Homework for Kindergarteners... Why?

I have a daughter age 5 going in to Kindergarten in 4 months, and I think that this homework for kindergartenders is BS... Kids that age learn most by PLAYING and in my mind all that time at school spent confined to their seats then they come home and have to sit down with homework??? Its crazy. Especially since they have largely done away with art, gym, and music classes. Because of the so-called No Child Left Behind act, it has become all about the standardized testing. And so children are given gobs of boring worksheets to complete each day that look essentially like standardized tests. How exciting! That should definitely promote a love of learning...

Speak up and speak up loudly. We can't let public schools go down this ugly road.

My daughter is in Kindergarten now and does receive homework on a weekly basis. This is not something I liked at first, but understand the importance.
Kindergarten is meant to ease your child into the school situation and homework is a large part of that. The amount that your child will receive is not an over whelming amount. For instance, my child receives a package on Thursday and has until the next Thursday to complete it. The pages are simple tasks like writting the letter A multiple times to coloring the correct amount of items that are round.
The reading is an important part too. If you do not read to your child and have them start to read with you, they will fall behind in school in the later years.
Again, do not fret about the children getting homework in Kindergarten, it is not much and helps develope skills they need for the future.

My daughter is currently in kindergarten. Every week her class is sent home with a homework packet of 10 pages. My daughter finishes the entire packet on MONDAY within 30 minutes! She loves doing her homework and is excelling in school and is currently top of her class. Her schools state requirement for reading is only lvl 8. By the time my daughter graduates she will be at lvl 18 and is currently reading at a first to second grade lvl. They do get plenty of time to play and have fun. Her teacher Mrs. G makes sure of that, but they also have to learn their boundries and not giving them free rein is what does that.

Today it is traditional for homework to start in kindergarten. I have a first grade daughter and a son who will start kindergarten this fall. In general, her homework took about 20 minutes a night (this increases to about 30 min. for first grade). I found that I enjoyed helping my daughter with homework while I worked on dinner. She enjoyed it most of the time as well. I think it prepares the kids for the greater amounts of time spent studying and doing homework in the later grades. Because it is standard in schools today I would not approach the board or school, but respect their standards. It's really not too much in kindergarten. Also, we tend to get a chunk of it done early in the week so that if something comes up later we don't have to worry about it.

Hi J.,

There are high expectations for our children now than years ago! My son is in preK and has about 5-7 pages of homework per week. It's basically what they're learning for the week so it's for reinforcement. And the homework isn't very hard at all, but it can be time consuming. I have a few friends who are teachers and they've said that today's expectations are much higher. The lessons they learn in K are appropriate for 1st grade, the lessons they learn in 1st are appropriate for 2nd grade and so on and so forth.
I don't remember having to do homework in K either. I really think it's too much all at once. I was a substitute teacher and saw what today's 5th graders are doing now: Algebra & Calculus!!! I don't remember having to learn those subjects til jr. high and high school!
Just make sure you have constant communication with your daughter's teacher, so you'll know what to expect and what's expected of your daughter. Many times, teachers are quick to say that you're child may not be ready, but they're wrong.
The best to you and your daughter =)

My kindergartener has 2-3 pages of homework a night. At first it was EXCRUCIATING to get through the 2 pages. Now it is just part of what we do in the afternoon. She comes home, has a snack and does her homework, then she can play. it is good discipline, I think, to get used to doing homework right away. The homework itself is just tracing letters and writing letters and circling the appropriate shape, etc. Now that she can read some words, she is expected to write sentences and stuff. You just have to make sure she gets it done, help her with spelling, help her think if four words that start with "K". It is really not a big deal. I'm sure your older kids have homework, so they can all do it at the same time.

Times they are a-changin'. I have a daughter who will start kindergarten in September at one of the schools that assign the larger weekly packets. In my experience, those packets (as seen from friends whose kids go there) are usually completed quickly and without problem. Kindergarten is only 1/2 day, so when you think about it, she'll have A LOT of time to work on the homework. Kindergarten is the beginning of her school career and unfortunately, all grades assign homework these days. There is so much to be taught (as decided by the state of CA) and so few days (as decided by the state of CA) that it's almost impossible to do it without homework. I think of it as my way of helping the teacher to make her job a bit easier--if there's anything I can do to help her, count me in! Don't fret--your child (and you) will survive kindergarten just fine. She is your baby, but she wouldn't be allowed to start kindergarten if she wasn't ready for everything that kindergarten entails--including homework.

OOPS - correction - you are not putting your daughter in K at 4.
Our school district (CVUSD) also gives K homework and I find the whole thing absurd and inappropriate. All it does it provide pressure and kills their desire to learn. They spend a good part of the day doing worksheet after worksheet... only to come home to do - what? another worksheet. By the time they get home, they aren't too burned out/tired/annoyed. Their reasoning is that the research they cite (which I can't find right now) says that when children are given homework early, it becomes a "good habit." Meanwhile, years ago homework started in later grades (5 and up?) where is was developmentally appropriate. My friend's progressive school in upstate NY does that.
When my son was 5 he was given homework, but it was so stressful for him (he wasn't ready/interested) we stopped to it altogether. (The homework was practicing letters or words.) He was in a developmental-play-based K (the way it used to be) since I refused to put him in the local elementary school for K (which was boring worksheet after worksheet work.) We did practice reading certain words and that was fine. (He did great in 1st grade BTW.) First grade he wasn't that thrilled with homework either, so many times I let it slide and followed his lead. (Again my thoughts were that this was "too much too young." Thankfully the teacher didn't make a big deal about it. He is now is 2nd grade and homework is much easier and he generally whizzes through it.

Hi J.;
I am completely opposed to homework for Kinders. It's not that many of them can't handle it, or enjoy some or all of it, it's that kindergarten is a time to enjoy stories, playtime, pretend games, arts and crafts and be free of the stresses that do come later in school life. Our daughter was in kinder last year and that was enough for me to look for alternatives.

We found SLO Classical Academy and love it. There is work at home, but never 'homework'. There's lots of time for family time and play and the children are receiving a classically based education that develops critical thinking and creativity. Our website is www.sloclassicalacademy.com and a book you might be interested in is The Hurried Child.

I realize conventional opinion is that if kids can do it they should. I don't think this rush to meet standards helps children develop a love of learning. We want our daughter to love learning for her entire life.
As a nation, the US doesn't perform well academically compared to other nations. NCLB isn't a good solution and even our state government recognizes this. If you can find it, there is a good article in the March 15 Tribune about a report from the Governor's office on public schools.
Best regards,
S.

hi J.. i have a 5 year old (6 in 3 weeks) who is in kindergarten. every monday he gets a packet of homework which is due on friday. the homework includes me reading to him 20 min. each day, which we've always done anyway. the other stuff includes coloring, recognizing shapes, tracing letters and numbers and then writing it on his own. he also has a book report to do each week which seems kind of crazy, but we read a book and then he tells me what he wants to say, which is usually one sentence, but sometimes 2 or 3. he hates doing the book reports. he likes doing alot of his other homework and it really only takes about a half hour (reading not included). you will get used to it. i had mixed feelings about it, but our son is learning to read really well and enjoys it. the rest of the time i make sure he gets alot of open-ended free play or crafts or something so his life is not all about academics. besides, studies show that the best learning children get is from open play. by the way, i doubt the school board would change the homework requirement. i think it's more based on what is mandated by the state, but i could be wrong. good luck.

I am a teacher, and I have a hard time giving homework to my students...but they are middle school! So that's different than kinder. I think a lot of the schools are under so much pressure to perform, that they feel they should begin pushing early literacy and number concepts. It has to do with state testing.
I was given homework because I tested gifted, but I don't know by today's standards. Back then, if you knew how to read before you started school, you may have classified as gifted. But nowadays, schools expect the parents to have already taught the children to read...I think that's what the homework is about.

The packet thing is what a lot of teachers are doing, and they have the student turn it in on Friday. It should be actually repeat work, so, pages they did together in class.

I would have a conversation with the teacher, because a kinder child is not supposed to have more than 20 minutes of nightly work. If it takes longer, stop, and tell the teacher your child did 20 minutes of work. That is my suggestion! Hope that helps.

I teach kindergarten and I must admit that I do give out big homework packets each week. However, some of the pages are so easy and take a minute or two. Parent involvement is a must and oftentimes very time consuming. But the homework should be skills that have already been covered in class. So most of the time the students can do the entire packet on their own. Kindergarten is more like first grade now and there is very little play time. So get ready for the academics!!!!!!!!!!

Being an educator, I feel homework for kindergartners is age appropriate and necessary. The homework given is not difficult. It usually requires using coloring and cutting skills, learning nursery rhymes and letters of the alphabet or numbers. The homework should not take more than 20 minutes for the child to complete. Some teachers like to give packets of homework so work is not lost. One or two pages should be done daily...not the entire packet in one sitting!

LAUSD uses Open Court as their reading series. It requires the children to learn the phonetic sound of each word so they will be able to look at a word and sound it out. This series starts in Kinder.

Besides improving a child's fine motor skills, helping to learn required curriculum, etc. homeworks let YOU know what your child is learning in school. Learning does not stop at school. Parents must become involved with their child's education. We see such a difference in the children who have parents that are involved and children who do not have any involvement with their child's education. Do not fret! It will be easier than you think.

I am so glad you posted this. I have been complaining about this for awhile now....My daughter is in first grade now. In kindergarten she received a weekly packet, she was supposed to do a few pages a day and turn it in on Friday. We're also supposed to read 15 minutes a day. Argghhh...what sucks also, is that they focus more on academics and less on art, music, and physical education :( compared to when I was a child. (I'm 31).

Plus, in first grade, the math has gotten so advanced. I remember this one math problem that she had.

There were two races. 9 horses total. The first race had 3 more horses than the second race. How many horses in each race. Supposedly, it's understood that not all the 6 year olds in the class would understand this problem...it's freakn' basic algebra. Aren't you supposed to be 12 or 13 for tat? Now...what the heck happened to 4 + 2 =6 or 5-3 = 2? It felt bad for my daughter...when she would tell me she couldn't understand...she looked so frustrated. If not all the kids can understand at this age...then why teach it so early? It just makes the kids feel bad and it affects their self-esteem.

Hi J.,
The problem is "no child left behind" has pushed 1st and 2nd grade work down to Kindergarten. The kids are forced to do things we didn't do until later. However, my son started Kindergarten in Sept and he gets one or 2 pages on Tuesday and Thursday only. I don't mind it because it's all review and takes only a few minutes. He likes it because it makes him feel grown up and he feels proud of himself that he can do it on his own.

If you are planning to send your daughter to your neighborhood school, make an appointment with them to see what their policy is. The prinicpal will usually let you sit in on a class. It will help put your mind at ease.

Good luck!

L.

I too wondered about homework for my 5 year old when she started K last year-esecially since my older daughter never did such a thing...but the news is, they are ready for it and they can handle it. they actually like the challenge. And, teh teachers do prep them for th etask of the day...I admit, it still stresses me out when we sit down to do it, wondering if there will be a meltdown...but there rarely is--unless there is hunger or tiredness involved...

I know from my own school expereince that I needed quiet, alone time outside of the classroom to really absorb whatever I had glanced at during the school day.

My older duaghter now doesn't have ANY homework (she's 13) and boy, is she bored at night! She does dance at school so afterschool exercise isn't the solution...She reads a novel a week and begs for extra TV/compueter time...

also, it does seem time for our kids to get on with learning--after visiting my niece and nephew in Canada, who are younger, I now know that US kids are still doing less than most kids in the world!

I am a 4th grade school teacher and I completely agree with you about homework. It should be used as a tool for light review and not a teaching tool. At back to school night I let parents know that I believe homework should be a short review and if their child is spending too much time on homework then I ask them to set a timer for 20 minutes and write me a quick note on the homework page itself. I also let them know that I do not want them spending all evening on homework; I want them out playing and spending time with family. I also give parents the option of more homework if they feel I do not give enough for their child; only once have I been asked for more homework. The dilemma I have run into has been upper grade teachers. My students get to 5th grade and are bombarded with homework. So should I give more in 4th grade to prepare them for upper grades???

My son is in state preschool and gets 7-8 pages of homework. I was upset by the amount of homework however he enjoys it and asks for more.

I'm a 49 year old father of an eight year old. I hated school when I was a kid. After seeing what my boy has to go through I'd hate it even more if I was a student today. I'm a retired military officer and we are infamous for berating the younger generation for having it too easy. These kids today have a tougher row to hoe than those of my generation. Kids should be allowed to be kids, it doesn't last that long after all. There is too much stress in this life as it is, I'm for putting it off as long as possible. My boy's kindergarten was much more demanding than mine...it was harder than my first grade.--Dan Carpenter

Hi J.,

All I can say is, I went to Kinder preview night for my son (4 1/2) and the kinder teacher said "we do so much during the day with your kids, teaching, practicing letters, number, etc..... we don't send them MORE work to do at home, we cover it all right here.....

Good luck to you.

Dear J.,
Schools have changed and the expectations for our kids has risen. The homework will challenge the kids but it shouldn't overwork or overwhelm them. It is necessary in order to start preparing them for the higher grades, they'll learn to be disciplined and to become independent. Additionally, they'll get an understanding of what is expected of them. It is appropriately modified for each grade level. Keep in mind that it'll be homework for us (the parents) as well for the first few years until they get into the habit of doing it on their own, this should start happening by the end of 2nd grade.
A recent study showed that our nation's 15 year olds scored in 25th place in math and 21st in science compared to 40 other countries, this is unacceptable. I understand, that as adults your time at home should be time spent with family however when we are talking about the education of our kids, homework is part of that and necessary in order for our kids to succeed in school. Given these new study results, it's alarming and perhaps not enough is being done in both our schools and homes. Homework will prepare your daughter for what is to come (Jr High, HS, College, etc). And don't worry, when my son was in Kindergarten he still had time for other things when he was done with his HW :) She'll be fine, but if she does get overwhelmed just talk to the teacher about it. They tend to work with the parent as a team and modify the work as necessary.
Have fun with it, helping them with their HW is a great way to bond with your child. It also shows them the importance you place on their education.

