Kindergarten Homework Assignments

Is there any way you could swing a babysitter two days a week? Sounds like overload to me. The sitter could let him play, do bath time, have meals ready for you and work on his regular school work with him.

I would treat everything that comes from the enrichment program as completely optional - because it is, right? I'd do the stuff that he actually needs to do for K (his "real" K classroom) and that's it.

Since the public school doesn't care about the sight words and the private school does, only study the private school words, problem solved.

I just want to add my brother printed the sight words and put magnets on the back. That way my nephew could pick them off the fridge and work on them when he passed the fridge. It may seem odd but he looked at them more and learned them faster than when you sit down and work.

ETA: Mel R. gave a great response and makes an excellent point. At some time in the school year, as the work becomes more challenging, it may become difficult for your child because of the two separate styles with two different agendas between the teachers. There is no way for a 5 year old to process why one is more important than the other. In some ways, it also puts the enrichment teacher in a bit of a spot because she's trying to do her best, but it's impossible to have your son give 100% to both teachers' agendas, and of course, you are going to choose the public school's work as the priority (since that's the route you've chosen and where he will likely continue with school next year).

I'm sure the enrichment teacher knows your son is also in public K. Maybe you could ask for a time to talk with her and plan a way to manage the work and the priorities between these two settings so your son doesn't become overwhelmed and turned off to school.

I also think the suggestion to look for alternate care, whether it's with a babysitter or an in-home daycare setting, would really be worth considering, if those are available.

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ORIGINAL:

Your thoughts are correct.

He's 5. He WILL learn his sight words and to read all in due time. It's a process, and all children will move along this curve at their own pace.
Mastery of sight words is not meant to happen in a week or two or three.

A sure-fire way to turn off a child from reading is to push and push and expect mastery at this early stage. (Yes, there are some exceptions where some kids learn to read early. There is nothing wrong with that, but this should not be expected as the norm).

Follow your gut. Don't worry so much about the enrichment program, and do not allow anyone, any teacher or otherwise, to make you feel like your child is behind because he's not mastered two different sets of sight words.

Keep reading aloud to your child; make reading fun and pleasurable. Folllow your own advice and allow him to play. You're right on track.

I don't know what forms of day care might be available to you in your area, and I realize that you need your son to be in some form of care while you work.

But I would give serious consideration to replacing the private enrichment program -- essentially a second kindergarten class -- with day care or some other option if that's at all possible. Would the money now paid for an enrichment program get you good day care where you're located?

He is attending two kindergartens simultaneously, and while right now it's early in the school year and not a big deal, over the coming months you might find that he becomes overwhelmed and confused about why one "school" matters and the other somehow matters less. It's easy to say, "Oh, the material for the private program doesn't really 'count' so we'll just focus on the public school homework," but at his age he is not going to "get" that distinction; he will hear at the private program, "Do your homework" and then "Please learn these words! You've had them for a while now" etc., and will wonder why he's getting a different message at home that the private program homework is somehow less important than the other homework. That would be a tough distinction for an older child, much less a brand new K student. He's going to get mixed messages and even if he's told "It's OK to do less for this class" he won't understand why that's OK, even if you try to explain the "real school" versus "extra school" difference to him.

If you're already wanting to scream, "Enough, he's five," this early on, imagine how you -- and he - are going to feel after a few months of double kindergartens, each telling him he needs to do his homework. Homework IS important, I truly believe; some parents say there should be no K homework at all, but I do think it teaches even K kids that school is their priority and that school doesn't just end when the last bell rings. But double homework in different classes with different teachers may end up making him feel he doesn't like school if it means he barely has a moment to play on weekdays.The last thing you want K to do is turn him off the idea of school.

If your son's a people-pleaser type who says he's fine with both classes and both teachers -- I say this as a parent of a very academically minded kid who loved to please teachers even in K--kids who want to please can tend to get very overwhelmed trying to make teachers and parents happy.

