children going to learn how to study for themselves as they get older and face exams and college. What I do object to in primary is when a teacher gives inordinate amounts of homework which really just defeats the whole purpose as by the time the child is finished, they are just exhausted. Teachers not correcting homework is just unacceptable too.

    I do enjoy no homework days and certainly this week is welcome at primary level. At secondary level, i'm at stage where I don't have to check anymore. I just help out when they get stuck and generally they get on with it. Mocks start next week for eldest and she is so organised - study every morning, break for town for afternoon and study again in evening. She has always been organised in her study.


    Looking at it from that perspective, I agree totally with the principle of Homework, and like you said there's nothing worse than them getting too much to cope with, as they are tired enough coming home - and even worse indeed if the teacher then doesn't bother to correct it when one is trying to encourage them to do their homework to avoid being kept in!!:(

    (But that said, I still prefer no homework!! Kids are still young and should be able to enjoy the afternoons).:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    Just letting ye know, I wont be able to respond for a while as im away, but will try and get online where I am.

    This is a very interesting Poll, thanks to all for replying as it gives one 'food for thought'!!:D


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    I wish there was a home work club running on a regular bases in the primary school tbh.
    Home work is a huge big bear and incredible frustrating for my 8 year old and 11 year old( who has aspergers disorder ).
    It's gotten to the stage with them were it has has to be done in shifts with each of them
    taking turns at the table and taking nearly an hour each.

    It's one of those situations were they need to be able to work on thier own but be
    supervised and help when stuck but they will try and make me answer the questions
    rather then figuring it out themselves.

    I do try and tie it into certain rewards, they can't do X or Y until it is done but they
    need time to decompress after a day at school and trying to get all the home work
    done before dinner can be struggle. There have been so many frayed tempers and tears
    when they went back after the christmast break due to homework.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 518 ✭✭✭littlebitdull


    I have three kids, and hate homework with a vengence. With my oldest and youngest it has been like trying to pull teeth getting the blooming stuff done. Like Thaed I have often been sat at the kitchen table supervision homework for up to an hour. My DS has dsylexia and homework has been a bug bear with him all his school life.

    With my middle child she has simply just got on with it, and I have never ever had to supervise her or help her, and she is at junior cert level now.

    So if all three of mine were like her homework would not bother me .... but life is never that nice.

    With my youngest now - aged 9 - I have taken to paying her a euro if she gets her homework done within a half an hour. I will keep this up till I feel she is into the habit of doing it within a reasonable amount of time.

    But in all honesty .... I am not a teacher - nor did I ever want to be - so I wish I could just be a parent when my kids are at home. There are many many nicer things we could be doing that yet more work. I dont like my husband bringing home work so why should I like my kids having to?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,262 ✭✭✭di11on


    The point of homework is that it involves the parent in the child's learning and education. I think this is a very very good thing. It achieves many things, inlcuding,

    1. Your child get's dedicated time and attention from the parent
    2. Lets the parent know where the child is at and what he/she is learning

    A longer school day will never accomplish these things, a teacher can't give your child the dedicated attention you can. I think it is vitally important for children to get support from home with their homework.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,820 ✭✭✭Femelade


    I HATE homework..
    Luckily my mom has most of the writing homework done with her when i get home, My daughter is such a daydreamer and it gets really frustrating trying to get her to concentrate on just getting it done..
    Once i come home from work it tiem for dinner and once that's done, i do the tables, irish spellings, shared reading, reading, and prayers..which nearly takes us up to bedtime.
    So on monday to friday evenings seem to be completely taken up with homework and not much else.

    It has been alot easier this week without it..

    But in saying that..I do think that if she didnt do homework i wouldnt know that, she needs extra help with maths, is great at reading but goes a little too fast, hates irish spelling, but is good with her prayers.
    etc..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    Thaedydal wrote: »

    It's one of those situations were they need to be able to work on thier own but be
    supervised and help when stuck but they will try and make me answer the questions
    rather then figuring it out themselves.