First of all, you are worrying over a situation that is not present in your life now. Why worry when you do not know how the situation will unfold. I am an elementary school teacher and I know that kindergarten teachers generally don't want to overburden a young child. When I taught kindgergarten, I gave weekly homework packets. All the homework was a given as a reinforcement of the weeks classroom studies. Most children, especially kinders, feel good about their accomplishments when their homework packets are complete. The child does what he/she is capable of doing and the teacher and child move on. If a child does not complete their homework for the week, it is generally not seen as a giant offense. The homework consists of letter and number recognition, matching and a lot of coloring. Make it fun and your child will feel a sense of accomplishment and well-being. If you fight against it and think it that is the most ridiculous thing that a kindergartener has homework, then your child will model your behavior. In my experience, most kindergarteners love homework especially when they have older siblings. They love to show off their work and feel as important as their older brothers or sisters.

Hi J.,
I was a second grade teacher before having my kids and I know that our Kindergateners also got homework. I was never very fond of assigning homework myself, but the school required us to give a grade appropriate ammount of homework each day. That usually included 15 minutes of reading, and some review type worksheet. I liked sending the packet out on Monday to be returned on Friday so that if you have activites during the week you could take a night off and catch up another day. I think that the schools rational for sending the homework is so that you know what your child is learning, and so you can see any weaknesses that she might have and help support her. The teacher has 19 other kids during the day and their hope is that some one on one time with a parent will help the material sink in even more.
You are right to think that Kindergaten has changed. I think my jaw about hit the floor when I walked into a Kindergarten class for the first time. It is not just play time it is serious learning. It is all age appropriate ABC,s learning to read, simple math, science, and history, but my how times have changed and I am only 28!
Anyway don't stress yourself too much it should be only about 30 minutes of work including the reading each day, and if you really have a problem with it talk to her teacher when the time comes. Believe it or not I had parents asking for more homework for their kids, and stuff to do on vacation!

Hi J.,

My daughter is in kindergarten right now and the work they get it totally manageable and actually reinforces what they are learning in the classroom. While I do admit some weeks it can be a pain, especially if we have a lot going on, it really is good for the kids and it's a nice way for us to work with her on her reading, alphabet, spelling, etc. She has amazing teachers, however, they can't always give the one-on-one time that we can and if you space the homework out the way the teachers set it up, it's really only about 20-minutes a day/night besides nightly reading.

I also work in the classroom, and you can definitely tell the kids whose parents work with them and those who do not and struggle a bit. And they do get a lot of time in the classroom doing the things kindergartners should be doing - singing, crafts and learning! My daughter absolutely loves kindergartn and her teachers! She's really blossomed this year and is looking forward to first grade.

Hope this helps...
J.

Hi J.- not sure what city you live in, but I have found that the public schools do seem to be giving more homework, and at an earlier age. Some private schools will have different philosophies regarding homework. My daughter goes to Carden Hall in Newport Beach, and they do not believe in giving children homework until the 4th Grade. They believe (like you) that the work should be done during school with aid from the experts- the teachers. Once the children have mastered reading and some mathmatics, etc., they should be mature enough and self motivated to complete their homework in the evening on their own. Just one school's philophy, but they have a proven track record of graduates doing well in High School, with the majority excelling in college and beyond. Rather than trying to change the school system (which would be extremely difficult), you may be better off finding a school that believes in the same philosophies that you do. We are very pleased with Carden and the fabulous, caring teachers that they have. Good luck!

My Youngest child completed kinder last year. She had homework on a weekly basis. The packet included some practice writing sheets as well as math and a reading log. It took about 20 minutes to complete. This is not a long time. Considering that she was only in class for 3 and 1/2 hours, and in a class of 19 other kids who are at all different learning levels, 20 minutes is not alot to ask a parent to supervise. The primary care and instruction SHOULD come from home. It is not the sole responsibility of the teacher to make sure that YOUR child is at the level he or she should be at. Think of it as your way of contributing to your childs success in school. Good habits begin at a very young age. When they get to middle school and high school, I gurantee that the homework will increase and there will be no way for your child to "leave school at school". That is almost comical. The learning standards are so much higher than when you or I were in kinder. This is a good thing. If we want our children to do well in life, then we as mom's have to make sure we are doing our part in getting them prepared. Don't try and leave it for the teachers at school. Spending time with your child, doing homework, reading to them, is a joy.

I'd love to know the responses you have gotten. My children just went into 2nd & 3rd grade & my evening after work consisted of about 1 & 1/2 hours of homework, along with baths & dinner & by that time its bedtime. I am a single mom and I work fulltime. I would liket o know how some parents do it & why don't they do more in the classroom? Is it that to make up for that Tuesday they are dismissed early?????

I had homeschooled my eldest two sons and therefore did not have this issue. I don't remember that my 3rd son had homework in Kindergarten, but a year later, when my daughter went, they were sending home weekly packets with about 20 pages of work! As a child therapist, it is most important at this age for children to be working on gross motor skills and active imaginations. They need to 'play.' Many schools now have full day kindergartens and then they require a good 30 to 45 minutes of homework. With the way that society is, this takes away almost completely from what kids need to do...just play.

So, I went to the teacher and told her that my daughter would not be doing the homework packets. I explained my reasoning and that in the US, kindergarten is optional and not a required grade.

She didn't argue. My daughter's grades were not affected. I think that the only thing that 'originally' affected her is that she did not go to preschool, but by second grade, she was on the same level as the other kids. Now, she is the top of her class academically and believe it or not, LOVES homework. I have to tell her to stop of Friday nights because it's family night. Currently, she is striving to learn pre-algebra over the summer so that she can be in algebra beginning her 7th grade year.

Each child is different. My second son would have loved the kindergarten homework packets....you have to do what is best for your child.

TTFN

A.

I have three children my youngest is now in 1st grade here in Desert Hot Springs, CA. Last year she was sent home a packet of homework on Friday and it was due on the following Friday. It was not hard and she enjoyed doing it. I has a 15 year old who started kinder in on school that did not have homework and when we had to move in the middle of the year he was not where he needed to be and the wonderful kinder teacher spent extra time with him in the mornings and got him caught up with the California standards, and at the second school he did have homework and it was geared towards the letters and numbers that he just was not comfortable with. Now i would like to say said 15 year old is in freshman high school and is in high honors and AVID, he has hours of homework a night but they are already looking at colleges and where they are going to be in the next 4 years.

On another note, I have started back to school and I am considered full-time, and I work full time and I have atleast 3 hours of homework for each of my three classes.

Just be patient with the teachers and talk to them they love the children like there own and want what is best for there children. My 1st grader still goes about once a month and eats lunch with her kinder teacher... They really bonded and that is what it is about,

good luck

I feel that a child's new experience of learning stems directly from those closest to them, which would be you. It is extremely important that you don't transfer that anxiety about your child's new beginning to them. This new experiences will give your child an opportunity to learn how to enjoy and appreciate the learning experience! Teach your child at a early age that learning is fun, not a chore. I understand how you feel, coming from a unfamiliar place, and not knowing what is going to be the outcome. That is what you as a concern parent should want to know.

Today, children are doing poorly in school because some parents seem to feel that they are not getting an education. When children are provided with the basic knowledge early along with social skills, they excel. The homework gives them the practice, which improves that child's ability to do well. this then lends that child the opportunity to improve many skills that can be over looked. Remember at one time cell phones and CD players had not exsited. You said yourself that it's been so long for you, since being in kindergarten. The children have advanced and need to be prepared. Changes are why children need to move forward to improve the quality of their education.

Your attitude will determine how your child will do in school. You must change your perspective. I am speaking from experience. I was a kindergarten teacher, and the problem started with the parent. When you are afraid, you are teaching your child to fear. Be courageous, for that will bring out the very best in you, your child and that teacher. Help your child's teacher by being, an asset to your child's education.

I gave my kindergarten students homework. Most completed the packet at their own pace. I had parents that taught their child to be afraid, that made my job twice as difficult. I now had to use my parent skills teaching that child appreciation and trust, of themselves and me... the teacher. I worked diligently and courageously and I was very successful. My scholars became the leaders, at the elementary school. Every, teacher beginning from the 1st grade through the 5th grade wanted the student that I taught. My student were prepared and disciplined, and more importantly, so happy about learning. After three years of providing a platform for success. I was given the teacher award. The parents were extremely satisfied that they register their other children, the following year so that I could teach them as well.

What I taught children and parents is to enjoy seriously taken responsibility about their education. Children are still children but, remember responsibility begins way before kindergarten. It's not just all fun and games.

I am a single parent with two independent sons. Entrepreneur.
Background: Masters In Educational Counseling

Hi! What a relief to hear your anxiety around this issue! More parents need to be concerned about this. There is now so much pressure on kids to perform. Overloading kids with homework is having the lovely effect of turning kids off to the fun of learning. It squeezes it right out of them. Parents seem to be afraid of upsetting the school administrators rather than fighting for the sake of their children's life long relationship with learning. Let's start demanding change! I have been vocalizing this for years! I talked to my kids teachers every year and told them how I feel about homework. It should be very minimal if at all. Home time is for family and family related chores - or sports, dance etc. . . Not for continuing to cram more memorization etc. . .
I was a teacher for a year at a charter school here in long beach where homework was not given. See - we are not alone. Keep voicing your feelings about these issues - we can change things!!

Can see why you are interested and concerned, and YES there may be SOME that churn out worksheets n other stuff that's sometimes not even relevant for the child's level BUT they are few and far between.
We hope!
You can always talk with the teacher - you need to be a 'team'.

;-)

Mostly the teacher will be giving them

1. follow up to consolidate ideas

2. tasks for a sense of responsibility

3. you to enjoy seeing their progress

4. have info about what letters / colors / themes / numbers etc they are focusing on and how

and so that helps you

5. encourage learning on the topics at hand and draw comparisons where you can

6. foster consistency of approach / level

7. avoid confusion with school/learning - by being a bit more on the wavelength of with the teacher.

The most important thing is that you do h/w things with your child at this age and let them show off to you what they are learning. It's vital. It's another chance to praise them. 2 easy pages a night is usually max?

Although you are correct that PLAY is in many ways like children's WORK (by which they improve their brains and skills etc) I do not think you are right to see school as a child's JOB, at this age anyway.
It really is just a part of their on going experience of life.

It's much better that a child feels it's "across the board" and doesn't see 'school work' as just for school - as they get older these are the children that drop out, if they don't see the relevance or application of it. You can avoid this by deliberately putting what she learns into practice in 'real life' like shopping etc ... outside school!

Learning should be fun, for young children, and if it's not you will have problems. So, feel free to request adjustments or to opt out of h/w tasks sometimes (or always) and ask questions and give feedback about it.

What was your experience with the teens like?
I do sometimes wonder if some schools aren't churning out paper just to make certain parents happy... You might find she loves it! If not, let them know it is no help, or set your own! It should be fun and short.

Hi J. -

I whole-heartedly agree with you; but there's not much you can do about it, short of putting your daughter in a school that doesn't give homework until higher grades. It seemed completely age-inappropriate to me and I was very upset about it when my daughter started Kindergarten.

However --- that packet you've heard about? Yes, it's about 2 pages a day, plus some reading (they "read" these little books with mostly pictures, plus of course you read to your child as well). The homework itself will actually be some very simple and even fun little activity pages. The work they send home with the kids is age appropriate. And most kindergarten teachers realize the kids that age aren't so ready to be accountable for homework. I think the point behind it is to reinforce what they learned during the day, help them build confidence as they accomplish, and get them used to the idea of homework.

All that said, we often had a terrible time getting our daughter to do it. Her K teacher (and even the 1st & 2nd grade teachers in the subsequent years) would tell us and the other parents in the class, to just aim for spending a certain amount of time on it (for K, I think it might have been 10 or 15 min). And if it didn't get done, just write a note saying you tried. Though our daughter resisted, I knew other parents who said their kids enjoyed doing it and would blast through it. You can imagine how happy I was to hear that ;-} She's in 3rd grade now and sails through it -- I have no idea what caused the shift, but I'm relieved!

My point I guess is that as horrifying as it sounds, it's workable, because the teachers don't truly expect to see these perfectly filled out packets of homework. You try, you do what you can, and that's a way for the teacher to know where your kid is developmentally and academically.

By the way - your school experience sounds great! I'm 52 and that's not how it was at my school. We didn't have much homework in 1st or 2nd, but it was quite a lot as the grades got higher (parochial Catholic school). I remember how much I hated it and wondered what the point was. I still do, but I can't let that on to my child!

Hope that helps. All the best to you and your family,
Colleen

Hi J.,
My first son, now 12, did kindergarten twice (due to being born in Dec. he was young & another year had him better prepared for 1st grade.) He came home with games that the two of us could play which wasn't so bad. The school also wanted us to read together and write down the books read (for prizes at the local pizza shop). Those were both enjoyable. There were times that I wondered if working parents would have the time to do some of the things they sent home. One time we taped words onto objects all over the house, "lamp" "closet" "wall" etc. It got harder when he brought home simple books to read to me because he had such trouble sounding out the letters and making them into words. I think now that it was just too young for him and regret the "torture" that it became for both of us. He learned to read well in 2nd grade and became an avid reader in 3rd grade (just like me) - so looking back on it, I wish I hadn't worried over it so early on. But they teach kids to read here halfway through kindergarten and most seem to pick it up easily.
With my second son, we switched both to a new school, that did not send home homework. We still read at night, of course. Still do sometimes with him reading one page and me reading the next, just for nice time together before bed. He only comes home with work (even now in 3rd grade) with anything that isn't completed during classtime. I LOVE this. Afternoons can be for play, sports, chores and other things outside of schools that I think are also important. The new school has a one hour longer day (8 a.m. - 3:15), so I'm glad we don't have to come home to a load of homework every night. Before we switched, my older son (in 3rd grade at the time) came home with work that took a 1/2 hour to one hour to complete - he did it quickly, but I can only imagine trying to get that done with a less cooperative child.
Good luck with your kindergarten experience with your little one!

Dear J., I can't say for sure because I don't know what school your daughter will be going too, but I don't think you have much too worry about. I teach first grade at a public school, and I too give a weekly homework packet. Most teachers in the lower grades (k, 1st) give VERY simple homework that is meant to reinforce concepts already taught in class. It is usually completed very quickly and students often enjoy doing it because they can also color it. Usually the focus is on learning letter sounds and reading - an extra 15-20 minutes to focus on this at home will go such a long way. I think you will be pleasantly surprised...try not to think too much about it until next year! :)

Hi, I am a 31 year old school teacher and a mommy of a 7 month year old boy. The last two years I have taught first grade and did my student teaching in Kindergarten. I understand your concern for homework and the amount that is given.

