Did Your Children Get "Summer Homework?"

[DVCLiz]

I know we had a big debate recently about whether a mom was being too harsh with her child's summer assignments. THIS IS NOT THAT THREAD...

Now, did your kids come home with anything they are supposed to do during the summer? I'm talking about an actual assignment, not just what you might decide to do on your own. If so, how's it going?

DD's school always sends home a math packert and a reading assignment. The math packet has a variety of problems from the whole year and is designed to be a review. It's 11 pages long, and the teacher recommends a page a week. Even the most ardent "kids are kids and summer is for fun" supporters (like me) shouldn't be able to argue that a page of review math a week is too much!!! It's killing DD, though - she had a tutor last year and is working with her a few times over the summer. So far, we've gone through 8 of the 11 pages - I knew if we did a page a week we'd miss several weeks for camp/vacation, so I cracked the whip and she'll have that done soon. She's not having any fun with it, though - sorry to say!!!

She also has two novels to read, with a written assignment for each. One novel has a choice - I think she's going to write a letter to the main character. She started the book today and is about halfway through. Again, I'm cracking the whip so she'll have it done before camp on Sunday. The other book has a journal requirement. She's to read a chapter, then write a brief journal response of her own. The book is Avi's True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. I think DD will really like it, and it ties in pretty nicely with a pirate summer theme, don't you think??? Two novels is no big deal for D - we went to Barnes & Noble on Moday, and she bought the two summer eading books as well as two other "fun" novels. She's read both fun books, one Tuesday and one yesterday, so I hope she'll zip through the others.

Will your kids get these assignments done early in the summer, or will you have a busy last week?? Let's trade our experiences...

 

[VickiVM]

My son tested and was accepted in honors math and English. He was assiged a reading project for his English class - read Lillies of the Field and create a shadow box and journal as he does this. He's read the book and is starting his box this week. School starts Aug. 14th.

My girls - going into 5th and 3rd grade - were not assigned anything.

 

[Karel]

My oldest, in Honors English, has to read three books and I think one project. My other two also have books they have to read and project or a test they have to take in the fall.

 

[MoniqueU]

About the 2nd best thing I can say about my district other then the fact they finally went to a modified traditional after holding most of us parents hostage on year round for a good ten years is NO SUMMER HOMEWORK.
This is for both the elementary and Jr high levels. I don't know what the high schools do. My feeling on it is my kids busted their tushies all year and need a break and so do I. The knowledge they learned isn't going to fall out of their heads. They will pick right back up with the dreaded start of school.
But right now its SUMMER.

 

[yearbook50]

Starting when I went into 6th grade, I always had at least 3 books to read each summer for school.

Going into AP History, I had to write a report about the book and its importance to America entering the Civil War.

Worse was a 8 page paper for my Theory of Knowledge class, a precursor to my real IB paper.

To be honest, I find my college work to be easier than high school.

 

[DVCLiz]

About the 2nd best thing I can say about my district other then the fact they finally went to a modified traditional after holding most of us parents hostage on year round for a good ten years is NO SUMMER HOMEWORK.
This is for both the elementary and Jr high levels. I don't know what the high schools do. My feeling on it is my kids busted their tushies all year and need a break and so do I. The knowledge they learned isn't going to fall out of their heads. They will pick right back up with the dreaded start of school.
But right now its SUMMER.

But that's not what this thread is about. I was more interested in hearing from people who do have summer assignments, and how they are progressing.

I'm glad you're happy with your school, but your response is
(I wish that guy didn't have that frown - I meant this light-heartedly!!)

 

[*Fantasia*]

my son (will be in 4th grade) and daughter (will be in 2nd grade) has a math book to do that has about 70 pages of math (everything that they have learned from 3rd and 1st grade). some pages are just for fun. they are required to do the book and must be turned in the first day of school. this is just to help the kids not forget what they have learned. it's no big deal. my kids does 3-5 pages every few days or every other day. they don't mind.

btw.. it's a small book.. it's not a full size book.