    I do try and tie it into certain rewards, they can't do X or Y until it is done but they
    need time to decompress after a day at school and trying to get all the home work
    done before dinner can be struggle. There have been so many frayed tempers and tears
    when they went back after the christmast break due to homework.

    You have taken a page out of my Diary!!!:eek: I feel so helpless at times, and giving them the answer is not the solution to their problems. If we did, then the school wont realise the problems that they have as we would be covering up for them. Catch 22, as sometimes it is easier to tell them the answer than to see them in tears and give up, tempers flying books flying etc:(


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    di11on wrote: »
    The point of homework is that it involves the parent in the child's learning and education. I think this is a very very good thing. It achieves many things, inlcuding,

    1. Your child get's dedicated time and attention from the parent
    2. Lets the parent know where the child is at and what he/she is learning

    A longer school day will never accomplish these things, a teacher can't give your child the dedicated attention you can. I think it is vitally important for children to get support from home with their homework.


    Totally agree, but put a cap on the amount of homework, especially if they have learning problems, as parents are not teachers, and that kind of help should be given by the professionals.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 518 ✭✭✭littlebitdull


    di11on wrote: »
    ,

    1. Your child get's dedicated time and attention from the parent
    2. Lets the parent know where the child is at and what he/she is learning

    .


    1. I would rather spend dedicated time with my child on more interesting things - like arts and crafts - baking - sewing - playing - having fun together. Than pushing them into doing something that is repetive and a chore.

    2. I am with my children each and every day, as are all parents when it comes right down to it. So if you are not already aware of where you child is at in their life. Well - its time to review your parenting skills.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,262 ✭✭✭di11on


    1. I would rather spend dedicated time with my child on more interesting things - like arts and crafts - baking - sewing - playing - having fun together. Than pushing them into doing something that is repetive and a chore.
    Not everything of value in life is great fun, but that doesn't mean such things should be despised. Our children's education is vitally important and sets them up for life. As parents, should we not be involved in this critical aspect of their lives?

    Even more so if the task is not that fun - should we not participate to show them what they are doing is valuable and worthwhile and that it will stand to them in the end?

    As a child, when I'd have difficulty with my Irish homework, my dad would start off on a rant "what a waste of time, dead language... blah blah blah". If he had, instead, made an effort to help me, maybe I'd be able to communicate in my native language - but, sadly, I can't.

    I believe as parents, our interest and participation (or lack of) in our children's education sends a signal that has a profound impact on our children's learning. I believe they need to know that what they are doing is valuable, that we support them and that we're there to help if they need it.
    2. I am with my children each and every day, as are all parents when it comes right down to it. So if you are not already aware of where you child is at in their life. Well - its time to review your parenting skills.
    There is knowing where they are at in life and where they are at with respect to specific things like reading, writing, mathematics etc. Johnny needs help getting his 3s the right way around... Johnny has problems solving quadratic equations... etc. If I know these things, I can help and give my child a better chance. It might not, necessarily, be pleasant or easy, I may not even have the time - but if I help, will it not be better than if I didn't?

    The last thing we need to be doing is communicating to our children that learning is a waste of time and not something that's worth spending time on.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,315 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    Femmy wrote: »
    My daughter is such a daydreamer and it gets really frustrating trying to get her to concentrate on just getting it done..
    :D Sounds like me when I was a kid. I'd try to motivate myself with the chance of going outside after the homework, but meh. Thursday, always got the homework done quickly, so that I could goto Scouts :P

    Reward = profit ;)

    Alas, homework allows you to work through something a your own pace, which can be good. Children won't do this with free will, but they will if given the task by "homework".


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    di11on wrote: »
    Not everything of value in life is great fun, but that doesn't mean such things should be despised. Our children's education is vitally important and sets them up for life. As parents, should we not be involved in this critical aspect of their lives?

    I do this every day, educating my children does not start and end with home work.
    di11on wrote: »
    Even more so if the task is not that fun - should we not participate to show them what they are doing is valuable and worthwhile and that it will stand to them in the end?