My experience showed me that it is actually benefitual for Kindergartners to get homework. Now the amount can be debatable. By the end of first grade your child needs to be able to write a sentence according to the california state standards. That is given at state level not school level.

Your child will learn patterns such as blue, blue, red, red, blue, red, blue. Your child will be taught to read and know high frequencey words such as the word: like and the. This is a good thing!!!

Over the years the california state standards have increased the amount of knowledge required for each grade level. That goes with any state.

I am also a reading specialist and when kids come to first grade I can tell if their parents have been working with them in reading and writing. So pleeaase support your little one with their homework. It will mean more to your child than it does to you!

When we were younger in elementary school the amount of knowledge for each grade level has changed. The state is requiring more of our little ones.

you and your husband are fortunate you don't have to bring work home from your job many people do...My husband and I do.

I do agree that childhood goes quickly by and preserve it as much as possible.

Hope this helps!

I agree with you 100% about not bringing work home. School is very stressful for kids now, thanks to NCLB. Teachers have to start preparing their students in kindergarten for what lies ahead of them, otherwise their school will suffer if test scores aren't high enough.

I would speak up to anyone and everyone you can about it, locally and nationally. There are many websites out there for change. It might not bring immediate change but if we don't start speaking up, collectively as parents, we're giving in at the expense of our children's well-being.

fwiw, I ended up home-schooling my daughter until 4th grade (she decided to return to be w/her friends), and it was wonderful for us. That might be a path you want to consider.

Good luck.
M.

I have a 2nd grader in a public school and I do feel strongly that the homework is too much. Without going into too much detail (because I could go on and on and on), let's just say I also believe that kids should be kids and that after 6 1/2 hours of formal schooling I'd prefer she get a break. You'll hear that the homework is meant to "enforce the concepts" they're learning in class, that it will "teach them responsibility" and "get them ready" for more homework as they get older. I have two suggestions for you. 1) Read the book "The Case Against Homework" (sorry, I've loaned it out and can't remember the authors' names) as it will give you lots of info and data on this subject; 2) Talk to your child's teacher about it. I've found my daughter's teachers to be quite open to finding compromises. For example, if my child has been extra tired or had an important event to attend, I simply write a note letting the teacher know she won't be doing that night's homework. I will NEVER have my elementary-school-age child stay up past her bedtime for homework. I know parents who do, and that's their choice, but YOU are the parent and it's okay to push back. Good luck!

Hi J.~
I personally didn't enjoy my children bringing home tons of homework when they were in their early years of school. I rebelled against it and pulled them out of school completely. Our mindset was that they needed to be children. The homework took up most of their waking hours and there was no time for fun. With all that being said, our youngest is 15 and will be graduating next year from honors classes she took through Biola Univ, these classes were designed for homeschooled children. She is set on becoming a doctor. Ironically, she turned out enjoying a ton of school-work afterall, but didn't miss out on being a kid during those formative years. I don't regret homeschooling her, however, it is NOT for everyone. Our oldest daughter didn't enjoy it, luckily she is living a productive life, but life might have been better for her had she stuck with traditional schooling....just my .02 cents. Good luck!
M.

Relax, You are stressing over this to much. Yes my daughters had homework in kindergarten, but it was not anything to stress about. The Teachers now have a more strict curriculum to follow. They have certin goals to meet for your children.
The homework my children had was a color page or a letter practice page, and a small little book with 1 to 5 words on a page. EASY stuff.
If I remember right it took all of about 30 mins to help them finish.
They loved it, it made them feel important to have Mommy sit down and help them. And in your case she will be just like her big sister and brother.
Good Luck

Hi J.,
I teach first grade and all of our first grade teachers give a small packet of work that we expect the children to finish by the end of the week. The workload averages to about 2 pages an evening. It does seem a little crazy to be giving homework to children at that age, but when you see what they are learning you'll understand the necessity. Back when we were children, school was primarily developmental. Now school is entirely academic. High schoolers are now required to complete an exit exam in order to graduate, which means that we have to really start pushing the academics earlier on to get them ready. Even though it is a bit demanding, I am happy to report that the kids are more than able to do it. They seem to actually enjoy the mental stimulation and the majority of them are quite successful at it. The ones that aren't as successful at it are typically the ones that either have identified learning disabilities or the ones who have minimal support at home.

I don't know how much the public school will change their policies. I'm looking into charer school with different philosophies that don't have HW.
good luck

Hi, J.. I'm a former kindergarten teacher and a current principal. There are two answers to your question.

Kindergarten today is based on the backwards tracking from third grade: if kids do not read by third grade it's difficult for them to learn,"research" says. So kindergarten of today is focused mostly on reading and phonics drill, and with half day public k, homework is part of that. There is also some a common "urban legend" that the more kindergarten looks like real school, the smarter the kids are or will become.

the second part of the answer, is that while our goals for education have changed, 5 year-olds, and their bodies and development have not. 5 year-olds (and sixes for that matter) learn best by play and exploration. visit NPR's site for a reading about play. Fascinating research about how not enough make-believe can leave long-lasting omissions in skill development of "executive functioning", self-monitoring and self-control, all necessary for school success. Play and literature also extend student language development. They may sound out words well at five, but if they are not doing meaningful things, they will not be understanding what they read at third grade!!

Homework for K's should be play.

I raised five children....all had a packet to do every week...I picked my children up from school everyday to give them more time at home.....I gave them a snack and then we started homework....If you do what is alloted for the day....it isn't very hard....If you wait and try and do it all in one day...it becomes overwhelming for the child.....

By sixth grade I was very upset by the amount of homework sent home daily......I did complain...as we didn't have our family time in the evenings......My children did not have tv time unless they earned it......We did not have cable and only a video that I picked out was allowed.....Reading to my children was a daily thing when they were little.....Reading to me became a daily thing when they could read.....All my children read for at least twenty minutes a day....When you take away the tv....you will see you have plenty of time for everything else....All my children were on the honor roll at school.....It is restriction to watching the tv that makes all the difference....Also make sure your kids have an early bedtime.....Children who are tired never want to do their homework when they get home.....Also I found keeping children in sports do better in school....

I hope this helps you out...

Peachie

First of all, life has enough to worry about. Don't worry about something that isn't there yet. Secondly, homework in school is a fact. In each grade starting with Kinder. I was taken by surprise by this when my children started Kinder too. I remember painting and songs and a lot of fun. Now they are reading and doing math in Kinder. This gives them the basis for the rest of elementary. You can help by getting her ready for all of that.

One thing you should look into is where your daughter is slated to go to school. That makes a huge difference. Once there, staying in communication with the teacher is key. Being on the same page as the teacher is optimal - but it is not always possible. My youngest had a packet (I hated it) in Kinder. It came home on Monday and was due on Friday morning. All week it was as though I was the teacher for the homework. I then realized with 1st grade, that a lot of the time, that is how it is in every grade. My daughter is in the 8th grade and in a good school - and she still has questions that I need to be able to help her with. Ultimately, you cross that bridge when you come to it. But, you generally will be able to see in your daughter if it is too much or not. My kids love school and with one exception, my daughter's 4th grade year, they have never had so much homework that they wanted to not do it or fib to me about being done etc... Work with her now so she is ready for things. God Bless You and Good Luck!

Hi J.,
I have a kindergartener and a third grader and I have to say that I think the homework is a good idea. I get to see how well my kids understand what they are learning at school. When we get home from school, the kids have a snack. Then, it's straight to homework. That way, if they've forgotten their book or lost a page, we have plenty of time to borrow someone else's. I also think this routine helps set the stage for good work habits in the future when homework becomes harder. Good Luck to you. Hope this was helpful. -M.

Hi J.,
I am an elementary school teacher and have taught for 35 years. I have seen a lot of changes in policy and law in those 35 years. One of those changes is homework. We are required by law to give a certain amount of homework, which is increased by grade level. My policy is to give my lower elementary school children one sheet of either math or language homework and thirty minutes of reading plus studying their spelling words each evening Monday through Thursday nights. I don't give homework on weekends, holidays, or their birthdays. It is important to balance the practice, which is so valuable, with family time. I remember well how difficult it was to do it all as a working mom with my own two children, who are now in graduate school. Some teachers opt for a packet, which has its advantages. If the family has certain activities like church and sports on certain nights they might choose to finish the homework packet on the weekend and leave those nights free for their activities. I choose to give some each evening to get the children into the habit of doing some each day and bringing it back each morning. Either way, homework is required, and if it is handled properly, can contribute greatly to the learning process. Good luck with it.

J.,

I'm a Temecula teacher on leave this year with a daughter in kindergarten here. I've also substituted in her class. I don't know about every kinder teacher, but my daughter's teacher does send home a packet of "homework" with some worksheets to do and a list of other assignments to select from (only 12 need to be done in a MONTH'S time). It's not any harder than the work they've been taught in class like tracing numbers, writing words that rhyme with "cat" or looking at the picture given and writing "pin" or "dog" or whatever the picture is of. They are not very difficult. One of the possible assignments to choose from might be to write their numbers 1-20 or even to take a walk with a parent to look for signs of spring, etc. She likes them to select 3 a week and maybe a worksheet or two a week since there are only 5 or 6 in the packet. It hasn't been anything major and of course at the beginning of the year it starts out easy and gets progressively more challenging as they learn more things. In the past two months or so, they've started to bring home a kindergarten writing assignment every week to do. They're given a topic like, "My family" and have to write a sentence about that topic and draw a picture. If they can do two sentences at first, great. Eventually, they like them to move up to a few sentences. They sound out the spelling themselves and all that is required of the parents (at least so far) is to review with them the need for a capital at the beginning and a period at the end of their sentences. They're already doing journal writing in class so it's not a big stretch for them. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Once or twice a week they bring home the little guided reading book they've read with the teacher twice in a reading group that day to read to a parent. Again, not a difficult thing and never on the day that the weekly writing assignment is to be done. Since you have time before she starts kinder, I'd recommend you help her learn her letters (and the sounds they make) and numbers very well and even start writing them. If she can do that by the time she begins Kinder, she'll have a head start and do great. I'm not sure which school your daughter will go to, but I can't imagine them giving huge packets to finish in a week. Anyway, hope that sets your mind at ease a little! D.

Hi J.. I don't think there is anything wrong with your daughter getting homework. My son will be going into kindergarten this fall, and at his pre-school he's already doing homework. I get five or six pages on monday, and on friday he turns it in. I think it's great because when he does start kindergarten, he will be prepared. Sometimes, he gets first grade homework!

I dont have any suggestions to the first part of your post, but as a teacher (before I had children), I can respond the the last part of you post. Talking to the school board or the powers that be will do you no good, sadly. All this academic push in K is due to a trickling down of the requirements of the later grades, high school exit exam etc. College is the norm now a days, for example. The standards for all grades have changed, drastically. They are required to know certain things and there simply isn't enough time in the school day to teach and practice all of it, so sending home the "practice work" is the most logical thing to do. Another part of it too could be that kids might not be getting the support at home since both parents are working these days and dont have the time or energy to be teaching their kids sounds/letters/writing/reading before they enter K. You can also thank NCLB, no child left behind act. Hope this gives you some insight. Good luck.

Hi J.. I have been a teacher for 8 years and while I understand your anxiety about homework, it's not as bad as it seems. First of all, your little one is going to love homework as a kindergartener. For years, I'm sure she has watched your older children doing theirs (I assume they have homework) and will be excited for her turn. You and your husband may not bring home your work, which is great, but as part of the "job" of being a student, it is part of the learning process to reinforce these skills at home. It is also a wonderful way for you to be involved in your child's learning and keep abreast of what they are doing. It's a good way for you to monitor whether or not they excel or struggle with certain areas. If the homework load becomes excessive, then it is appropriate to talk to the teacher. But, as a teacher, may I suggest not to come in "guns blazing" about homework on the first day, nor go to the school board, because you are certain to start off on the wrong foot. Just see how it goes before you form any opinions. I hope this helps. And PLEASE don't let your daughter know your feelings about homework, you've got to show support for her learning.

As a public school teacher - the why is because unfortunately our kids don't come to school knowing what we knew in school. I went to school knowing how to read. Most kids went knowing sound and letlter recognition, etc. That's not happening now a days. The second reason is because our school day is NOT long enough! With NCLB - we really need the kids to know how to read before they leave kinder. I teach in 5th grade stuff I know I did NOT learn in 5th grade. So the powers that be have moved it all down the list. Remember when college was a rarity - now it's pretty important.

Now to release your fears about 18 pages - it's not that bad. I hold homework club for my 5th graders and take in siblings so often see K or 1 homework. 18 pages includes lots of pictures and graphics to color and usually only have 4 or 5 items on the page. Yessenia who is in 1st can whip through a page in about 8 minutes and she's not any smarter than the average student - and English is a second language for her.

15-20 minutes Monday, Tues, Wed, Thurs,s and you're home free. Many teachers give it Monday to Monday or Friday to Friday so you have the weekend.

I can't stress the importance of getting your 5 year old into sitting down with school work 20 minutes every night in addition to reading with you every night. Trust me - it will pay off int he long run.

Hope this helps alleviate your fears

I am a 3rd grade teacher with my son in kindergarten this year. It's true, that the average homework packet is about 10 pages, and he is supposed to read a small booklet a few times each day. On the surface this may seem like too much, but I assure you it isn't. Kindergarten today is much more academic than it used to be. In order for the children to succeed and progress, they need to practice certain tasks daily. Usually my son's packet has math fluency (which is reading numbers listed to me each day), and reading fluency (reading the alphabet,sight words learned, or small sentences) daily. I have seen him start out the week not knowing something and by the week's end, he can do it with ease. The other pages usually take an average of 5 minutes to complete. If you spread it out over the week, it is easy to get through the packet. Talk to the teacher early in the year, you will see this extra practice will make all the difference. Best of luck to you!