 

[paigevz]

I gave my students 3 workbooks..........one of math that was mostly done in class...........should have had about 10 pages left to do. One of reading that had short stories and 4 questions for each........about 12 stories. One of phonics that just had pages of pictures........find and circle pictures starting with the sl sound like slow........that kind of thing. It's about 50 pages but so simple for the end of the year like that. They aren't required to do it, but I told them I'd give them a prize from my big prize bucket for each workbook completed.

I would be willing to bet that most will wait until just before and knock out the math and phonics book for their prizes.

 

[mom23boys]

Both of my school aged kids got summer assignments.

The oldest (12) going into 7th grade has to read a book (his choice or on a reading list) and make a poster about the book. He also got a math packet that was not mandatory, but I asked him to get it.

My other DS (7) going into 2nd grade also got a math packet. Very simple for him about 10 pages. He is great at math. He also is going to a private summer reading program and he has 1/2 of homework a day for about 5 weeks. He is really struggling at reading. So we are working extra hard with him this summer. He is very far behind. He seems to not mind.

I really have no opinion either way with summer assigments. Kids should be kids in the summer but it is so much different then when I was little. It seems that school districts around here put alot of pressure on Teachers with the State testing every year. It is a shame.

 

[paigevz]

He is really struggling at reading. So we are working extra hard with him this summer. He is very far behind.

Good for you. Better to catch up as much as you can while he's so young and willing!

 

[DVCLiz]

I gave my students 3 workbooks..........one of math that was mostly done in class...........should have had about 10 pages left to do. One of reading that had short stories and 4 questions for each........about 12 stories. One of phonics that just had pages of pictures........find and circle pictures starting with the sl sound like slow........that kind of thing. It's about 50 pages but so simple for the end of the year like that. They aren't required to do it, but I told them I'd give them a prize from my big prize bucket for each workbook completed.

I would be willing to bet that most will wait until just before and knock out the math and phonics book for their prizes.

You can be a little off-topic. I just don't want to have this turn into an argument for or against summer work. It would be fruitless for me, since we've got the assignment.

BTW, these are all considered "first test" grades. If you bring your math packet in and have attempted all problems, your first math grade will be 100%. We can use all grades like this, so we'll have that one done!!! Same for the reading - the Social Studies teacher has a unit on the first book, and the literature teacher will start her first semester with a study of the other one. I think it would be much easier for the teacher if the students had read the book before coming to school. I'm sure they'll have some review of it the first few days.

 

[paigevz]

Not to start the argument, Liz, but I do wonder how on Earth they manage to acclimate new students or handle the ones who didn't? In the case of a background novel for instance, is it just the first few weeks' homework and those who did it over summer don't have to? I just wonder.

I would love to have assignments for my son that would count as 100 on first tests. That would be nice, since, as you know, I do give him a little work anyway. Can't get away from being a teacher's son!

 

[Daxx]

DS going into 4th grade has the following:

Read 5 books (he chose "Fourth Grade Rats", "Sarah, Plain & Tall", "Drums at Saratoga", "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" and "Ramona Forever"), write out the following: title, author, characters, setting, problem, events, solution and a summary on the back of each report.

Math workbook sent home, he has to do the first 100 pages, approx. 25 problems/page. However, they started working on this in school, so it's more like 80 pgs. I don't know if they let the kids start themselves or if the kids just did it to try to get ahead.

Yikes!!!!!

So far, it hasn't been too bad getting him to do the work b/c we tell him "no pool until you do the work"! He reads for 1/2 hour every morning and then he can read at leisure throughout the day if he chooses. He also has to do 2 pgs./day in math (or more if he wants). It's been rainy here, so he's doing more reading than we both expected!

Our friends have 2 DS's at the same school. The older is in our DS's class and the younger one is going into 1st grade. The child going into 1st grade's summer homework is to read 10 easy reader books of his choice, write title and author and draw a picture from the story. Then, he has a workbook w/math which he has to complete the first 50 pages in and a workbook for phonics/lang. arts which he has to do the first 50 pages of. There are about 7 to 10 problems/pg. in his book.

These assignments are their first grade for the school year, so they're mandatory!! I do know that if a student starts late, then they get an extension to complete the work. If they're not handed in on the first day of school, the grade drops by 10% for each day late. So, if you're one day late, they start grading your paper with 90% being the highest grade you can get.