    There are plenty of other things which I have to make them do which are not fun, not having to make them do home work for some days two hours I find to be counterproductive to them liking what they learn in school.
    di11on wrote: »
    As a child, when I'd have difficulty with my Irish homework, my dad would start off on a rant "what a waste of time, dead language... blah blah blah". If he had, instead, made an effort to help me, maybe I'd be able to communicate in my native language - but, sadly, I can't.

    Nothing stopping you doing that when you got older or now.
    di11on wrote: »
    I believe as parents, our interest and participation (or lack of) in our children's education sends a signal that has a profound impact on our children's learning. I believe they need to know that what they are doing is valuable, that we support them and that we're there to help if they need it.

    And I can do that and indeed do that in what I consider to be more productive ways then what can be the battle ground at the kitchen table.

    Numerous times when they comes in from shool and have a snack they tell me what they did in school and what intrested them and we get books from
    the library, look things up on the internet, watch documentorys and talk about the topics.

    Both their teacher have commented on how we have been supplementing their education and how they are the better for it.

    Please do not assume that those of us parents who detest homework
    undermine our children's formal schooling by wringing our hands and rolling our eyes when we and the are forced to do it.
    di11on wrote: »
    There is knowing where they are at in life and where they are at with respect to specific things like reading, writing, mathematics etc. Johnny needs help getting his 3s the right way around... Johnny has problems solving quadratic equations... etc.

    Again I know this by having an interest in my children and am in touch with
    their teachers more then the twice a year meetings.
    di11on wrote: »
    The last thing we need to be doing is communicating to our children that learning is a waste of time and not something that's worth spending time on.

    That is a very large presumption you are making there and I for one am offended by it.
    the_syco wrote: »
    Alas, homework allows you to work through something a your own pace, which can be good. Children won't do this with free will, but they will if given the task by "homework".

    At their own pace sounds well and good but not when that can be 3 hours.

    There are certain children that are just not suited to traditional homework imho.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 255 ✭✭oh well


    if a child doesn't do homework how will they learn to cope with homework and study as they get older and move into secondary school. Homework should certainly be set to the level of the child and his/her abilities. There is no point at all in making a child with learning difficulties spend hours and hours trying to learn spellings or tables when they might be struggling with basic other skills.

    Of couse I'd love to have no homework and send my time with the kids in more leisurely persuits learning cookery, crafts, sports, whatever but I believe these things have to be balanced out with the homework side.

    I've often had to take work home with me (as has my partner) - its a drag but it has to be done. The kids see it as normal.

    Don't think homework clubs would work in some cases where parents aren't just that interested and would never look at a child's copies if they didn't have to supervise the homework. The parents who are going to be interested will always check homework whether its done at a club or not. Parents who aren't that interested ........


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,315 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    Thaedydal wrote: »
    At their own pace sounds well and good but not when that can be 3 hours.

    There are certain children that are just not suited to traditional homework imho.
    Agree 100%


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    Well, back to school again today, and back to reality!

    Hope they start off slowly with homework, or there will be tears on the first day:(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,234 ✭✭✭Mr Bloat


    Luckily enough, my daughter is in junior infants and is still enthusiastic about homework, hopefully this will last for a good long while.

    It's easy at the moment because she gets a little bit of writing and a quick book to read and it's all so new for us and it's exciting. I'm dreading the times to come when she has two or three hours of different stuff, though.

    I remember when I was a lad, sometimes having three or four hours of homework to do before I could even think about starting any studying. That was crazy, each subject teacher would dole out a chunk of work to do without checking to see what other teachers had given us that day. To be honest, I always assumed that kind of thing had been sorted at this stage and that there was some kind of cap introduced so that kids didn't have a mountain of work to do at home.