Aloha J.-Both of my boys started Kindergarten at age 4 and I was a little worried about the "work", but they did fine. I think today there is too much time spent trying to live up to the expectations of the "no child left behind" act and it pushes kids a little too far, too fast. My kids had a page of coloring or matching objects, etc., but I think 15-18 pages week is way too excessive! A child should get home from school and have time to use their imaginations, burn off energy with just play. I found that they learned more just playing than they did in school. When they stacked blocks, we talked about size differences, smaller and bigger, or quantities like 1/2 cup and 1/4 cup when they were playing with colored stacking cups. We counted apples and pears at the market and ounces of milk on their cereal, etc. Both of them were reading by kindergarten simply because we pointed out small words, then showed them how putting them together made a sentence. They were so excited about this concept. Learning comes in so many differnet guises. However, if the teacher is somewhat inflexible in the homework dept., make it a family affair and do it together so it seems more like fun than work. Good luck.

My son is in Kindergarden now, and has homework everynight but Friday. I do not agree with it but he seems to whip it out and not have a problem. We are in Hawaii and they have all-day kindergarden, which I do not agree with either, but he seems to be doing well.

Hi J.,

I think you might be getting a little ahead of yourself. There's no sense getting worried about something that may or may not happen a year and a half from now.

That said, if you feel that your daughter is getting too much homework once she starts Kindergarten, your first step would be to talk to her teacher. She may have specific guidelines that she has to follow, in which case your next step would be to talk to the school administrators.

My daughter was in Kindergarten last year and she came home with two pages of homework a night. It usually took us about 15-20 minutes to do it. In my opinion, this is a reasonable amount of time for a 5 year old and it helped reinforce what she was learning in school. It also gave me the opportunity to track her progress.

I agree with you that school is a child's job, but I disagree that homework is not necessary. It's one thing to perform a task at school surrounded by the teacher and your peers, but the true test of whether or not you can perform the task is when you try to do it on your own. This helps kids (and their parents) figure out where their weaknesses are so they can work on them.

I guess my advice would be to just cross that bridge when you come to it.

Good luck!!

Well, as an educator and parent of a 5 year old in Kinder this year I will share what I know. I know that every school/school district has a homewrok policy. You can contact the school/school district to find out their policy before you decide to send your child. My school district that I work and send my child to has policy a for Elem. Students that homework should not exceed 10-15 minutes(this could be work from a packet, book report, project,or a practice sheet ect) This time limit does not include the 30 minutes of reading each night that we reccomend. My Kinder comes home with a weekly packet (he can finish the whole thing in 30 minutes or less)I normally choose to complete it over the weekend so that our weeknights can be more focused on the nightly reading. He brings home 2 new reading books a week to practice reading with a parent, when he can read all of the words in the book we send it back for new ones. As a teacher I feel that homework is a chance for your child to share with you what they are learning at school, and for you to see thier progress at home. This also gives parents a chance to see areas that your child may be struggling with. Parents are a HUGE part of their childs education, it is not just the job of the school and teachers. Nest year (if class size reduction is eliminated due to BUDGET CUTS passed down from the states fiscal crisis, your childs teacher will no longer have a small class size which enables more small group instruction for students that are struggling. Children will need more support at home, and volunteers will be much needed in classrooms. So yes I agree that school is your child's job, but parents need to remember that they are children that need to be cheered on, encouraged, and supported at home. I am not saying that you don't do all of these things. Good luck with your Kinder Journey.. We are having a blast watching our little guy turn into a reader, and loving school. Good luck finding the right fit for your family.

Hi J.,
I taught Kindergarten. My feeling is that a Kindergartener (4 or 5 years old) should not have homework (besides maybe practicing reading 15-20 minutes a day). First off, a day at school for those little ones is hard enouph. Secondly, children of that age aren't mature enouph to remember to take home the homework, do the homework, and return the homework. So, it falls all onto the parent, which is not teaching the child anything but a bad habit (my mom/dad will do it for me). Lastly, a child of that age needs ample time to be a kid. Good Luck J..

My daughter is in first grade this year, but we had weekly packets of homework last year. I hated it! I have a day care in my home so I actually had three kindergarten kids last year, and they need to PLAY after school. Getting them to sit down and do their packets after they had been in the classroom for four hours was miserable. Reading before bed should be enough, worksheets get silly, especially since they always seem the same. Even this year, her worksheets for home do not change from day to day. The numbers in the equations might change, but that's it. She is starting to get better about it now, but she really has a negative attitude about school already, and she is not alone. The majority of the moms picking up each afternoon seem to feel the same way I do, and their kids fight school as well. I have a friend who moved back here at the start of the year, after her husband was stationed in England. Her daughter has been moved from 1st to second grade because she is so far ahead of where our kids are, after only attending Kindergarten in a public school in England, where she was not assigned homework at all. I think that the kids will learn more in class if the schools stop teaching with getting great STAR test results as a goal and instead focus on the kids having a well rounded experience.

Oh, one more thought then I will get down off my soap box... Our kids start school earlier then most states. Our cut off is Dec. 3, and if you live in a year round school situation like I do, that means your child can be 4 until halfway through the school year.

Hi J.,
I have two boys that are in grade school. My older boy went to a Christian school for pre-k and 1/2 a year of kindergarten. At thier current school the homework for kindergarteners is about 10 pages of easy worksheets. The packet is handed out on monday and is due Friday a.m. The Christian school had the same set up, but two less pages per week. However, the kids were in class 1-1/2 hours longer per day. The homework gets more intense every year. The school should have a policy regarding homework. Check with your local school as to their guidelines. I have had to speak to teachers regarding the homework and projects assigned on several occasions! Too much! I find that I have to manage their homework.. I have to know what is due when, and sit them down to do it. Then I review it, and we correct it. I help them on projects- and all the parents I know help their kids too. It is frustrating and really puts a damper on after school activities. I don't recall ever having to do homework before maybe fourth grade. None of my friends can recall that either, and we are not yet 40! Good luck!

P. W.

I think that the 8-15 pages of homework for a child that young is to much. If the school is giving out that much homework to a kinder then you may need to have a sit down with the school before your child starts. I have 6 children and none of them have ever recieved that much work. They usually get homework on friday and return it on thursday, its never alot, a healthy amount, but I disagree when you say they shouldnt bring work home with them. That is only practice for them, the teacher I am sure will understand as long as they try, most do. Im sure your daugter will do great too, just keep supporting her. Good luck!!!

Hi J.,

I think homework in Kindergarten is just another example of how we're making bad choices in an attempt to fix our failing educational system. Some other examples would be teaching kids to read too early and thinking they can learn more if they're constantly given standardized tests. More and more research points to the value of letting kids learn through play (probably the way you did as a kid). I have a 5-year-old (starting K in '08) and a 3-year-old, and I've grown increasingly concerned about how well they're going to do in public school. I'm afraid of fighting with them every evening to get what often amounts to "busy work" done. And the last thing I want is for them to hate going to school, reading, and learning. I love learning, and right now, they do, too.

My solution, up to this point, is to put them in a Waldorf school called "Heart to Hand" (I'm in Reno). I learned about the Waldorf method of teaching from a friend of mine who's Dutch. In Holland, there are a multitude of choices when it comes to educating your children (an entirely larger topic for a different discussion). Her two boys (8 and 7) LOVE going to school. They didn't start reading until 1st grade (that's when it's taught at Waldorf), and now they're voracious readers. The teaching methods emphasize creativity, play, respect, and fine and gross motor skills (for the youngest children). My kids love their school, which currently offers pre-K and kindergarten. They're planning to add 1st grade and up soon. I don't know what your financial situation is, but I'd encourage you to look into it. I wish our current system were set up to offer the Waldorf teaching method to every child in a public school setting, but we're obviously far from that. So, unfortunately, we've had to take matters into our own hands.

There's no way I could describe Waldorf and do it justice, but I can tell you this about my children's day: they spend a good amount of time outside, messing around with dirt, swinging on rope, and climbing on hay bails; they learn everything through stories and songs; no one ever yells at them or speaks to them in a harsh voice; and their playtime consists entirely of pretending with very basic toys that allow them to imagine everything for themselves. Their website is hearttohand.org.

J.,

I have a kindergarten boy right now that comes home with a packet of approx. 5-6 pages with both sides. I was a bit put off when that started but then I realized that I needed to change my perspective. I started looking at the homework as a glimpse into what my son was learning that week at school. We go through it on Monday afternoon and figure out how many sides he needs to do each day in order to turn it in on Friday. Friday morning is not an option for him to do any homework. I refuse to have any more stress in my mornings. I would rather him go to school with his homework incomplete.

He is allowed to play or watch TV (his choice)for a 1/2 an hour after we get home from school. I sit down with him and look over what he chooses to do that day. We then discuss what each page needs and I stay to see if he would like any help. I tell him to let me know if he has any questions and I will be in the kitchen if he needs me. I have given more info. on a past response about kindergarten homework.

It is your choice in how you want to face this issue with your child. Please forgive me for pointing out that being upset and full of stress about this possible future issue is only one one way to go. There are many more things in a child's life to be "extremely, extremely worried" about. I am also a parent of older children that did not have much homework in Kindergarten. For the sake of your daughter's education and future attitude about homework I hope that you will change your perspective on this future situation.

Deep Breathes help,

Evelyn

Hi J.!
I have seen both the one page and the packet. My daughter is now 11 but when she was in K we had the one page. They say that kids should only do homework for a certain amount of time. But the problem with that is some kids just can't handle any homework. In the 4th grade my daughters home work was about 45min to 1hr long. She would get it done but then she would have no play time.
I finally got sick of the situation at school, not just homework, and now we home school! it was the best decision I ever made!
We now get done with school between noon and 2pm and no home work! I know homeschooling doesn't work for all families and it took us 2 yrs to find a program that worked for us but we love it!

Lewann
lewann.fourpointwellness.com

Keeping my family safe and healthy and staying home doing it!

I wondered about this too. When my daughter finally went to kindergarten, we found out that homework was optional. My daughter is now in 1st grade and is excelling well. Both my husband and I didn't have homework in kindergarten.

But just look to your child. If she seems like she's struggling, talk to her teacher.

You also might be amazed at what she can accomplish. I think in the past we just didn't know how much we develop and at what age. This is the age of information and technology. Just think how primitive life was compared to today only 100 years ago!

hi my daughter is in kindergarten.she already learnt 53 words called key words and i bring easy to read books she gets very excited to read.my son is 17 when he was in k it was different but now first grade standard is in k ,it is not hard it is easy you will be alright and your daughter will too.when she staarts reading by herself you can see how excited she will be.

Hello J.,

Well to be honest this starts a good homework pattern for kids. But is sounds like you feel it is to much. If you feel that way then I would suggest that you put your child in another school. It is all up to what you want for you child. And it sounds like this is going to be too much for the both of you. It is up to you.

Jules

Dear J.,

It sucks!!!!! Kindergarten wasn't bad for my children - it was a packet for the week that worked out to about a page a day. It is a lot different now than it was when we were in school. It is now very standardized-test-score oriented. I would say that the homework in kindergarten is in preparation for the homework to come in other grades. The worst for us was my daughter's fifth grade class - it was a HORRIBLE year for her/us! And I tried to be her advocate, talking to the teacher and even the principal - to basically no avail. I swore that my youngest would not ever have that teacher and was prepared to fight if she ended up in the class, but the teacher retired before my baby got to that grade level. I wish I had known at the beginning of the year what it was going to be like for my daughter, I would have fought for another teacher then. By the time I figured it out, it was too far into the school year to switch - and I spoke to the teacher thinking it would help. It did a little for a short while. Then I spoke to her again - to no avail. My next step was to speak to the principal. When I told her that aside from snack, dinner and baths, my daughter did homework until (8 pm) bedtime, and had no time to go outside and play - she said, "Maybe she doesn't want to go out and play." Which to me was so beside the point! I don't know what the answer is - I sure haven't found it! I can only wish you luck . . .

B.

Hello,

I agree with you. I would check out alternative type of schools. Like Montessori, Waldorf, etc... Maybe one of these will resonate with you...

Can you talk to the kindergarten teacher and find out what they expect of 5 year olds?

Before becoming a stay at home mom, I taught in the public schools for over 14 years, mostly kindergarten. I have mixed feelings about this. I feel that we are pushing a lot of kids too soon. When I first started teaching in kindergarten, the skills the kids had to master were very basic: numbers to 20, letter, colors, shapes, etc. By the time I left in 2005, the children were expected to read by the time they left kindergarten. I think everybody is feeling the pressure and this goes from the superintendent, to the principal, to the teacher, to the parent, to the student. Because of this (and 'no child left behind') we all have to take on more responsibility to get these kids to achieve. Now that I am a parent, I just want my daughters to be kids. I'm not saying that homework is not important. It teaches responsibility and reinforces skills learned in the classroom. The amount of homework given will obviously depend on the school and the teacher. At my school, we gave a good amount of homework. I did feel justified though b/c it was in an area where that had a lot of low achievers and low test scores. There were many skills that they needed to catch up on and they really needed the practice. Also, the parents of the students in my class usually wanted more homework. Hope this helps.

I think homework is a joke for kindergarteners. I think a lot of parents are really impressed with the idea that kids get homework that young, but I don't think it is good for the kids. I think you have to find the right school.

There might be another way to look at this (as you stated you and your husband did not have to bring work home), however your child is entering into the sphere of learning without your input. When your child goes to school the information received would be received via textbook right? By you interacting with your child at this young age you would be able to see what kind of things she will be expected to learn. In order for her to be teachable my thoughts are that as a parent you could help her in being a person who has a teachable heart and that learning about things will only add to her experiences in life and with you helping it could be the best time for each of you. Possibly a good bonding time for both of you - whether when she got home or even right after dinner and then you have the rest of the evening to enjoy being a family.

I know it sounds like a lot, but it really isn't. Give it a chance and you'll see that it's pretty enjoyable for everyone.

I am a teacher at a K-8 school and I would say, write to your Congressman! No Child Left Behind has put such pressure on schools and teachers to get children proficient so early on that Kindergarten is no longer just about fun, socialization, and scissor skills. The expectations for kids just entering 1st grade are so high that Kindergarten teachers have to do more than ever to get them ready. A lot of the fun has left our profession in the interest of test scores. Art and music have been replaced with extra hours of language arts and math. Even science and social studies don't get the attention they deserve because the scores in those areas don't really count. Kindergarten teachers are just doing what they have to in order to keep their schools out of trouble with the state, so if you really think this should change, tell it to the government that thought this was a good idea!