The public school teacher's approach to reading sounds positive and healthy, by the way. You might consider talking with the public school teacher about whether having your son in two K programs is a good idea -- I would want to know what she thought. She might say I'm wrong and it's something she's seen before so it'll be OK! But if the two teachers have different approaches to things, it could be an issue. It's just for one year, of course, so maybe it's doable, but it's a year when kids are forming their first impressions of whether school is a good and fun place to be, or a chore.

Don't push the sight words. It's too early at the beginning of the school year to do that. He's not interested in it because it doesn't make sense to him and because he's not mature enough.

You should not worry about what this teacher says. If you push too hard, he will not really learn. Let him play, let him enjoy his parents. The learning will come.

I think he has 5 long days, working in 2 different settings with 2 different teachers, sets of kids, and sets of rules/routines. I'd stop there.

I agree that he needs down time and play - and play is how kids learn. How many of us like to come home after a full day of work and then work a few more hours? That's what we're doing to our 5 year olds! You've read about many schools starting to eliminate homework for the elementary grades - they feel they have got to get off the academic hamster wheel and into play-based learning.

If this were my kid, I'd tell the private K teacher that your child is not going to learn 2 sets of sight words a week. I'd also tell her that a packet of homework is low on your list too. I'd concentrate on family dinners and the joy of reading with Mom before bed. Period. If she cannot be flexible with this and if she's got kids from different public schools all learning their own words plus her words (because she can't match all the schools' lists), then I'd even consider finding a nanny or a day care program that just involves play vs. academics. Play is "enrichment" too! I have no idea why a kindergartener just a few weeks into school is having his literacy level assessed!

Your son is destined to hate school at this rate.

I think that the problem lies with your son having to alternate between two conflicting academic situations several times a week. Imagine taking music lessons from two teachers, one twice a week, one three times a week. Teacher A has his methods, which are pretty much opposite from Teacher B. You'd make yourself crazy trying to accommodate both teachers! How could you possibly practice? Probably you'd come to hate music trying to please both teachers and learn your instrument two different ways. Your son is going to experience tremendous frustration due to being in programs that are in conflict with each other.

I'd drop the enrichment program, or else commit to only one kindergarten five days per week. And since you feel the public school teacher's attitude is healthier, I'd use the money you're spending on the private program to get your son a nanny on the days he doesn't go to public school, or put him in a program that is non-academic - that emphasizes fun, activity, social skills, etc.

My son is in first grade this year. We have full day kindergarten - 5 days a week here in FL. Mine could recognize maybe 20 sight words by Christmas - but he really took off the second half of the year and was able to recognize over 100 by the end of the school year. It is your job as mommy to protect your son and that includes from HW. There is plenty of research saying that there is absolutely no evidence that any good comes from HW before 2nd grade. You are right, he needs to have dinner, a bath, play, have some downtime and maybe a bedtime book. Let him be little once - also, think about whether two kindergarten programs isn't making his life too academic. They only have once childhood and you are the person to defend that.

i think your 'enrichment' teacher is wack. don't let her shame you into pushing your kindergartner into rigid study strictures that will set him for a lifetime of resistance to learning.
i wish your public school teacher would back off too. 6 homework assignments plus a sight word study list are way too much for this age group.
when i am queen...........
khairete
S.

Why not send him to the private kinder full time? Personally, I think this is overload. Its too much for your son. Its would be too much for anyone. Two sets of teachers, rules, kids. Nope. If you aren't able to do that, I would do what other suggested and find alternative care.

I agree. I think we push our kids to move too quickly. They only have a small time period to be kids. To have no worries and just play.

Enough! He's five years old!

Do what is fun for him and what you have time for, but don't stress the poor little guy over this idiocy. Assessing their freaking literacy level in kindergarten?!? The research shows this new trend in burying kids in homework is not useful, and is often in fact detrimental.

In Finland, the country with the highest-ranked education, students have less homework than we do.