    I'm all for the idea of homework, I think kids should be working at home. It gives parents a chance to monitor where they might be falling behind or excelling in and it gives the teacher a chance to see how the child works outside the classroom environment. Like all things though, it should be in moderation. I don't agree with tying kids to a kitchen table for two to three hours a night, that's just torture for the kids and the parents.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,262 ✭✭✭di11on


    Thaedydal wrote: »
    I do this every day, educating my children does not start and end with home work...

    Of course not - but I believe it's a very important part of it and that our attitute towards it as parents has the potential to either help or hinder our children.

    Our DD is in senior infants and up untill recently, she's been getting loads of colouring-in to do. It's dead boring for us, supervising and her, doing it - but because we know it's essential for building up muscle strength in her hands so she can write properly, we know it's important and valuable. A huge part of life will involve doing repetitive things that might be uninteresting in themselves, but learning to do these things develop character and skills which are the building blocks for the more important things to follow.

    I suppose all I'm saying is that while it's a pain, I believe it's valuable and necessary.

    Obviously there's a balance to be found and if a young child has 3 hours of work to do, that seems excessive. Teachers don't always get it right either. Our DD's teacher seems not to be in tune with our girl's reading ability and sends her home with stuff way below her level... so teachers don't always seem to be able to judge what's appropriate.
    Thaedydal wrote: »
    Nothing stopping you doing that when you got older or now.
    Goodness, that's hardly the point. The point is, had I more support at home, I might have been more interested and performed better.
    Thaedydal wrote: »
    Di11on wrote:
    The last thing we need to be doing is communicating to our children that learning is a waste of time and not something that's worth spending time on.
    That is a very large presumption you are making there and I for one am offended by it.
    Apologies - what I should have said was "Homework" instead of "Learning" - I know they aren't the same thing, but I guess the point of this thread is about to what extent one relates to the other and I for one believe that Homework plays a very important role in our children's learning experience.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    There is a big difference in colouring in at senior infants as home work and what is expected of second class an beyond.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,794 ✭✭✭JC 2K3


    I'm not a parent, in fact I'm only 19, but what's all this about supervising homework and doing homework with your children?

    When I was in school, my parents never set aside time to do homework with me, I did it on my own. They would offer me help if I asked, and were enthusiastic about my learning, and they'd do things like quiz me on my spellings or tables which I had to have learned for the next day, but they wouldn't sit down with me at a set time and go through it with me, helping me with every answer.

    I'd consider homework to be largely something done independently, not with a parent. Encourage them to come to you if they really need help, but only after trying to work it out themselves first and making some attempt at it.

    Now I'm no expert on education, but I have done very well academically, and I have seen many people over the years who have simply lacked the ability to work on their own or study in any proper manner. I think that developing a sense of independence in relation to schoolwork and learning early on is vital, and this starts with learning to take responsibility for getting homework done at an early age.

    Anyway, that's just my €0.02.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 255 ✭✭oh well


    good post JC 2K3.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,345 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    From a teacher's point of view, homework is to encourage and develop independent learning. While I can see parents possibly needing to be actively involved with some younger children, as JC 2K3 says, there's no need later on, in fact it defeats the whole point if the work is not done alone.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    JC 2K3 wrote: »
    I'm not a parent, in fact I'm only 19, but what's all this about supervising homework and doing homework with your children?

    You think that kids can be left in a room on their own and will just do their work ? Maybe when they reach a certain age but currently doing that with my 8 year old means she will be at the kitchen table for 3 hours.

    Supervising as in being in the same room so they can ask questions.
    I refuse to sit at the table with them but will be doing other tasks
    in the kitchen so I am on hand.
    JC 2K3 wrote: »
    When I was in school, my parents never set aside time to do homework with me, I did it on my own. They would offer me help if I asked, and were enthusiastic about my learning, and they'd do things like quiz me on my spellings or tables which I had to have learned for the next day, but they wouldn't sit down with me at a set time and go through it with me, helping me with every answer.

    That is supervising homework, being about and available.
    JC 2K3 wrote: »
    I'd consider homework to be largely something done independently, not with a parent. Encourage them to come to you if they really need help, but only after trying to work it out themselves first and making some attempt at it.