Why? I am a kindergarten and think the expectations are too high. However, those are the standards and most kinder teachers do push are kids to meet them. Fortunately our kids at this age are very eager to learn and capable of taking in alot of info.
Please do not complain about homework in front of your little one. You can also find out through your teacher what is the time recommended for homework, in my district it is 10-15 minutes.
As a kinder teacher I do not plan to send my son to pre-school and will try to find a school that has half day kinder.
Good luck,
Ceci

don't get me started!!! i'm a firm believer in no homework anyway...it's a waste of time and teaches children nothing. especially little kids, but all kids need outside interests and time to plan, hang out with friends and family and pursue life...let alone sleep and relax!!!
i hate it hate it hate it...but, alas, it's the way of the world and unless you're willing to pay for an amazing private school who believes as you do, you're stuck! i just try to instill in my kids that it's the following directions part of it. if they try and don't complete it, even if it drops a grade, I will know that it's just a stupid rule. and i will always understand as long as they try. homework sucks!!! wish i had a better thought for you...wish i could change the rules!!!

Although I can kind of see your opinion about not bring your work home with you, but when it comes to school it has to be a little different. If you think about it, there is a HUGE change happening in our state with the education system. We are losing hundreds of valuable teachers! That means larger classes and less one on one attention for each child. That means your kid may fall behind the learning curve simply because the teacher didn't have the time to make sure every child understood. It is OUR responsibility as parents to make sure our kids understand and are keeping up with expectations for their age and grade. We can't expect the teachers to do it all. To be honest, 8-15 pages in one week is only about 2 pages of review a night. That doesn't seem like much more to me and the one page review you mentioned before. At least you have a better idea of where your child is at, and what they are doing at school. Hopefully you find a school that suits you and your daughters educational needs. :o)

My daughter is 5 and a second year pre-schooler because of a late birthday (Dec. 26). After applying for enrollment options through the public school system and doing 7 parent tours of prospective schools, I've learned ONE really important thing:

It is really YOUR choice re: what school/teacher/community your child is exposed to with respect to the type of education she receives.

Despite all of the recent problems regarding layoffs and poor mismanagement of funds for educating our children, San Diego offers loads of options for schooling. Within those choices, you again have the option of sitting in on many kindergarten classrooms and finding out teachers' philosophies and expectations with respect to homework.

To be pro-active about this type of situation (because I am also concerned about this dilemma), my plan is to meet the teacher(s) that my daughter will be taught by and ask those important questions. If I don't like what I hear, I will look for another teacher or school that is the right "fit".

A perfect example is one of the schools that was a total language immersion school option for my daughter. After visiting, my husband and I really had to decide HOW important is it to us that she become bilingual. It was admitted to us that the students DO fall back a bit learning basic academics while learning a new language (there is no English spoken from K-3rd grade!). The idea is that they catch up later and have a second language as a bonus.

However, my daughter is a "high energy, easily frustrated" type of child. I just didn't think it was a good "fit" for her and being bilingual was just not AS important to us as maintaining the basic academic learning in the early years.

Good luck and happy researching!

L.
BTW: I have a 19 year old step-daughter and a 3 year old daughter as well. I have seen first-hand with my step daughter how we could have been more pro-active with selecting a different type of school for her. She really got "lost" in the larger public school and could have really benefited from more individualized attention in a smaller one.

I am with you all the way on this. Just some background: I come from a long line of teachers. My mother taught first grade for 35 years and was considered a master teacher. I taught for 10, and was a founding member of the Irvine Unified SD School Board. The only homework I advocate for most children for grade school is reading for pleasure and perhaps talking over some ideas generated from topics introduced at school. That was the homework my 8th grade gifted students received from me. It took parents a little while to get used to the idea that "thinking" might be worthwhile homework, but I believe I was considered a good teacher. How can families have time to do things like visit museums and concerts, how can children have time to study music, draw and paint, do science experiments at home, build something, plant some vegetables, put on amateur plays or play dress up, or do any of the other myriad things that complete their real education?

None of my children did homework until perhaps some in intermediate school and in high school. They are intelligent and well-educated adults, with far ranging interests. I fear that we are raising a nation of automatons.

I cannot imagine the kindergarten child who needs to do any formal homework. I would so inform the teacher. I bet your child will do just fine. Reading together and playing games that teach counting (counting spaces to move your piece, and adding up your points is fun and great math training for a small child) is plenty of "homework." It is a shame that people have to leave the public school system to find appropriate education. We can only hope that "no child left behind" will soon disappear!

I have a four year old who is in pre k. He gets homework weekly. A packet comes home every Monday and is due on Friday. First of all I think it is great it is usually a paper for him to writwe his name a few times and some about the letter of the week. It is good for him because when the rest of my kids are doing their homework he feels like a big boy because he has homework too. i also must add taht at 4 he is now reading on his own. He had his first spelling test last week his words were cat, dog, purple, and cow. It really helps him and he grows with it. Part of his homework is to read for 20 minutes every night(either I or my other kids read to him) but now he is actually reading to me on some nights. The homework can only help with the learning process. It will make your child fell good about herself and make her feel like a big girl. When she reads that first word to you it might even bring tears to your eyes. It is a wonderful feeling.

K.

My daughter is 4 1/2 years old and is in Pre-K and she has a page of homework 4 days a week. It takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to complete and she really enjoys doing it and is quite proud of her work. She has an older brother and sister and likes having homework like the big kids. I love having this chance to see what she's doing in school, how she's coming along with it and to give her positive reinforcement. The homework is not drudgery to her, and it it important for parents not to treat it as such. It is amazing to me when parents complain that they can't sit with their child for 15 minutes a day for homework! Do they understand what 4th, 5th 6th grades are like? Some kids breeze through, but some kids require you to be all over them and their homework. I think a little page of coloring or counting or writing numbersand letters is a wonderful way to set a child up for good study habits in the future, not to mention good training for the parents to be involved with their child's learning. The "job" of learning does not only take place during school hours, it happens every second of the day! And putting in your hours at your chosen employment is definitely not the same as going to school, feeding a child's hungry mind and learning to be and upstanding, social individual.

I am studying to be a teacher and have had some experience with kindergatners. You would be surprise how much a child benefits from having homework. Especially when the parent helps them with it. Not only is it a time for parents and children to spend quality time, but there are many more expectations for children to learn before they leave elementary school. Sometimes the time at school isn't enough for the teacher to cover all that they need to in order to prepare the K student for the next year. In first grade the expectations double and the homework increases. Most of the time the homework in for Kinder is reinforcement of what they are currently learning in class. Just keep an eye out of how much time the homework is taking to complete. 1/2hr a day is about the time most Kinder teachers give, not including reading time. I hope this eases your mind a little. I do believe that the support from the parents makes a difference!

My kindergartener LOVES homework! She feels so proud to show me how she knows her colors, can stay in the lines, and can write and read. I think it builds her confidence level and THAT is a good thing. If it gets to be too much for her, then I will talk to the teacher. After 6 months though, she still enjoys homework.

Hi J.,

I have a 2nd grader and a 4 y.o. starting Kindergarten next year. Both are in private school. It has been my experience that private school has more homework than public and we are surviving just fine with homework and school projects.
I wouldn't let the amount of homework scare you so much. In my experience, my oldest daughter had a packet of homework to take home on Monday and you finish it by Friday. But mind you, it is Kindergarten level work. Simple stuff. 30 mins of uninterrupted homework time everyday should be enough to finish the homework packet for the week.
The trick is setting an afternoon schedule to make homework a priority. We usually do snack when they get home from school, then homework. Once, homework is done, then they have all rest of afternoon and evening to play.
Education is priceless. The more you put in, the more you get out. So try not to stress too much about the workload. It's really not that bad! If you have a great attitude about school and homework, your kid will too and homework time will feel much less burdensome and more fun w/ the right attitude. Good Luck! - Mary S.

You've gotten a million responses, but my advice is simple. Don't beat yourself up with worry---make an appt. with the principal of the school where your daughter will be attending, and ask her about it. She'll let you know what their K teachers are assigning for homework. In fact, if you ask, she'd probably give you a copy of their current homework packet. My youngest is in 4th grade, and he had minor homework at night. They got a packet on Monday, and a small assignment was due each day of the week. It was very easy and manageable. The most difficult assignment was signing and addressing the Valentine's to their classmates (one for every student), but we were given one month's notice, so it was easy to spread them out. We had an excellent teacher, he loved his year,had so much fun, and still managed to learn a great deal! By the way, at the end of the year, he was a pretty fluent reader. I think it helps if you give them a "bonus" year in pre-school for fall babies. My son was almost 6 when he began kindergarten. He could work circles around the kids who were barely 5 when they began--not because he was smarter, but that he was more mature and could focus and concentrate.

I cannot answer the why. I have heard it is to start preparing them for the future. I can say that more than an easy follow-up page and some reading is too much homework for a kindergartner. I am a middle school math teacher. I would prefer to give a lot less homework than I do. However with the number of topics I am expected to teach, we do not have adequate time in class to practice them so the students have to do so for homework. I do not think homework in and of itself is a bad thing. I do believe it has to be reinforcement for what is learned in school. The students should not be expected to learn something new during homework time.

I wish I did not have to bring work home with me. However, I do. So maybe homework was good practice for that. :-) Good luck and enjoy the school years. Stay involved especially with your teenagers. I need your help and support at the middle school and high school.

I am a "retired" teacher of 5th graders. As a teacher, homework was NOT my favorite thing to give. But, the school board dicated that I had to give a certain amount of homework. Now that I'm a mom, my son will be entering kindergarten this fall, I too am a little concerned. Some teachers out there do give a lot of homework. Some more than others. You can talk to the principal and get the district's guidelines on homework. You can then talk to your teacher and see what she thinks and tell her your concerns. I suggest talking to her before you get your first packet so it doesn't seem like you are complaining. However, often the packets are simple and fun for littler ones. If your attitude reflects disgust about homework now, you are setting your daughter up for a much tougher road when homework is a little more important. Consider it personal time with your little one and enjoy it the best you can. Kids who do best in school are usually the one's who have parents with a good attitude towards school.

I agree with the mom that questioned why you are putting your 4 year old in KIndergarten. A child should be 5 or turning 5 by October and no later. Ask the school you are putting her in if they have a Pre-K program. That's where she should be. As for homework do not stress about it. Most schools have special programs for the kids learning progress. If the teachers believe your child can handle more work or extra hours they will contact you and offer a special program if you choose. You will be surprised how many kids are actually capable of learning more and are smarter. Homework is important whether it is one page or 15. I believe this country is not even close to offering what our kids are capable of doing. Don't get me wrong we have great teachers and administrations, it is just the budgets cut so much off that our kids are getting cheated.

State law mandates homework, but it should not be excessive. How much will depend on the teacher. I give homework, but it is 1 or 2 pages that can be completed in a half hour. Go to you daughter's prospective school and ask what their policy is. Then you will know. Don't worry about the unknown, find out!

You have received an incredible amount of advice. The only thing I can add is that whatever you decide to do, just remember that the school does not own your child. As someone said, if it gets too bad, you have a right to push back. I would second what someone else said, though. No matter what you decide to do, it is probably better to express your concerns with school policy without your child knowing, but that is my opinion.

I do believe that most teachers are doing the best they can, but ridiculous expectations and pressures are partly why we are homeschooling.

Fairness is not really the issue here. The question is, is it APPROPRIATE for kindergartners to have homework. Back when I was in kindergarten (the 60s), its purpose was for socialization skills, learning ABCs and 123s. As the world and technology progressed, it appears that education had to keep up with it. My son learned to read in kindergarten (in the 90s). I have heard that homework should be equivalent in minutes per night to the grade level of the child (third graders = 30 minutes, etc.). So kindergartners really should have no homework. However, as mentioned previously, we need to keep up with the times. Also, children are not getting "educated" at home like they used to when there was only one working parent. Look at your kindergartners homework in a positive way - it is teaching her responsibility, to work independently, and to expect the same in the future. There are lots of Head Start programs that start kids learning BEFORE kindergarten! If you believe there is too much homework, I suggest speaking with the teacher or principal. There may be state requirements that you are not aware of regarding homework.

Hi im a mother of three beautiful little girls a nine year old a five year old and two year old and i completely agree with you im farely young and i work full time and its soooo difficult to keep up with the amount of work given to them some things my kindergarten daughter brings home i wasnt doing till second grade and lets not even talk about my nine year old they are expected to reach a certain level and if they dont comply they are considered slow or behind and they are not they are very smart in fact but the homework is a bit extreme for a kindergartner my kindergarten daughter brings home a monthly package due every first of the month every day is reading for atleast 15mins between one or three math pages and an activity every day i dont even get home from work and picking up the kids from daycare till 6 or 7 pm not including if i have to stop anywhere and not including my second graders homework a two year old and feeding cleaning cooking etc. I dont always have time to do it all. I dont know what is you can do but i would like to know as well i have a meet with the teachers this wednesday and i will ask if i get any input i will let you know.

My children got weekly packets of approximately 10 pages. If you break it down to a daily task, it comes out to 2 pages per day, which is manageable, and later on in the school year, possibly some reading. I look at it as a good way to start them with good work habits. Depending on your child, it can be easy, and they may want to do the whole thing all at once early in the week to be done with it, or it can range all the way to fighting everyday just to do one page. The packets do reinforce what they are doing in school, and believe me, this is nothing to the homework they will end up having to do later on when they get to third grade and up. Since you have children, you know it's all in your attitude. If you approach it as a chore, they will look at it as one also. If you make it something that's fun and interesting, they approach it the same way as well. It is a lot of work to look at, and it does seem as if children are given so much work these days, but it is just a fact of life. Also, sometimes, if your child is having problems, teachers can be understanding and just tell the child to do what they can, so try not to see it as so daunting. I think most teachers give the child what they can handle. And if you have concerns, I find most teachers are more than willing to work with you.

Check to see if there is a Waldorf school in your area. They have a wonderful approach toward educating children and don't believe in such things as homework for the little ones. My husband's two children went through Waldorf education and are sparkling, creative, conscious individuals.