He should be playing and having fun in kindergarten -- that's the best way to learn. I'm a teacher, and my middle school students learn more through activities that involve play than by being drilled. Your instincts are correct. Don't let them take away your child's love of learning with stressful busywork.

Read to him, read with him, talk to him, show him things, play with him. That is his best education.

I've been told by a couple of teachers that homework in the first few grades is just practice for later years when homework counts.

My 5 yo granddaughter had "homework" in the year before she was in Headstart preschool and preschool. It was OK to not do homework those 2 years. She started kindergarten this year.

I suggest that, when you ask, the private kindergarten will also tell you not to worry. I would not treat sight words as homework. When you can, use those words in everyday life. I'd ask the teacher to recommend an early learner book that uses sight words and read with him when you have time. I might write the sight words on cards or paper, one word to a card. Then leave them lying around. Help him find the cards if he doesn't see them on his own. When he's looking at the word, use it in a simple sentence. Then ask him to say the word while looking at it.

Make learning sight words fun. Turn it into a game. Focus on helping him learn instead of completing the homework.

As to work sheets, my daughter and husband found it was easier to work on them all on a week end day. "Let's look at (describe the work sheet)." When one is done, take a break if he needs one.
By the end of preschool she could complete most of them at once.

2 schools, 2 teachers, different rules, different friends, different expectations, double the school time and now double the homework for a kindergarten kid. That would be very confusing and stressful indeed! Most kindergarten students today get too much homework just in ONE program. I would also be concerned that he is going to spend the whole year discovering preferences, making comparisons, unless he's got an extremely go-with-the-flow personality. Personally, I would drop one of the programs and find a home day care, nanny, or babysitter option to fill in the times you need coverage. Then try to low-key the homework and definitely call it done if your gut instinct is that he needs to play, sleep, or just be 5.

There is a trend now starting in a lot of schools to give no homework or less homework to younger elementary kids. When I look back now at all the worksheets and reading logs and projects no 5-6 year old could ever master at home independently, it makes me mad and sad that we jumped through all those hoops. Had I to do it all over again, I would let quite a bit of the parent-led stuff go. I think if kids aren't mature enough to take direction at school from the teacher and work independently at home at whatever the teacher assigned in school, they are TOO young for homework, period.

Our sons reading didn't really take off until the 2nd half of 2nd grade, and then it zoomed way ahead of his classmates.
It was the same for me.
Best preparation for reading is reading to them, showing them the pictures and words.
We read about everything that he was interested in - firetrucks, sharks, dinosaurs, dragons, wizards, etc.
He got so interested in the stories he didn't mind working a little harder to understand the words.
That takes a lot of the struggle out right there - keeping him interested in the material.
I'm not a big fan of homework in kindergarten - and I'm not thrilled with it in 1st grade either.

That's crazy. My daughter was in kindergarten last year and the teacher had them work on their sight words all year long. Many kids are not ready to read till 1st or even 2nd grade. The teacher also told them all year their homework is to play outside or do something active. This year their assignment is to read 15 m a night (or have a parent read to you). And later in the year their will be a little math practice with nothing to turn in...15 minutes worth. The private kindergarten may be the type of school for parents who demand more homework. I have met many of this kind of parent and they are usually unhappy with our local, excellent public school. Many of them move their kids over to a private school nearby. I think you should meet with the teacher privately and tell her your child will not be doing homework after being in school all day. Stand your ground. That being said, be sure to read 15 or more minutes every night with your son! :)

I've been a sub in the classroom (public school -- one of the best) and we do not give children that much homework. K's are encouraged to read at home. 1st grade has a reading log for home, spelling packet for the week(3 pages appx of practicing weekly spelling words) with weekly spelling test and 1 math sheet per week

Sight words are important and there are about 50 or so words that the K's are expected to know to go into 1st grade. They spend time in the classroom practicing with each other, on computers and with the weekly lessons. There is NO "homework" on this.... basic practice at home and of course encouraging reading and home nightly.

