Last year I got really good about filtering through my daughter’s folders for homework assignments and newsletters.
And then we went to Disneyland and I kind of fell off the “help your kid with homework” wagon.
She’s extremely bright so maybe I just didn’t feel that sitting down for 20 minutes of reading every night and documenting it for school the next day was super imperative. She would read entire Junie B. chapter books in a matter of hours. I’d quiz her on the content and then buy her the next in the series.
But I didn’t write it down like we were supposed to and send her reading log back to school with her every Monday.
My bright, smart, capable little girl received a big PLUS in the Homework category of her report card for the first quarter of the school year.
The last quarter of the school year my heart dropped when I saw her Homework grade had plummeted to a big MINUS. I happily raved about how great she had done…covered up the minus and was all “Way to go! Nothing to see here…LET’S GET ICE CREAM!”
That grade was not about her. It was about me.
I failed First Grade Homework.
This year I vow to do things differently! I will read every bit of paper that comes home in those folders! I will make flash cards out of their weekly spelling lists! I will have their clothes laying out for them every morning. I will make lunches well in advance. And I will have reading logs signed and ready to go the night before school dammit!
Unlike me, my kids will develop healthy study habits. They will not procrastinate. They will be organized and tidy. They will thrive and succeed and earn big giant PLUS symbols forever. And all because I helped them establish routines that breed SUCCESS!!
I will not fail at Homework this year.
I will not fail at Homework this year.
I will not fail at Homework this year…
Deb says
I have the dreaded reading log paper that I’m supposed to log in 20 minutes every night. In k5 – this only means homework for parents. Like I have 20 minutes to read every night! Are they serious? Sad thing is, if I don’t return it with 20 minutes logged in every day in September, my kids are not allowed to be part of the “fun day” at school. Talk about pressure!
Karen says
My Punks have the reading logs, too, and now my third grader has a planner where he writes his assignments. I have to review that and sign off on it each day. Usually, I’m mumbling something under my breath about how I already went to school and I have my own planner to keep up with and how is he learning to do this himself if he has me to check up on him and are they going to expect me to go with him to college and hold his hand now. I’ve warned them both that eventually, a note will probably be sent home to yell at me because frankly, I have other priorities than doing “mom-work”. I suck as a parent.
Victoria KP says
This trend of homework for parents really irks me. My kids both had homework for me to fill out the first 2 days of school. The teacher actually sent one piece of paperwork back to me highlighted because I hadn’t filled it in properly. Grrr… sorry! I was trying to make dinner and listen to my kids talk about their day. In other words, I was too busy trying to be a parent.
Daddy Scratches says
Yeah, the start of the school year is kind of like New Year’s Resolutions Lite.
In my experience, both work out about equally as well. But good luck with that. ;)
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says
Oh bummer…sounds like you may actually have to sit & spend time with her this year. Ha!
I am SO not looking forward to the HW thing. I only have 1 more year of preschool left. I will savor it!
Book4MyDaughter says
I love the way you wrote about this, and I honestly think that a lot of parents will benefit from your insight.
After receiving a report card last year, I had the same realization. My daughter’s grades are really my own—did I check her homework? Do I know what she is learning? Do I know what subjects she is struggling in? These answers to these questions can all be clearly seen in the grades that my daughter gets. If you’re interested in reading it, here is the link: http://abookformydaughter.com/2011/04/26/report-card-day/
Shannon says
I got an email from the boy’s 3rd grade teacher, whom he also had last year: “we continue to work with Zack on his organization.” Ah, yes. I told him maybe it is a skill we can learn since we clearly, neither of us, were born with it—
JR Reed says
Mine is a freshman in high school and the other night I looked at her homework and asked, “What’s this?” She said it was her math homework. I looked at it again and said, “No shit? Good luck…..” I swear to God I never saw anything like this. It made my brain hurt just to look at it. I’m not sure if this story makes you feel better, but that was the intent.
Susanna@Susanna Leonard Hill says
I take issue with the amount of stuff parents end up being responsible for these days! Seriously, I did my homework (sort of) and I’ve already satisfactorily completed elementary and secondary school, college and graduate school. I’ve done my time. I do not want to do Chicago math. Nor do I know how :) It’s their turn. Teachers should not be expecting me to do my kids’ homework. (Or for that matter, teach them stuff they were supposed to learn in school.) And what’s with all these projects that require you to have a Staples warehouse in your backyard or rush off to the nearest art supply store at 7 PM so your little darlings can complete their independent reading kaleidoscopic mobile by tomorrow morning? I know my mom never did ANY of that stuff! I predict an uprising soon :)
adventuresindinner says
Uggghhh…I’m a teacher and I don’t even expect this. I’m going to get a total fail when my wee one goes to school.