    Absolutely as the work they get to do at home is essentially review work
    and they will have already ideally covered the material in class, but every child can
    get stuck or cant' grasp different concepts at different times.
    JC 2K3 wrote: »
    Now I'm no expert on education, but I have done very well academically, and I have seen many people over the years who have simply lacked the ability to work on their own or study in any proper manner. I think that developing a sense of independence in relation to schoolwork and learning early on is vital, and this starts with learning to take responsibility for getting homework done at an early age.

    Yes but getting a child to that stage can be a struggle, maybe you will find out the other side of it for yourself one day :)

    Have you ever thought to ask your parents what their side of your homework
    experience was ?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    di11on wrote: »


    Obviously there's a balance to be found and if a young child has 3 hours of work to do, that seems excessive. Teachers don't always get it right either. Our DD's teacher seems not to be in tune with our girl's reading ability and sends her home with stuff way below her level... so teachers don't always seem to be able to judge what's appropriate.

    .

    Dillon, IME the homework is set at a level that the majority of children in the class can master so if your little one is ahead of the posse then do you not think she would benefit more from half an hour of supplemental learning (as per Thaedydal) rather than an hour of colouring in etc.

    The system (not just homework) fails to address the educational needs of those at both extremes of the spectrum... and I think this is where the children would really benefit from supplemental work rather than homework.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    littlebug wrote: »
    Dillon, IME the homework is set at a level that the majority of children in the class can master so if your little one is ahead of the posse then do you not think she would benefit more from half an hour of supplemental learning (as per Thaedydal) rather than an hour of colouring in etc.

    The system (not just homework) fails to address the educational needs of those at both extremes of the spectrum... and I think this is where the children would really benefit from supplemental work rather than homework.



    Good point Littlebug!! I agree there.

    Well, day 2 and theyre a little better than yesterday. Himself had no trouble today, but then again had no maths. Herself hasn't even started yet....so will c how it goes.

    As has been mentioned above, one needs to supervise homework at these ages (almost 7 and 9), as otherwise one of two things will happen:
    1 - homework not done
    2 - homework done but incomplete resulting in extra work the next day.

    My parents never helped with homework - sometimes if I was stuck I'd ask my mum to explain and if she couldn't she told me to close the book and ask the teacher the next day to explain. In those days things seemed a lot less pressurised in class and teachers had the time to help you out.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,051 ✭✭✭Gaspode


    I hate the whole homework thing, I'd rather they spent a little more time in school, and spent time revising at the end of the day there rather than having to do work at home.

    I've been through 13 years of it at this stage and I'm sick to the back teeth of it!! :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 988 ✭✭✭IsThatSo?


    I have a child in First Class and, for now, don't mind the homework. The bit I find frustrating is trying to get him to concentrate as he gets a bit giddy.

    I find it good in that it keeps me up to date with what he is learning in school as the scamp tells me nothing!!! He thinks he tells me, but he doesn't and all of the Mums have to keep each other updated with what the children are saying at home for us all to get a good picture of what is going on during the day :pac:

    I only have one child for homework at the moment, that does make it a bit easier.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 988 ✭✭✭IsThatSo?


    littlebug wrote: »
    Dillon, IME the homework is set at a level that the majority of children in the class can master so if your little one is ahead of the posse then do you not think she would benefit more from half an hour of supplemental learning (as per Thaedydal) rather than an hour of colouring in etc.

    The system (not just homework) fails to address the educational needs of those at both extremes of the spectrum... and I think this is where the children would really benefit from supplemental work rather than homework.