I honestly believe it is very sad to read this discussion. I think we are expecting way too much from our children and much too young of an age. Many of these kids have never been in any kind of school setting. Then, they are thrown into a full day of class and then given homework. I would think that 6 hours would be enough for a five year old. I do like the idea of sending home little books to read so that the parents may be involved, but otherwise I think it's absolutely amazing the amount of work and pressure we are putting on our little ones. This is one of the many reasons that my husband and I have decided to homeschool our girls. Anyway, just my opinion. Good luck to you and make sure you do whatever you feel is best for your own child. I don't think it is anyone elses right to decide that for you.

My son began kindergarten last August, and encountered a similar situation with homework. It was pages and pages of boring, time-consuming nonsense (in my opinion.) At first, I tried to help him by making it seem fun. Then, I attempted to teach him discipline by making him stick with it even when he didn't want to. Finally, I began to get fed up with it as well, because it was really useless work. I talked to other moms of students in his class and they felt the same way as I did. We tried talking to the teacher, but she is old and set in her ways. Same with the principal. I finally decided to home-school my son (mind you, there were other concerns as well, not just the homework issue), and I am so glad I did. He's learning more, he can work at this own pace, and he's more motivated to complete his work. He often goes through two days worth of lessons in one day.

Home-schooling is definitely not for everyone, and I'm not necessarily encouraging you to go that route, but I agree that excessive homework in kindergarten is ridiculous. Look at all your options. Check out other school districts, private schools (Montessori and Waldorf are great!), charter schools, etc.

Hi J.,
I see you got a lot of posts. My baby is only 8 months old and my husband and I have talked about this subject already b/c he did not do that great in school. He hated homework and didn't test well. He is now a creative and very successful entrepreneur! He went on to film school and received his degree also. I recommend looking into Montessori schools http://www.montessori.edu http://www.montessori.edu/homeschooling.html or you can try homeschooling at the K level and beyond if you both enjoy it.
The part about homework I do of agree with is that as a parent you get to see how your child is doing. You can understand better 'how' the learn or if they are having troubles. If you are sending to public school, the class size could be too big and your child could 'get lost' and not get the attention she needs.
Good Luck!
D.

My daughter is a first grader this year. 8-15 pages of homework a week last year was less common that 15+ pages. It was overhelming at first. We paced ourselves, tried to make it fun by discussing what she had learned in class that day in relation to the homework etc.
My child fell pretty easily into the routine of doing as much as we could within the first 2 days because by the end of the week, she was just too tired to focus on extra work. Some weeks were better than other, definately but it ended up just fine.
It is my understanding that the schools have too much cirriculum to work into a school year so we are having to catch up with the homework to fit it all in.
Don't get upset about it for now. The year will go by quickly enough and kindergarten is (should be) a true year of joy for most children and parents.
(First grade homework is a snap! compared to K - it will all work out.)
Best wishes

I am a mother of two. My oldest starts school in the fall of 2008. She is very excited for the enitre experience, including homework. Part of that probably comes from my being a teacher. I taught Kindergarten one of my 7 years teaching, and I did give homework. It was a review of things learned in school, and it was designed to take 10 minutes or less each night, along with a reading log. Reading to and with your child every day is the most important part of literacy development. Having the students/parents fill out a reading log is a good way to see what kind of material they have at home, to see if it is appropriate, and to remind families how important it is to read every day. I have also taught 2nd grade and first grade (5 or my 7 years). As the students get older, they are given appropriate homework from the subjects they covered that day/week. My homework was the same each week for first graders. Each day they had a short activity having to do with their new spelling words, and one review math page. Attached was a reading log. As a teacher, I never had any complaints about my homework assignments being too long or hard. As a parent, I am anxious to see what kind of homework my daughter receives. My daughter doesn't go to pre-school. I am currently on a two-year leave with the district, so we do pre-school work every day at home. When she is tired, we stop. I don't ever push her to do more. She is reading and writing fairly well for a four year old, and she loves it! What is comes down to, is that every parent has a different opinion. If you think the homework is too difficult or time consuming, I suggest you talk with your child's teacher before anyone else. That way, the two of you could work things out and hopefully both end up happy. I am not trying to preach. I hope my opinion as a mom and a teacher helps a little bit.

I know where you are coming from. They are only five! They have their entire lives to do "homework", can't they first learn to love to learn? I'm with you. You may want to consider a private school that is more aligned with your personal feelings regarding school and your child's best method of learning.

I enrolled my son into a private school that had a bit of a twist of learning than the public school. The focus was to get kids to LOVE learning. Worksheets was not part of the equation until well into 2nd grade. And the pages that came home weren't stuff that was printed off of the web, it was pretty cool and interesting stuff. There were a lot of recommendations by the teachers on what we could do to parallel what was taught in school to what is taught at home vs. worksheets.

For example, teaching 4 year olds about precipitation and condensation by taking water, boiling, cooling, freezing - etc. Or, going around the neighborhood taking photos of insects and researching what type of insect it is and drawing a picture of the insect writing (yes writing) a story about the insect. My son totally loved this kind of learning and is now a huge science buff.

Each child is different (and parents, too). Some thrive in a traditional setting. Others thrive in a more non-traditional setting. It is up to us to ensure we are tapping into the talents of our children by either supplementing what is being taught in public schools or to find a private school aligned with the type of learning we think would work best for our children.

We moved into an area that has top public schools but my son is advanced by almost a year. This was after three years in a private school. I am a bit disappointed at the lack of creativity in some areas in his new school, however, I also think what is being taught is still very good stuff and I love his teacher - we are all learning together to do this for our children. So we decided to take him out immediately after school and enroll him in enrichment programs and other activities that continue what was started. One is for him to learn another language. We hired someone to talk Portuguese to him 100% of the time. He is also enrolled in a science and art enrichment program plus he loves chess so he is in a chess club (he is 7 years old).

Different strokes for different folks.

My son is in Kindergarten and is expected to keep a reading log Monday - Thursday. Either we read to him or if he wants he can read himself. The teacher provides suggestions of things to ask him to help with reading comprehension. He is also given a variety of assignments on Monday to be returned Friday, usually no more than one or two pages. Sometimes it's a worksheet, sometimes it's... Go outside and look at the clouds. Draw the cloud you see. Is it thin and flat or fat and puffy. Is it dark or light. Once he was asked to look for, draw and describe a spiderweb. My son begs to do his homework every night after his little sisters are in bed. It's our "one on one" time. I love it because I feel involved in his education. I think he has a particularly great teacher that has a great approach to homework. She told us that if the child isn't interested, don't force it — try again later. She also provides a list of optional homework activities for those who want more challenges — it's all fun. I think it's great to give the child a hint of what is to come in later years as long as it is fun.

Hi J.,
I wanted to respond from the perspective of an educator. In many ways, educational requirements for each grade level has changed and increased since we were in school. The amount of information that young adults need to get by in the world after high school has increased, and so what we experienced as kindergartners is now what our children will experience as pre-schoolers. Kindergarten is largely what first grade used to be, and so on. That said, children are still children, and what is developmentally appropriate is important. A couple years ago Newsweek had a great article about this. Many parents are seeing their children become stressed out with the demands at school, as early as kindergarten and first grade. They don't want their six year old to feel like a failure if they are not reading fluently. Some parents love the demands of today's school system, and feel the best way to help their child stay ahead of the curve is to start them out in kindergarten a year later than their peers. Others disagree with this, and seek out a school that aligns with their views on education. Look at a school's website, read their philosophy and mission statement. Ask to visit the schools in your area and talk with the kindergarten teachers. Ask them how much work they assign, and why. I don't think it is too soon to look into this and try to find a school that is the best fit for you and your daughter. Good luck!

My youngest daughter is now in the second grade. When she was in Kindergarten she only received 1 page of homework each night. The teacher also requested that I read to her 20 minutes a day or since she was reading already for her to read to me.

The one page was front side only and it was usually a letter or a number that they had to trace and then write. It wasn't really involved. Her Kindergarten was only half day from 8am to 11:30a.

I think the homework was supposed to serve several purposes. It helps the child work on their handwriting and their numbers or letters. It also eases the parents into being involved with their child's education.

I agree that our childhood is too short these days and I don't think children should be bogged down with pages and pages of homework. I also think that a large part of our learning takes place at home and that parents should be involved in the educational process.

I look at it this way. There is a maximum of 20 children in a Kindergarten class in a public school. There are 1-2 teachers and 1-2 aides. That means a maximum of 10 kids to every teacher or aide and a minimum of 5 kids to every teacher or aide. The ratio of parent to child at home are generally much smaller. So you can give your child the one on one attention that they may need. You know your child better than anyone and may be better suited to help them learn a difficult subject than the teacher.

I think 1 sheet of hw and 15 minutes of reading per night is appropriate. I think anything more than that is too much. I would talk to some of the Kindergarten moms at your intended school and find out what they think about the teachers. Some schools have a Meet and Greet for prospective parents or you can sit in on an afternoon class. Remember to enroll as early as possible to get the teacher that you want.

Good Luck!

J., My son is currently in Kindergarten and yes he does get a homework packet to complete each week. It is not that difficult. He usually has a name page where he traces his name about 5 times. Then he has a page with a letter on it to trace and then write. One side is uppercase the other is lowercase. There is usually a page with a number on it for him to trace and write. There are more pages, but all in all they are not hard and they are given to the student to help them recognize and write letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. As far as reading is concerned, the teachers encourage the parents to read to thier child every day. This helps the children become interested in reading and with thier vocabulary. I know it can all seem overwhelming but Kindergarten is just set up for kids to learn everything they need for 1st grade. In first grade they have to know a lot and if they don't they will stuggle or be kept behind. To keep things in perspective, I would say that my sons homework packet would take about 15-30 minutes to complete the whole packet. For us the homework is given on Fridays and due on Thursdays, so I try to have him complete a page a day to keep it simple. Hope this helps. L. S. Mom of 19 year old and 5 year old.

J., as a kinder teacher I don't think you should worry too much. I do give homework but it is only 3 pages and it reinforces skills taught in class. The kids have a week to finish it. They all say they love homework! Kindergarten has changed. Check out the CA state standards at:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/.

Dear J.,

Read "Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling" by John Taylor Gatto (he was voted New York State teacher of the year in 1991) and you will see the bigger picture. There is a lot of information online if you google his name. Parents need to have this information.

I am a mother of five grown children and grandmother of eight: (ages 5 weeks to 23 years). I wish I'd had this information long ago.

I have worked for the school district for 4 years and I do not recall my children bringing home 8-15 pages of work to do within a week period. Especially in Kindergarten. Although, parents are asked to work with them on their sight words that will help them to be able to read. Now parents are also asked to read to their child every night and if they already know how to read, they are to read to their parents. It does not need to be for a long period of time. They usually ask a child to read at least 10 minutes a day. I feel that schoolwork should be a team effort, both teacher and parents need to work with their children. I do not feel it is all of the teachers job to do so. They are only in school for a short period of time and we need parents support in whatever it may be to help their child excell.

Hi,
I agree...I am a teacher actually, and I think the homework "craze" has gone way to far...children have a lot of difficulty winding down after school, due the the fear of not getting all their homework done etc...and add sports, etc, etc, for them to go to..I think they grow up way to fast..and it's a shame for them...is your child in public or private school? I wonder if that makes a difference...not sure..
thanks,
K.
ps. you could break the homework down into chunks...do say 10" and then play/move around..and then another 10"..young children can't be expected to sit down for a full 30-45" in one session without tuning out.
good luck

My daughter is in kindergarten and she gets 8 pages of homework a week. Homework reinforces what is taught during the day. Practice makes perfect is a good motto. As soon as my daughter gets home, she does the corresponding 2 pages and it is practically effortless. I am a firm believer of homework -- it shows us what she's learning in school and it prepares her for the next 16 years of school. Try not to look at it as a "chore", but as necessary and appropriate. Thank you.

My son is currently in Kindergarten & gets homework as well as reading Monday through Thursday. The homework assignment usually depends on what your child can do (for example if they can read on their own or not). He normally gets a worksheet with either cut & paste pictures regarding what the items first letter/sound is or simple things like practicing letters or numbers. The reading consists of a book borrowed from the classroom for the parent to read to or with the child & in the middle of the year a "student reading" folder began being sent home daily with at first only short words & as they progressed in class sentences and finally small phrases. My son has not had an issue with it except for the normal "Mom can't I just do it later?", I just keep expressing to him how amazing it is at how fast & how much he's learned. I know it seems overwhelming, he's my oldest & I had NO idea what he'd be going into. It really helped me understand when I went to the Kindergarten orientation & early meeting with the teacher before he started. I hope this helps.

Hi J.,

Before I became a stay at home mommy to my little 3 1/2 month old, I was a Kindergarten teacher. Homework for the Kinder kids is as much about routine as it is about reinforcing what the kids are learning. I have found that homework is the best way for parents to know what their child is learning and to support that learning in other enrichment ways. But I will be honest with you, I remember Kindergarten as much more play and learning how to be in school. Unfortunately, our educational system today puts so much pressure on the kids, they are already expecting them to take standardized tests in 1st grade. What I would recommend is that you really explore the Kindergarten teachers at your child's school. I worked hard with my students and they learned so much each year, but I really believed in giving them a lot of time to play and explore and learn how to get along with each other. In terms of the homework, you are probably more concerned about it than your child will be. What I find with most Kindergarteners (especially the ones with older siblings) is that they are so excited to be "big kids" at school that they want to do homework, just like their siblings. Good luck to you and your child!

I suggest you go to the school you are planning to take your daughter to and ask for the district's policy on Homework. There is a certain amount of time based on your child's age and grade level that homework time should be completed in. Now, if your child is not able to complete the task within the time frame, then you need to speak to the teacher as to why it takes your daughter so long to complete the task or it might be that the teacher is giving an inappropriate amount of homework. If most of the students are completeing the homework task within the time frame maybe your child may need to be further assested for possible learning disabilities. Most children like doing their homework assignments because it makes them feel like they can accomplish a task with little or no help from an adult. Homework assignments are intented to reinforce the concepts learned that day plus it also gives the parents time to interact with their children and be part of the their child's learning process. The state standards have changed a great deal since you and I went to school. You may also want to get a copy of the state standards expected for kindergarteners to complete by the end of the school year. I'm sorry if I sound so pro homework but it's not so bad once your child get into the routine of doing homework nightly, plus the reading should always be done with you child regardless if it required or not. I think most teachers ask this of parents because, we tend to see less and less interaction between children and their parents. I hope this helps.

