Okay so our first son has started K this year. He goes in the afternoon form 1140am to 3pm. So just a couple hours. I knew that drop off would be rough for a while. And I'm cool w/ that. However its the coming home and doing his "homework" part that is becoming/ has been a struggle. Homework is usually just practicing writing the letter they leanred in class that day. LIke today it was the letter M. And he refuses to do it. He is upstairs in his room for a cool down time. They have learned sight words like the and can. So we usually go over writing, spelling and finding the words in books and mags. Which he has loved doing before. He keeps telling me he can't do this or he can't do that. When I know he can. I know its a big change for him, but I don't know what to do or how to help him. I"ve emailed his teacher and am waiting back to hear from her. He has started also having this little attitude since he has started school. Trying to boss his brothers, who are 1 and 4, around. I just don't get it. Thanks in advance.
Also I give him time to relax when he gets home, but then its homework time while I make dinner. When homework is done he is pleased to do as he likes. Play, whatever.
This is required homework. I do incorporate what he has learned into everyday things. I have decided though to let him do his work after dinner, to give him time to unwind from school. Thanks to everyone that has responded and I'm still in the learning process of having a child in school. Hopefully I can get down packed and be more prepared next year when I'll have two in school. :)
A.,
When my son had afternoon K, what worked for us was to do homework before school the next day. Have you tried that? Kind of like he's looking at it with a refreshed brain. Good luck!
just a thought... especially since this is such an adjustment for him. Ask him when he would like to do his homework. Our 11 yr old knows that homework is done right after school. Our 6 yr old (just started kindergarten) is told when she comes home that she has a choice, she can play/watch t.v etc. for a little while or do homework first. She gets to pick the time it's done but she knows it WILL be done. She usually picks play time first, but we have no problems getting the homework done.
good luck
Well he sounds normal. And frankly I think homework in the lower grades is the ultimate of stupidity. But especially kindergarten.
That said, we all have responsibilities. One of his is now homework. I essentially think you need to "make" him do it. It is a matter of respect and learning consequences. And he may not care if he has a "bad" report card now, but he should feel bad for not doing as is expected by his teacher and you. You need to reinforce that part of it with him.
So how to get him not to hate this?? That is the real question. I guess I would suggest you see it from his perspective. To him it is a void of boredom and endlessness. He has no sense of time about this. Writing letters? That shouldn't last more than 5 minutes. Set a timer so he sees it is not forever.
Also, it is great he gets a break, but maybe the key is letting him pick when to do it. Maybe you can give him 3 choices. Do you sit with him? If you are making dinner and have other kids, maybe your attention is divided. Could you take him to a quiet spot in the house and do it just you two, so it is like a treat to be with Mom, even if it means waiting until your spouse is home?
Ultimately at this age homework is not about learning letters, but about building the habit of doing the work everyday. So maybe don't expect him to be fully engaged, and maybe don't correct the work. Just encourage the process..
My opinion is that this is way too much schooling a day for a kindergarten boy. The reason he has homework is because the teacher doesn't have time to do one-on-one teaching with each student. At this age, they need more direct instruction. So, you are basically ensuring he has grasped what his teacher taught the class. That can be frustrating for both the child who has grasped it (BORING!) and the child who didn't get it. The amount of time you spend on homework is about all the time you need to actually teach your child at home at this level. You might want to consider it. He will probably do better just getting an hour or so of instruction from you in the morning and being done with it for the day. For our Kindergartners, we do handwriting, phonics, math (a manipulatives based program), and Bible. That's it. If they can't grasp the basics, the rest is really not that important just yet. Lay a good and strong foundation, and the rest will be built upon it.
I'm going to second the morning homework idea. My daughter (4th grade now) is sometimes just tired enough in the evening that homework is a HUGE and emotional chore. In the morning she does it in about 10 minutes, no problems.
I also agree that homework in K is too much (mine did not have homework until 1st and then it was occasional), but that it is more about getting into the habit of doing some work at home. The timer idea might be a good one, because kids don't have a sense of time.
Ok, well my son does no have homework from the school yet, however we work on things on our own too he calls it his homework. When I pick him up from school we talk about his day, then we listen to a song of his choice and when we get home it's play time. About 20min before I go to cook dinner we pull out the "homework" stuff I get him started on it then work on dinner (I do a lot of prep over the weekend btw) while he finishes up. If he refuses then we discuss removing something fun like ... no bubbles in tonight's bath or something that will hit home but not ruin our entire night.
is this required homework to bring back or just something you think he should practice. If it is not required then skip it, he is young and will learn all of it eventually not a big deal at all. He just practiced the letters and words for 3 hours in school so I can see why he doesn't want to. also sounds like you are busy making dinner when he is expected to do homework, maybe engage with him instead. Maybe you can get a whiteboard and you can write the dinner menu on and he can fill in all the "m" or whatever letter it is that day or you can put a funny joke and he can put in the letter needed. Get him a whiteboard, chalk, shaving cream, paint, glue or whatever to practice the letter with. Shaving cream on the bathtub or outside is fun. He doesn't need to practice with boring pen and pencil.
Or have him do it in the morning.
if we don't do homework as soon as we get home it doesn't get done here.As soon as they get home they are still in that school frame of mind.
At our house if they don't do their homework then they have to live with the consequences at school. Which is usually no recess.
I am waiting for advice on this.
My daughter just started 1st grade and has never been a fan of homework. She had a complete melt down yesterday when I wanted her to start her daily homework. I'm dreading tonight. Yesterday I told her if she didn't want to do homework she could eat, brush her teeth and go to bed. But I also stated that if she did it and got it over with, she could play right after. It was a battle but she finally caved and did her homework. She does not like work and has never been ready and willing to do school things for me at home. She is the complete opposite at school...from what her teachers tell me. Ugh...so I am very interested in the advice you get offered.