    To my surprise (child in first class) the teacher split them into groups the other day and gave the first group extra maths homework. My son was in this group, and I am relieved as he has been complaining about being bored and finished his work and having to wait for other kids etc. I think, when the faster kids are finished their work, they colour or "go asleep", very frustrating for a high energy child like mine :(

    I don't think this is official streaming by any means, but at least the Teacher is trying to cater for all of the children, and I appreciate her effort to do so :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    IsThatSo? wrote: »
    To my surprise (child in first class) the teacher split them into groups the other day and gave the first group extra maths homework. My son was in this group, and I am relieved as he has been complaining about being bored and finished his work and having to wait for other kids etc. I think, when the faster kids are finished their work, they colour or "go asleep", very frustrating for a high energy child like mine :(

    I don't think this is official streaming by any means, but at least the Teacher is trying to cater for all of the children, and I appreciate her effort to do so :)

    Fair play to the teacher!! Thats good work.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,527 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    In an ideal world, there might be no homework. However , we live in a world of 30+ students in a class, many with extra needs ,perhaps those who do not have enough English to cope. Hence the homework is consolidating work done at school, that in a class of 20 (as promised before the last elections),would be perfected at school .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    In an ideal world, there might be no homework. However , we live in a world of 30+ students in a class, many with extra needs ,perhaps those who do not have enough English to cope. Hence the homework is consolidating work done at school, that in a class of 20 (as promised before the last elections),would be perfected at school .

    I agree. And it doesn't look like class sizes will ever decrease as its the last thing on their mind!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 827 ✭✭✭lostinnappies


    It really depends on the age of the children imho. If we were to live in a perfect world primary school children below first class shouldnt have homework, from first class on would have minimal homework but would have 1 hour every day added to the school day for study time to learn things like spelling, times table. An inviorment where they can see other children learning and be more motivated by that. After all its the school who are ment to teach your children, this should be part of their job imho to teach them and show them how to study.

    when it comes to secondary school they should have that hour as PART of their school day to do the learning side of it and also have homework to teach them to do it by themselves. A project should be set once a month, which would give them the entire month to research it, which is what we all have to do in life (adhere to deadlines, research stuff and learn to work independantly).

    Most children would be sick to the back teeth of school by the time they come home so keeping the homework minimal would keep the motivation there.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,527 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    Projects would be good, except for the lastminute brigade..pity the poor parents!!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 69 ✭✭mg1


    my opinion on homework is this
    If they cant do it at home themselves it is the teachers fault for not teaching them how to do it.
    A teacher gets well paid to teach, i am not a teacher so there fore what would i know about teaching a child maths, Irish or any academic subject for that matter!
    A parent teaches you about life and how to live it, a teacher teaches you what he/she qualified for! or sometimes not:p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,722 ✭✭✭silly


    Some kids naturally struggle with certain subjects.
    That might go un noticed in the classroom, so while I hate homework I am glad of it in a way, as I know what my needs help with her maths.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    Cant believe I started this thread in 2009!!!

    Just an update - I kept my son back in third class, he is 9 and wont be 10 till next April, so had the age in his favour. There was no way he would have coped with 4th Class. The first month back to school there were the usual tears at homework - couldn't do it was his attitude. He still wants me to sit with him and help him with his written work and his maths, and I often have to write in sums, or he just gives up and wont do the answers or any of it. Its after easing off thankfully but he still wont do much for me. He wont do tables or reading. If he cant do something I tell him to close the book and ask his teacher the next day. Mostly the teacher hasn't even corrected any of his effort as she doesn't look at the homework:mad:

    My daughter is now in 6th Class and getting on really well with her work. She just gets on with it. Although she never did tables or spellings, she is very good at spellings, and I feel she does enough of it in school without me trying to drill her about tables as well in the evening. Im sure it will come back to bite her in secondary when she's stuck in maths class trying to come up with the numbers:(

    Were still in the Services - getting help for their needs - they are both on the Autism Spectrum, have ADHD/ADD and ODD.

    I have learned to relax about the homework - if its not done, its up to the school to deal with it (and mostly they don't bother!).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭ash23


    I haven't read the replies. But I don't mind homework as long as it's not excessive.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 714 ✭✭✭PlainP


    I dread homework time, I have two boys 6 and 8. Before I use to have awful trouble trying to get them to concentrate on simple tasks, sometimes they could be sitting doing homework for 1hr30mins the frustration that built up was huge.