I understand what you mean! As a teacher I wish I didn't have to give homework, many times it is not completed and it is a continual fight with students to get it back. However, the board of education in the district I teach requires 10 minutes of homework for Kindergarten and an additional 5 minutes for each grade plus reading every night. (4th grade 25 min. homework + reading) Although, you and your husband didn't take home any work there are many professionals that do take work home, ex. teachers, lawyers, engineers (my husband)) Also, remember that we want all kids to be college bound, and by giving them age level appropriate amounts of homework will prepare them for the future. As a teachaer I like to see homework as a form of communication with my students parents. It gives parents an idea of what and how their child is doing at school. It gives parents an opportunity to talk about school and assist their child with challenging concepts. Try to be positive and make homework a bonding time rather than a chore!

Background: I used to teach before I had my two children (4 and 2.5 with #3 on the way). My husband is an attorney.

Bottom-line on homework: Daily homework = white-collar job
No or little homework=blue-collar job

I, as a teacher, and my husband, as an attorney, always had work that needed to be completed at home, continuing education classes to be taken, constant reflection on our work for improvement, etc.
Personally, those are the kinds of jobs that make a difference in this world. I want my kids to aspire to be productive citizens of the world and have a positive impact.

This all starts at home, before school even starts.
T.V. is very limited (they turn off the t.v., without being asked, when the agreed upon show ends). On weekends, we have no t.v. We constantly read, write, talk, sing, question, count, do arithmetic, do science experiments, etc. It's very consuming and exhausting, but I've seen what a difference it makes in children who receive this attention and those who don't--aspirations and goals are very different.

So, the decision is yours to make for your child's future: blue-collar or white-collar.
I am very thankful for everyone who goes out and does their job well, especially the jobs I wouldn't want to do.

good luck

Most of the packets they send home for the week, helps your child remember what they have learned. If you use the time to do the homework as a way for your child to show you what they have learned it will make it easier for both of you. Can also be a fun way to spend time with your child. Don't treat it like a job, that would only discourage him from learning.

My son is currently in kindergarten, and has two pages of homework Mon.-Thur. When he gets home, he has a snack and then does his homework. He's usually done within about ten minutes and rarely needs help. I actually enjoy him having homework, because I like getting to see what he's doing in school. He's getting so smart! At one point, his teacher tried sending three pages a night, and after I wrote a note to her, she went back to two. See what happens, and then decide whether or not it's too much. :)

Hi there,
I am a 37 year old single mother of 2 beautiful duaghter 7 and 13 years old... Both my kids go to a private catholic school and they were given pages of homework frim first grade through 8th.. My 2nd grader does homework at least 1 1/2 hrs each nigh and my 13 year old does homework anywhere from 3 to 5 hours a night depending on the mood of the teacher that.. It is very frustrading and some parents do complain to the teacher which only makes it worst.. I have they go to 1 hr of turoring Monday to Friday and complete homework by Saturday on the weekends.. Schools are different and I was under the impression that it was because my kids are in private schools why they have so much homework but it's really a family affair. Hope this helps

Hi, J.,

I was a teacher for twelve years. I have taught both public and private schools K-12 in the U.S. and Spain and have worked with kids of various nationalities (Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Finnish, Spanish, Mexican, etc.)

In some of my schools parents expected me to give their kids as young as kindergarten age hundreds of problems per weeknight and weekend (after the kids left their afterschool class). Some of the kids who had tons of homework from a very young age turned out to be very smart, very well-adjusted adults who developed a great work ethic; some of those kids probably did not. Some of the kids who had little homework turned out to be very smart, very well-adjusted adults who had a great work ethic; some of those kids did not. On average, it seems as though the kids who did a lot of homework from a young age do better at math.

I hope that my own kids, who are only 20 months old and 5 months old, get more rather than less homework, assuming that the workload isn't so huge that they can't get enough sleep if they do all the work.

If you think that the workload is too great for your kids, though, then you should talk to your kids' teacher, repeating what you have written on this site. Most teachers will try to work with you, especially if you seem friendly as well as concerned about your child. If after a few weeks, you and the teacher have not come up with a plan that seems to work well for your child, then talk to the teacher and counselor (or principal) simultaneously to come up with an acceptable plan.

By the way, my parents, an engineer and an accountant, brought work home. My husband, who is self-employed, often works at home. I, like many other teachers, brought work home evenings and weekends. Most teachers would like to have evenings and weekends free (many of us have kids, too), but if we didn't do work outside of official work hours, schools would not run at all, and we would be even more villified than we already are. Please let me know what you and your husband do, if you don't mind. I am looking for a job where I am not expected to do tons of overtime at my workplace or at home.

Good luck,
Lynne E

My two sons were given homework in kindergarten. It was designed to give them about 10 minutes of follow-up of what they were learning during the week. It was age and grade appropriate. Those students who needed more of a challenge were given an extra packet of work. The teacher was relaxed about them getting the regular packet done in a week, but encouraged them to turn it. This gives them practice for setting up a routine to get the work done, which helps when they are in upper grades. The homework packet also gives parents a glimpse into what is being covered. I liked it so I could re-enforce it during our play time. Play time is important, too.

Initially I was opposed to all the homework for Kindergarteners, but when my daughter started going to kindergarten, she turned into this little sponge! She loved school, and came home wanting to show us what she could do. Homework packets were sent home on Mondays and returned on Fridays...and we got anywhere for 4-8 pages, which calculated out to maybe one or two pages a night of paperwork that reinforced classroom learning. And, remember...it's Kindergarten...we're talking about formation of letters, numbers and coloring!! Not difficult stuff. I began looking at this in a new light...It was time we used to sit down with our child and watch her grow into this blossoming Kindergartener. By sitting with her and completing it together, we acknowledged her new skills and she got to show us her new abilities!
Don't worry too much...you'll find it to be a positive experience...plus it helps prepare them for what's ahead in First Grade. My daughter is now finishing her first grade year...and lots more to do this year!

Hi J.,
Have you even thought of homeschooling? I have a 19 year-old, an 18 year-old and a 20 month-old. With my older two I would have considered homeschooling ridiculous and radical but with my 20-month-old I've been taking my time being open to everything and reading all I can (check out the Life Without School blog at http://lifewithoutschool.typepad.com/).

The conclusion I've come to is that my children belong to me, not to the state or the government and their education is MY responsibility. I believe most people look at public schooling as free babysitting and they're not really interested in the education of their children. How can one person "educate" 30 or more kids of varied abilities and backgrounds?

You are already your child's first and best teacher, why not explore the idea of expanding that role? There are local Yahoo! groups that meet for activities and "field trips" of all sorts. Imagine how much more your child will learn if the world is her classroom and you are by her side to explore it with her.

And to answer your question, I think the concept of "homework" in kindergarten is ridiculous, but the truth is, the teacher probably needs that help for the kids to accomplish the state-mandated goals. And it's also the best chance the school has of actually getting parents involved. Most people probably wouldn't bother to read to or with their kids if it wasn't a mandatory assignment. Sad but true.

Your right J. they have over the years given little ones more and more work to do at home. I have two older girls and my now 11 year old son, by the time he started kindergarten he also had weekly packets that had to be finished. We had tears not wanting to do homework, I talked to teachers but that was the school policy so no change was made. I do have to say over time he did get use to it, more then me. Maybe before your daughter starts school you could get a little workbook and just start training her. Have her sit at the table and tell her your getting her ready for when she starts school next year and that she'll be doing homework now just like her older brother and sister.
Good luck J., I just feel like it wouldn't hurt to talk to the school with your concerns and hopefully they will understand we truly don't have to push so hard. Why are they trying to make our babies grow up so fast let them enjoy being little.

maybe you should consider a Waldorf type of education, or homeschooling both great alternatives

It really depends on the teacher, and the school. Alot of teachers do a homework packet, but only have the students do 1-2 assignments per night. Reading at home has become a norm these days, it helps with alot of different skills, and should be done regardless of whether or not it is assigned.
Some just send home a follow up sheet(That would depend on
the lesson taught though). Remember that the homework sent home for the students to do will only take about 30 mintutes (15 for the sheets and 15 minutes of reading), so it can easily be done right after school, then it is done and they can play. Just give her a snack to eat while she does her homework and by the time the snack is done, her homework should be done or close to it. This is also a good time to see what your child is learning in school, and can help you reinforce those skills at home with different activities (i.e. math-counting-counting toys she picks up etc.)

But it does depend on the teacher, and the time he/she wants to put into grading the packets.

Hope this helps!

I think that the reason behind the homework is to excelerate the learning process. The amount of material that needs to be covered in Kindergarten nowadays is much more than when we went to school. The demands on teachers are way too high, and for them to acheive satisfactory results without assistance from parents at home is impossible.

My daughter is currently in Kindergarten. Her average packet is around a page a day. This includes daily reading with mom and dad. She has no problem with sitting down and doing her homework. All of the work is what they are currently working on in class. If there is something she doesn't quite understand in class, it gives us the opportunity to go over it at home.

Because of the amount of learning that must be done in Kinder to lead to a successful first grade year I agree with the inclusion of homework. I think that you should absolutely address your concerns with your child's teacher, and let her/him explain their homework plan. Also,if you are able to help in the classroom on a regular basis it will help you in understanding the way Kindergarten is now structured. I help twice a week, and by doing so I get a clear picture of my daughter's day. It would drive me nuts to not know what is going on in the classroom.

You and your daughter's teacher are going to be her educational team. The best advice I can give you is to try to offer as much support and communication to the teacher that you can. The more comfortable you are with the game plan the more adaptable your daughter will be as well.

Good luck.

The biggest reason for homework today is to push the parents to become more involved. So many parents think learning is for school and not home, but as a soon-to-be teacher, mother of a kinder- 3rd grader and current class mom in my daughters kinder class, I see so many children struggling with simple tasks because they do not get the reinforcement they need at home. Our schools and the students are really suffering due to lack on involvement.

It is unreasonable to expect a single teacher to teach 30+ children everything they need to know to move forward. You should not be worried about homework, especially Kinder, it's mostly coloring and basic stuff, colors, shapes, letters. Easy for you, but stuff you need to be sure your child knows. If you have prepared your child for this, he/she should have no problems at all and will move to first grade easily.

Kindergarteners should be able to read words like Like, as, is, my, to, has, and so on. Easy words like -at -an words. Know how to write their name, rhyming, opposites, counting to 35 (100 in some cities), know all letters and numbers in and out of order -names and sounds and be able to put them back in order. They should be able to write complete sentences and much more. The expectations of the school districts are so much higher than when we were children, especially since "First 5" was implemented in Ca. You don't want your child to struggle.

Make it an everyday thing, ask what was learned that day, educationally and socially, reading a daily book is a must. Practicing these skills daily and continue this habit through high school. If you do, it will definitely show through your child to the teachers and the school and on into their future.

Hi J.,
The whole idea of homework is to re-inforce ideas learned in class. I don't think that a Kindergartener should have more than 10 minutes of homework & it should be fun and/or interesting, just remember (at 5 years old) it's to help train them for the future years in school and to develop good habits :)

Hi! I have a kindergartener this year. We have a page of homework M-F. The teacher also likes us to read everynight. ( which we always have done anyway so it is no big deal) If your child is ready for K then a page of homework a night will not be a big deal. My daughter has it finished in less then 5 mins.(hopefully you will not get the 8-15 page teacher)hee-hee The homework is also a great way for the parents to know what is going on in the class room, what they have been working on and also maybe what your child is understanding or not. Some parents don't connect with their children. I think this is a great time for you to have a time set aside for with your child and learn about their day
. Kindergarten has change since we attended. Our children should be reading when hitting first grade knowing 100 sightwords. Sounds like a lot, but most kids get it. Hope this helps a little.

School is so different then they were when I was going to school as well as the requirements that the state requires. Depending on where you are located, I am in California, California is one of 2 schools in the USA that has the highest educational standards that the schools are required to teach along as well as being #47 of the monies that are put into each child. What does this all mean, it means Kinder is no longer an enjoyable time - the kinders are not getting the socialization skills and confidence that they need to grow - I truelly believe that the state is requiring too much for our kinder as well as all students. That is why the kinder have so much more homework, more is required of them, by Dec/Jan they are required to know a certain amount of site words as well as being able to read. My son is in 8th grade and the curriculum that my youngest daughter had as a kinder, was the curriculum that was in mid year 1st grade. And it is not getting any easier for our children and the students. All I can suggest is Parent Involvement is so much more important these days. If you are a working parent, it is so much more difficult but one needs to put the effort through. As a parent you have the right to question your school, your Superintendent as well as the school board. It is so sad to say but education has become so political and I feel politicians look at it as a business as well. Teachers are giving homework because of the state requirements, It is tough but be involved in any way possible as time allows you to.

I am a high school teacher, and I have three children, the oldest who is in first grade. Yes, kindergarteners do have homework, and it is often in packet form of 4-5 double sided worksheets. Kindergarten today is the first grade of yesterday. The kids will leave K being able to read, as supposed to learning how to read in 1st grade. Since skill acquisition is such a big deal in early elementary, homework is a way to reinforce the concepts learned during school hours. The homework is not a big deal, it should take less than 15 minutes a night. I see your point, but I also think that now that many skills are being taught so much earlier, the teachers need to reinforce concepts at night. I also think good study habits and respect for education happens very early. There are so many things to worry about with children, many which are actually detrimental, that I don't think you need to waste any energy worrying about homework.

Back when I was in kindergarten, we still had mandatory nap time, and they were happy if you didn't eat paste. The idea was to get children used to being away from home, listening to the teacher, sharing, taking turns and doing a lot of story time and art projects. Now, kindergarten is considered an academic endeavor and there's a big push to do more and more work. The idea is that kids will be better educated and better prepared. Of course, when kids' test scores aren't what they "should" be, or some other school "failing" is found, it usually means MORE homework and more pushing. It's not uncommon to find elementary school students with 3 or 4 hours of homework every night. (And test scores are still slipping.)

I took my younger kids out of public school to homeschool them. (My older two are grown.) You may have to search for a charter or private school that fits more closely in with your idea of a proper education.