According to the letter sent home from school, they're prepping them for the NY State ELA (English/Lang. Arts) and Math exams and are hoping all children score 3 or above.

In my school, the incoming 1st graders and 2nd graders have to read 5 books and complete a "worksheet" that asks them to identify book title and author and to draw a picture from the story. Incoming to 3rd and 4th grades don't get anything and I know that the upper grades get some summer reading ... but I know that they're not getting as much work as DS's school gives out!

 

[DVCLiz]

Not to start the argument, Liz, but I do wonder how on Earth they manage to acclimate new students or handle the ones who didn't? In the case of a background novel for instance, is it just the first few weeks' homework and those who did it over summer don't have to? I just wonder.

I would love to have assignments for my son that would count as 100 on first tests. That would be nice, since, as you know, I do give him a little work anyway. Can't get away from being a teacher's son!

My daughter's school is private, so all new students would have to go through a summer admission process if they are coming in "late", ie if they find out after the last day of school (the day those assignments are sent home) that they will be coming next year. So they would get those assignments as soon as they were admitted, and would have some summer time to get them done. I suppose if a student came at the last minute they would make some kind of accomodation. I don't know what happens to students who just don't get it done. It's a pretty committed group of parents, so not many I know would let their kids blow it off.

 

[Brianne]

DS is entering 6th grade (middle school) & has summer homework--two books he had to read, then answer questions on, plus a minimum 7 hours spent online doing FCAT math practice (standardized testing). He's finished the books & questions, not without a little arguing since one of the books was Little Women--can't imagine why he wouldn't want to read it?

It hasn't been bad but the kids are used to us requiring them to do "homework" stuff during the summer anyway, whether it's reading, worksheets, computer software, etc. It's worked for us so far.

 

[lajones81]

Our elementary students are given a book log to track their reading hours over the summer. No pressure to be quite honest. If the students remember to submit their book log in the fall they get a coupon (I think it's for free ice cream or something - can't remember right now!). As for my 5th graders going into 6th grade, the middle school asks them to select a book and annotate the book with character traits, similies, etc. Usually for the entire book they only need to five four of each of the four categories. I told my kids to read the book as soon as school was out and then they had the rest of the summer to rest and relax!

 

[Celluloidgal]

My 4 kidos will all go to the same school next year (K-8th)

DS5 (K) - "homework" given was to practice opening drink boxes and learn how to do his belt. (They just passed standardized clothing in Fort Worth public schools)

DS (1st) - told to practice his handwriting skills & read.

DD (4th) - Due the first day of school, averaged into the first six weeks reporting period. Read James and the Giant Peach & create a Bloom's Taxonomy book. Memorize multiplication facts.

DS (7th) - nothing

Funny how teachers from the same school can give such varied summer assignments. DD started reading, but I bet will put off the report until the week before She takes after her mother.

 

[JVL1018]

My DD is going into first and she got a math packet(maybe 15 pages) a couple of days before school ended. It has to be handed in Sept 8th.
I found her almost done with the whole thing the night she got it. It's verrry easy, but I made her wait until school was actually out to finish it. LOL
It's done now.

They have a reading list, but no requirements or work since they are only going into 1st.
Also a list of books and websites for social studies that they recommend the kids look at.

 

[GoofyDad869]

My daughter is between 1st & 2nd Grade. No summer work for her.

My son is between 6th & 7th Grade. The school has given a summer reading list, and the student is supposed to read up to 3 of those books. They will take a test (for a part of their English grade) which is basically an extra-credit thing. Nothing else for him. He's a big reader, and he's plowed through two of those books already, well on his way through his third summer-reading book. He has read other "just for fun" stuff too.

 

[punkin]

My DD13 (going into 9th grade) has a math assignment (really easy considering she's going to be in Honors Geometry next year) and a reading assignment with a written assignment based on the reading to be handed in second day of school.

My DD7 has no formal assignments but has to practice her cursive and multiplication tables (also some factoring).

(sorry about the smilies. DD is on my lap)