It sounds like overload for your son to have 2 schools with 2 types of structure and 2 types of expectations.

I understand enrichment and the purpose for enrichment but my personal view is that enrichment not be overdone which can burn a kid out. He is TOO young to get burn out at this point, he has many years to go with the hardest years ahead of him.

I feel the same way! My 4th grader goes to school from 8:30 - 2:40, then tutoring from 2:40 - 4:00 and the comes home and has homework! AND he also has online reading and math to do - at least one hour of each every week. It is exhausting and overwhelming. Here's how I see it - as long as I KNOW that he is has learned the concepts, I don't much care what the teachers grade book shows. If we don't complete homework one night, I don't worry about it. In the whole scheme of life, it's nothing. Teachers seem to think we all get home at 4:00 and that we have absolutely nothing else to do other than homework! You know that big push is because of the testing - I say that test is to measure the teachers' effectiveness in the classroom so if they do their job, the kids should do fine.

I would simply tell both teachers that you will not be doing homework in kindergarten. You will read to your child and he will learn to read when he is developmentally ready to read. My son did Montessori kindergarten so our first exposure to sight words was in first grade. I looked at the list he brought home and threw it in the recycle bin. Why would they memorize a bunch of words when they just spent all this time learning what sounds all the letters make. A complete waste of time and guaranteed to make them dislike reading.

I taught my daughter to read when she was four using the book "how to teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons"

I spent just 15 minutes a day and by day 60 she could read all easy readers. If you teach your son phonics he will be able to sound out most words.

"She said that he would benefit a lot by practicing them at home."

Okay.

He might also benefit a lot by running laps around your house - good exercise.

She's just stating her opinion. She didn't say you're a bad mom or anything. Don't let it upset you.

(The suggestion that someone can learn something by practicing/studying it, is basically a truism. As is the idea that we can all "benefit" from learning stuff. She's saying that he can benefit from learning, and he can learn by practicing. She's not making any bold claims!)

i typed them out, and posted them on the fridge. anytime i was making a meal or if we were eating one i would point out the words and say them. he picked up on them and we would play find this word and that word game. then after a while he could point to and say them himself.
i didn't do it daily, just when i remembered i didn't force it, if he didn't know it or couldn't find one or whatever i skipped that word and read it to him at the end.

Don't worry so much. These are things he's learning. He's not supposed to regurgitate them instantly. It takes time and doing them every few days, once or twice, then stop. They have to go into long term memory and that might not be something he is able to do right now.

When she said that he would benefit from practicing at home, that's all she likely meant. That doesn't mean he has to sit down and do homework every night.

I noticed you said it's the second time she's come to you with a suggestion. I think that's kind of a positive thing - myself. My child had a problem with pencil grip, and our kindergarten teacher did NOT tell me. I had noticed but figured because my child was left handed it was ok. It was the first grade teacher who pointed it out to me during a parent teacher meeting. By then, it was harder to correct.

You also mentioned you felt judged. From what you've written, I don't see any judgmental in what the teacher said or did. Teachers have said some stuff to us over the years where I didn't agree and felt they didn't get my kid (one teacher in particular) and all the other parents found the same, but for the most part - I listen and take it as constructive feedback. It's easy to think leave my kid alone - and yes, in kindergarten, I think the focus should be more on the fun of learning rather than grilling them on sight words - so just keep it fun and relaxed.

Here they have backed off on homework in the younger years a bit I've found in recent years. The focus is on reading - and parents are given handouts at start of year on how best to help your child learn to read. You are correct with the telling stories through pictures and reading through looking at the pictures too. They follow the same method here. In fact, even after they have learned the words, they are still encouraged to look ahead to the pictures to guess or predict what will happen next.

It does sound a lot for your little guy to adapt to all at once, I trust my gut when it comes to this stuff - since he's in two programs, I would do as Julie S suggests - just focus on one and it will likely cover what the other class will cover anyhow.