Diane@BeStillaMinute says
I feel your pain. And I feel like an idiot when my 7th grader, who struggles with math the way I always did, comes to me for help and I can’t help him then have to admit that I can’t help him and tell him he’ll have to wait until Charlie (my husband) gets home!
Adrienne says
The only thing I can tell you about homework (having one post college, and one almost done with college) is that consistent homework completion does help them test better…cause they’ve practiced and can complete the inclass work more quickly. I was a complete failure at homework follow up/through…and I think it did hurt my kids later on. If you miss the window young – when it’s time for them to be independant (late middle school/high school) they won’t do it…and the fights at that stage aren’t pretty! I think it’s harder on the really bright ones….cause they understand stuff without the repetitive homework that drives them nuts and seems “dumb”… but later on even the brightest need the repetition that comes from homework to excel. Just my two “if I had it to do over again” cents!
tori nelson says
Parents get homework? Not a perk. So not a perk.
Lola says
I barely made it through 6th grade math last year. Barely. So this year I don’t have a chance in hell of helping my now 7th grader with math. And my kid? He’s NOT an academic scholar. He’s more like a “burn- out truant in training”. I mean, not YET…but the writing’s on the wall. It’s not his fault. It’s in his genes. I just pray he sticks with guitar. Then at least the bad boy persona can rake in a few mil. Until then, I wonder if I can just build a library wing to ensure his graduation?
JDaniel4's Mom says
I have to remember to check my son’s backpack. I don’t want to forget to do something either.
Marta says
I didn’t realize that when our kids go to school, there’s so much WE have to do. Not looking forward to the school years that are ahead of me!
Lisa @Granola Catholic says
I am so not a fan of parents signing off on kids homework. I failed to do this one time when my daughter was in 2nd grade. They made her stay in for recess for not having her reading documented. We were staying with my parents, helping them out while my dad was terminal. There was a lot going on. I know that for a fact she read for more than 2o minutes over that weekend. But I failed in recording it. I was furious for the school, even took it up with the principal. They would never have done this at my children’s regular school. They did not believe in punishing kids for not reading. Rather they would offer incentives for reading. My daughter is now in the 6th grade and this incident still makes my blood boil as I am recalling it.
Jennifer says
Last year I was so bad with homework. I kept telling myself, “It’s just Kindergarten…” But it kind of is a big deal. Not the work so much, but the habit. I have vowed to do better this year myself.
Cathy says
I wrote a post about this last year. I really dislike it when teachers punish the kid for the parent not doing something. I remember my kindergartener didn’t return the “parental rights acknowledgement paper” and the teacher punished my son by writing on a piece of masking tape “I will bring the paper to school tomorrow.” and sticking it to his chest! I was infuriated.
Further – can they please keep art projects at the age-appropriate level? This same teacher had me cutting, sewing and gluing fabric covers for works of writing covers. Ridiculous I say.
Jenny says
Don’t feel bad. I think I have already failed at HW this year. Wait til fifth grade math and all their stupid ways of doing division. I don’t see what was wrong with the old fashion way where ya know you just divide. My straight A student received a big fat D because I am “stupid” mommy and could not figure it out so I told him just do it the normal sane way ;) Something about having to show your work and all….my bad.
Denise says
I didn’t fill out their reading logs either and I’m sure the teachers were annoyed with me. Luckily it didn’t affect their grades but this year with my son in 2nd grade, the reading has evolved into projects. Crap! I’m in trouble now.
PartlySunny says
I’m 100%, absolutely, wholeheartedly against homework. At least for elementary school kids. Somehow we’ve come to the conclusion that the best way for a kid to learn is by sitting him down at a desk for six hours, cramming stuff into his brain, and then having him come home, sit down, and get more of the same stuff crammed into his head. Elementary school kids have learning opportunities everywhere they turn after they get home (as long as they don’t just sit in front of a screen). And don’t even get me started on grades. You have a bright, vibrant girl who loves to learn. Doesn’t sound to me like there was any failing involved.
Jen says
Don’t worry. I am sure you will get many many many more times to try.
kisatrtle says
um….I don’t want to upset you, but you are setting yourself up for an EPIC fail. It’s okay….deep breath. Plus or minus she will be okay.
Kim @thefamilypractice says
Oh man, I hated writing sentences!! You’re last three lines brought back sooo many bad memories – guess that means I was in trouble lots :)
Tracy P. says
No. You HAVE to fail at their homework. Then they will know they are going to have to do it for you. Now get busy failing second grade homework, Mrs. Maile’s mom.