    Now I have introduced a "star" chart and I am motivating them to get their homework done within a 25-30 min time frame and if they get it done by that time they get a star. I have to admit it is working a treat and I have extended this to giving them "stars" for any good behavior. I would recommend this method to any parents out there having trouble with unruly children.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,775 ✭✭✭Fittle


    Where did you get that star chart PlainP? I'd love something like that for my lad - stickers and stars work so well for him in school as a motivational tool, and I used to have something when he was a toddler...must introduce it again.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 714 ✭✭✭PlainP


    I just made up my own by buying card and stars in tescos they are very cheap. I made a calendar of the month and have them put their own stars on for each day. They actually enjoy looking at what they have achieved for the week or the whole month and I organise treats for them when they make up a full quota.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭mumof2


    I hate mondays as we get the most homework on that day. Yesterday my 9 yr old son spent 2.5 hrs doing homework. Started at 4 with maths, stopped at half five for dinner, continued at half 6 with maths again til 7, and then went on to Irish and English writing which brought us up to 7.30.

    Ridiculous:mad:

    Whats worse is that ive noticed on a Tuesday when hes home, that the english and irish writing hasn't been corrected at times - so all the hassle for nothing:mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,128 ✭✭✭cynder


    My 4 year old started homework yesterday, he refused to do 2 parts of it.... will have his iep at the end of the week...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,495 ✭✭✭Mr. Presentable


    mumof2 wrote: »
    I hate mondays as we get the most homework on that day. Yesterday my 9 yr old son spent 2.5 hrs doing homework. Started at 4 with maths, stopped at half five for dinner, continued at half 6 with maths again til 7, and then went on to Irish and English writing which brought us up to 7.30.

    Ridiculous:mad:

    Whats worse is that ive noticed on a Tuesday when hes home, that the english and irish writing hasn't been corrected at times - so all the hassle for nothing:mad:

    The point of homework is to test the student to see if they understood what was taught during the day, so it is an important ritual. However, no child should be 2.5hrs doing homework. Presuming there are no external reasons why it is taking so long (TV etc), you should have a chat with the teacher.

    There are no problems homework-wise with my child, but when I found it was taking more than an hour to finish and she was fully concentrated on it, I spoke to her teacher. She said in her opinion 40 minutes was enough and if I was happy to sign off at that point she was happy also.

    The important thing is that your child has an education and that includes some social time outside of school.

    I find the teacher doesn't always check work immediately.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,722 ✭✭✭silly


    ash23 wrote: »
    I haven't read the replies. But I don't mind homework as long as it's not excessive.
    As far as I remember, you don't mind homework because your childminder does it with your kids.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,507 ✭✭✭Ayla


    silly wrote: »
    As far as I remember, you don't mind homework because your childminder does it with your kids.

    I take it you didn't read much of this thread:
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056387443


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,722 ✭✭✭silly


    Ayla wrote: »
    silly wrote: »
    As far as I remember, you don't mind homework because your childminder does it with your kids.

    I take it you didn't read much of this thread:
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056387443

    I did. I posted on it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,507 ✭✭✭Ayla


    silly wrote: »
    I did. I posted on it.


    EDIT: Oops, sorry, reread your post & realized that I had read it wrong the first time around. You were responding directly to Ash23 instead of waxing theoretical (ie: "you" in the general sense). Apologies, & I retract my queries.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,722 ✭✭✭silly


    Ayla wrote: »
    silly wrote: »
    I did. I posted on it.


    EDIT: Oops, sorry, reread your post & realized that I had read it wrong the first time around. You were responding directly to Ash23 instead of waxing theoretical (ie: "you" in the general sense). Apologies, & I retract my queries.
    No problem.
    I actually shouldnt have brought it up.
    Very bitchy on my part.
    Each to their own and all that.


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