I think it depends on the individual school. My daughter's Kindergarten class has no homework that is expected to be turned in or "graded". They have some worksheet type stuff coming home on fridays related to what they did in school that week (it's 2-4 pages and some weeks it's all finished in class, others only 1 page is already complete for example). They recommend your child complete the rest at home but it is optional. In addition, they have started providing a calendar with different things to do with your child each day (tie shoes, look at Washington's picture on a dollar, etc.) if you choose to. But essentially, it's no homework. I think you may want to check out your local schools to see how they approach Kindergarten and try to find/get into one that matches your particular style/philosophy. They all seem to do it quite differently!
Good luck,
-K.

As a kindergarten teacher, homework is a great way to let parents know what is being taught in the classroom and what skills their child is working on. Also, if your child is struggling in these areas, it is a great way to reinforce at home. Look up the state standards for kindergarten and you will see how much kindergarten has changed and what is expected out of the teacher and student. I give homework, not more than 2 pages a night (mon-thurs) and it should not take a child more thn 15 minutes to complete..I have been teaching 12 years and I have never had a parent complain..actually I have parents who want more! I would suggest you go and observe the elementary schools in your area to see what type of curriculum they use and what their philosophies are! Hope this helps!

Hi Im kind of new with replying to posts here but it just keeps getting worst my son is 6 and in 1st grade when he was in kinder every week he used to get a package of work for all the week and now that he is in 1st grade he gets like 5 pgs a day of homework if he gets lucky he will get 3 pgs plus he has to read and plus learn words for a test every friday the system has gotten worst instead of getting better. so good luck.

L.
mom to michael age 6yrs old

My son is in K this year. His homeowrk is minimal and takes no longer than 20 minutes. He has to write in a journal 2 x's a week and then 1-3 pages on the other 2 days. The pages are easy review of what was done in class. We are supposed to read at least one story a night (but us moms should do that anyway, right?) I was worried about the sight words but he breezed through them.
He actually likes to do his homework next to his sister. I think it makes him feel like a big kid. A small amount of homework in K will prepare your child for what is expected in first grade. Children at this age are eager and excited to learn, so feed that brain!

good morning, you will be getting a lot of responses to this one:)

Homework can really SUCK...But it can also be an incredibly wonderful experience , a very intimate look into your child's mind and spirit and boy will you be proud. It all depends on how big of a reach your kid has for education.

I have five kids and 2 of them have been breezing through, while the other 2 have gone to hell and back during this time. ( last one is still a baby)

The home work is usually something they can do with some effort, most teachers let you return incomplete homework due to lack of understanding from your child, and will re teach.

good luck, the only way to avoid it is to enroll her in a private school that does not believe in home work... and they do exist.

Mom of four boys here, oldest 26, youngest 8. When my older kids were small, we lived in a very tiny town which had a one room school house. Their homework was excessive right from the start ~ completely unreasonable, especially for the little kids ~ but it was because the teacher had so many grades to deal with all at one time. With my 8 year old, we live in a "normal" community with an average school, and I was curious to see what kind of homework he would bring home. I was greatly relieved to find that it was reasonable. In kindergarten he brought home a packet with 5 sheets in it, so it was basically one sheet a night. In first grade it was the same, with the addition of some reading practice. Now, in second grade, he has between 2 and 3 sheets a night. But in kindergarten, it was one sheet a night, and that served him well. He learned to put aside a bit of time after school to get the work done. I have always believed that homework was a much bigger hassle for the parents than for the child, I ended up homeschooling my older kids based on the amount of homework they brought home, but that was an extreme and unusual situation where their only other option was the one room school.
You cannot fight homework. You can talk to whomever you like and it will not change a thing. These days, teachers are required by law to give a set amount of homework. If you rarely had any, you were a very lucky student indeed ~ and that is what is coloring your opinion on this matter. The vast majority of us had homework on a daily basis. It is simply a fact of school. Do not make a big deal out of it or your daughter will learn to dislike it. Handle any homework she may have in a matter-of-fact way, minimize the "inconvenience', and all will be well. :0)

Hi J.,

I have twins that are in Kindergarten now and they do have daily homework. It is only 1 page front and back and a parent reading 10 minutes a night(we read one book). It is a pain especially in the beginning of the year but they are so excited to do their homework each night. At the beginning I really had to be with them every second so they would get it correct. Now that it is halfway through the year (they are year round) They can try it on their own and then we go over it together and correct what is wrong. Also mine go to afternoon kindergarten so we also have the morning to complete their homework if the evenings are hectic with the other childrens activities. I have older children too 16,13, and 12. We lived in Texas and I only remember the reading 10 minutes a night to them. We had a reading log and had to keep track of the books we read.

My twins did not go to preschool because of the cost here in Las Vegas for the two of them. Close to the first month of school they were trying to write sentences and mine couldn't even recognize all of the alphabet. Not that we didn't try. When they tested in October they could get some of the things correct but the way it is graded it is either get it all right or it does not count. Our teacher comes from Oregan and does not agree with the way they have to grade. I was amazed on what they have to know because I know all three of my other children did not read till 1st grade and they are all honor students. Anyway the homework does reinenforce what they are doing during the day. Hope this helps.

D.

J., sorry, but get used to it! A common perception among parents these days is that the more homework a teacher gives, the better (harder, higher achieving) they are. I have 3 boys who are in the public school system in Santa Monica, CA, a senior in high school, a freshman and a 5th grader. When I was in school, the teachers used the lesson time to teach the lesson and children were given time in class to practice what they had learned. The teacher could roam threw the classroom helping as needed. There was no homework in lower grades and little in upper grades until high school. The key factor was when the teachers handed out work or tests, it was handed in and corrected by the teacher. This gave the teacher an intimate knowledge of each student and they got immediate feedback as to the effectiveness of their teaching. These days teachers spend a small amount of the lesson time teaching and assign all the work as homework. They spend most of the time having the students exchange each others homework and grade it, then recording the grades or at least checking that the homework was complete. This way the teacher does not have to spend time after school grading papers. It is typical for students to have a full day's school work when they get home - the lessons from each class, writing assignments and extra projects, science projects, etc. It is a huge imposition on families and children. Students spend all day in school and then have a full day of schoolwork when they come home. Difficult for kids to have time to play, rest, relax, or even eat and sleep. It isn't fun to have to keep pushing your children through their work...so as nonsensical as you think homework in K is, just wait! The students have late start or early dismissal once a week so teachers and staff can meet during school hours, instead of having to stay after school. To be fair, curriculum is much more advanced these days too. My 5th grader is doing math and reading that might not have been taught until high school. High school students have college level classes. My advice is to go with the flow - it just makes it harder on you if you try and buck the system. Teachers and faculty do not like parents who complain! Be enthusiastic and positive about the whole ordeal. You can privately be sympathetic with your child...

D.

Hi J.,

I read your email about kindergarten and thought, how nice it is that you and your husband do not bring work home.
However, homework for children is vital in helping children practice skills they learn at school. If homework is assigned correctly, kindergarten children will build up reading, writing and math skills at home and parents can be part of the learning through their participation and interaction with their children.

As a kindergarten teacher, I believe that parents are the primary educators of their children. The teachers facilitate learning. If parents are not helping their children with any portion of their school work then they are out of the loop with what their child is learning.
Homework is a good way to be in touch with what the child is learning in the classroom. The basic policy for homework in kindergarten is 30 minutes per night. Some teachers give the homework on Monday and have the child return it on Friday. It's still 30 minutes per night.

Look at homework in the positive.

Smiles, J.

hey J.!
my son, who is autistic, and in a sdc (special day class), who is in kindergarden, is given a 8-15 pg paket of homework a week!!!!! i tried to be the "good mom" and have him do it, BUT my heart gave in and realized that for pete's sake, he's only 5!! AND with special needs to boot!!! NO!!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DAYS OF LEARNING TO CUT AND PASTE AND PAINTING IN KINDERGARDEN?????!!!!!!!!

In light of this "no child left behind" act..its really dampering those "old school" ways of just having fun in kindergardeN. i guess thats why they started the pre~school thingy..but still. i know its important to have our children learn, but i think the ciricula is too biased on pushing to hard, too fast!!!

just me....

xo
C.

There is nothing you can do about the homework because it is what is required by the state. More is expected of our children at a younger age. In order to meet grade standard kindergarten children received weekly packets of homework. Your daughter will start to learn to read, learn money, tell time, learn to write letters and her name etc. It breaks down to 1 to 2 pages a night. Just enjoy the time with your daughter and make it enjoyable. My daughter loves to do her homework, it just takes time on our part. You can do it.

D. W.

Hi J., there is nothing wrong with home work, you can't compare you and your husband going to work and not bringing work home, it's not the same, my 3 kids and and now I have two kendergardeners in my daycare who bring a packet home on Monday and It is due on Friday, my 2 daycare kids spend maybe 10, 15 minutes an evening on home work, they love it, is all stuff that the average 5 year old can do on their own, but it's better to sit with them, while they work, as a parent when you show an entrusts in their school/home work so will they, you are 33, I am 51 I;m glad kendergarden has changed, kids are smarter today than they ever had been, and it doesn't cut into their childhood, it's a part of their childhood. You'll see itwill be fine, and you will enjoy watching your child and beig there if she needs help. J. L.

Homework is normal starting in Kindergarten. There is not much you can do about it. It is very easy until they get into 4th or 5th grade. The 8-15 page packet for the parents is only the first week of school and only about 3 to 4 of those pages need to be filled out and returned. The rest is informative material that can be read at your own pace. It's not as bad as it seems.

HI J.!
Usually when I see 30+ responses, I skip responding, but I feel compelled here.

Kindergarten is not like how it was when we were younger. I remember back in my day, Kindergarten was an option! And I didn't go.

I think it best to keep your child with you, for as long as possible. Consider homeschooling. It really is a natural progression from what you have already been doing with her... teaching her colors, numbers, etc.

Enjoy!

My kindergartner brings home a weekly homework packet containing about 8-10 sheets. These are all pertaining to what they're learning about in class and all easy enough that my child finishes the whole packet within the first 2 days. I know that I didn't get homework when I was in kindergarten, but the requirements for the kids seems to have gone up a lot since I was in school.
I wouldn't worry too much about it, but by all means talk to her teacher if you're concerned.

Hi J.-

I think that age/grade appropriate homework is important and necessary. Homework reinforces what kids are learning at school, increasing retention. It also helps parents to keep track of what their kids are learning and assist in the learning process of the child. I don't feel that homework should be busy work, but something that is challenging and requires kids to apply what they are learning in school. I think that your child will be fine as long as you monitor how she is doing and as long as it isn't frustrating her.

Dear J.,

I am a teacher and have fought this even as a teacher myself. You're right about homework being given more, earlier, and more often now than it used to be. Not addressing the fair to the kids issue yet, I think the reason is that there is so much more now for kids to know than the used to be because of all the advances that have been made in science and technology in the last 50 years. We were in the early stages of the information boom when we were you (guessing at your age here) and it hadn't worked its way into the schools yet. Though it has now!

Fair? No. It isn't fair to the kids. Kids these days don't have time to be kids the way they get homework at school and are over-scheduled with extracurricular activities outside of school. They don't get to just Play anymore. In my mind, we can't teach them everything anymore so wouldn't it make more sense to focus on learning skills in our education systems? That way they know how to go about getting whatever info it is they need later on. Of course there are some basics they need too so that they have something to build on, but that doesn't have to be rushed to sooner than when is developmentally appropriate.

I suggest reading a book (short) titled, "The End of Homework" about just this subject. It might give you a little amo with the district and fellow parents in your child's cohort. If you can afford it, and there is one in the area, Waldorf schools are also a great way to go in terms of delaying some of the things kids aren't ready for until they are older. I recommend looking into them in your area and seeing if you are comfortable with them. Waldorf schools can sometimes have some other extremes that you may not like (no TV or computers for example in the ones run by purists - until a certain age). Also, Waldorf philosophy can sometimes be a little strange. The result however, is a school where your child will be encouraged to be a child, to use his/her imagination, and to learn through play. Waldorf schools are great for Math, Science and the growth of a creative thinker, but they will teach reading much later than ;you and your family will be used to (third grade, I think). Waldorf Kindergarten is perfect though because your child will still go into first grade with the skills required for public elementary even if you only used it for the kindergarten year. Anyway, I've rambled now. Point is, the schools are worth considering because they are healthy environments for your child and every Waldorf trained kid I've met that moves into our middle school is laid back, calm, well balanced, and a great problem sovler. I am already talking with my husband about this possibility for our little one.

Hope I didn't ramble too much and good luck!

R.

I think if the teacher keeps it on the reasonable side, a little homework isn't a bad idea. It helps to let you know what the kids are working on and maybe if they are struggling in any way your method of learning will help them. Just try to keep it "fun" (for lack of abetter word) so it doesn't seem like such a chore. It's better to get them in the habit of doing it now than struggling with a 7 year old about it later. Good luck

My daughter is half way through the year and initially when we got the curriculum and homework overview for kindergarten we were just as shocked as you are. But once the year started we realized that it is not as tough as it sounds. Most of this is coloring and learning to write their names. As the year goes on there is a noticeable difference in what they are learning and it gets “harder” but nothing that the average little one can not accomplish. In fact we have a very long car trip after school (30-45 min) and my daughter completes most of it along the way. I have found that the hardest part, sadly, is for her dad or my self to commit to reading to her each evening four nights a week, but some how we manage. It is amazing how they change in this year. They change from our babies in to little grown-ups going off in to the big world. Enjoy these days. Good luck!

Homework for kids reinforces what they learned during the day at school. My middle child is now in 2nd grade and while she was in Kindergarten she would receive a "packet" of homework on Monday that was to be completed and turned in on Friday. The Kindergarten homework was fairly easy for my children (oldest is now in 4th grade). The homework is stuff like: learning how to write letters/numbers and later in the school year addition. Kindergarten is also when kids start reading. If they don't do some of this at home how would you expect them to learn as they are only in school for 4-6 hours (depending on if it's a 1/2 day Kindergarten or full day). If you have concerns you should address it with the teacher your child has for Kindergarten (when she gets there), as the education curriculum is state mandated. Homework also is a way of instilling good study habits for the child as school gets harder and even into college.