DS has to re-do Math homework......

[TN Hockey Mom]

because he did too much.

DS10 brought home 4 math worksheets on Friday. I'll admit we didn't get them out of his bag to complete until Sunday. Before he started working on them, I asked him if he had to do all of the problems (sometimes they do and sometimes they don't) and he couldn't remember. I told him since he didn't remember then he had to complete all of them. He wasn't happy about it but he did all of them.

Today, his Math teacher sent home the same 4 BLANK Math worksheets. Apparently, he was only suppose to do 1-5 on each worksheet and because he did all of them he has to re-do them (she kept the ones he had already completed).

Am I crazy to be upset by this? The only thing I can figure is she's upset because he didn't follow the instructions. However, it was the 2nd week of school and he's only in the 4th grade. I could understand if it were the middle of the school year and he should know by now what is expected.

If she was that worried about him only doing problems 1-5 I think she should make sure the students know to write that in their agenda on the 2nd week of school. I also think if the school is going to give me a sign on ID for the school website that links to the teachers sites, then she should have put it on there as well (I checked before he did the worksheets and she hasn't put anything on there this school year).

I just don't understand having to re-do work for doing too many Math problems. I thought the more he did the more practice it would be.

My employers (Pediatric Physicians) thought I should have sent them back to her blank stating he had already completed them. I called my husband at home to tell him to have him hold off on completing them while I decide what I want him to do, however, he had already finished them. He also has other homework in this class to complete tonight as well as finishing a Math project for this class.

Sorry, I just wanted to vent. Does anyone agree with me or am I overreacting????

 

[tonilea]

Well, there are more lessons to be learned in school than just the actual class work. Organizational skills and following directions are pretty important. I'm not sure how I would feel - my son isn't that old....

 

[bethbuchall]

Honestly, I'd say both. I completely agree with you and know that I'd react the same way. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure it's at least a little bit of overreacting, especially since your ds already has it done and it didn't seem to bother him to redo the work.

 

[lovesmurfs]

because he did too much.

DS10 brought home 4 math worksheets on Friday. I'll admit we didn't get them out of his bag to complete until Sunday. Before he started working on them, I asked him if he had to do all of the problems (sometimes they do and sometimes they don't) and he couldn't remember. I told him since he didn't remember then he had to complete all of them. He wasn't happy about it but he did all of them.

Today, his Math teacher sent home the same 4 BLANK Math worksheets. Apparently, he was only suppose to do 1-5 on each worksheet and because he did all of them he has to re-do them (she kept the ones he had already completed).

Am I crazy to be upset by this? The only thing I can figure is she's upset because he didn't follow the instructions. However, it was the 2nd week of school and he's only in the 4th grade. I could understand if it were the middle of the school year and he should know by now what is expected.

If she was that worried about him only doing problems 1-5 I think she should make sure the students know to write that in their agenda on the 2nd week of school. I also think if the school is going to give me a sign on ID for the school website that links to the teachers sites, then she should have put it on there as well (I checked before he did the worksheets and she hasn't put anything on there this school year).

I just don't understand having to re-do work for doing too many Math problems. I thought the more he did the more practice it would be.

My employers (Pediatric Physicians) thought I should have sent them back to her blank stating he had already completed them. I called my husband at home to tell him to have him hold off on completing them while I decide what I want him to do, however, he had already finished them. He also has other homework in this class to complete tonight as well as finishing a Math project for this class.

Sorry, I just wanted to vent. Does anyone agree with me or am I overreacting????

No, you're not overreacting. I would have stapled a letter to the teacher on the blank form and returned it, asking for a call (or emailed if I had an email address). If there's something with her lesson plans that required only 1/2 the pages to be done (which seems a little dumb, too), then at least he could have copied the work previously done.

Teacher should have given a warning -- this time it would be accepted, but next time, etc. etc. -- especially the beginning of the school year.

Guess it's a learning opportunity for DS to write down the assignments...

 

[pipersmom]

I wouldn't be peeved, I'm sure she did it so that next time he would remember to write down the assignment. One day last week I made my daughter re-do a complete assignment because she had done the 1st 5 questions at school, then forgot to bring them home. Then again, I'm the bad Mom that has been known to make her daughter re-write assignments because they were messy.

 

[stsomewhere]

They just started at our middle school if you get less than 70% on test or assignment , it has to be redone.

 

[NotUrsula]

Failure to follow directions. At DS' school it's an automatic 10 pt. deduction even if every answer is correct.

 

[golfgal]

No, you're not overreacting. I would have stapled a letter to the teacher on the blank form and returned it, asking for a call (or emailed if I had an email address). If there's something with her lesson plans that required only 1/2 the pages to be done (which seems a little dumb, too), then at least he could have copied the work previously done.

Teacher should have given a warning -- this time it would be accepted, but next time, etc. etc. -- especially the beginning of the school year.

Guess it's a learning opportunity for DS to write down the assignments...

Not all instructions are written, on purpose. There could very well have been a good reason why the teacher only wanted 1-5 done. The boy couldn't remember the instructions, he did it wrong, he was asked to do it right, what is wrong with that? 4th grade is a BIG transition year between elementary and middle school and most 4th grade teachers I know are pretty strict about following directions. Yes, OP, I think you are over reacting and by doing so you are undermining what the teacher is trying to do with the students and that is to follow directions.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would have been peeved at my son for not writing down the assignment. I would tell him that is what he gets for not paying attention.

Then again I have a college dd and a dd currently in 8th grade so I am hardened to the excuses of kids and homework.

My 8th grader keeps a detailed list of everything due, dates, etc. Not my job to know her homework.

Yes, it was irritating what the teacher did but in the grand scheme of life it is not worth getting in a pissing contest with the teacher.

 

[rie'smom]

At 10 years old we were required to write down our assignments and the teacher was not expected to be sure we wrote it down. The same with our children when they were that age.
In my opinion, your son messed up his assignment. The teacher is allowing him to redo it when she could have given him an "F" for failing to follow directions.

 

[Magic Mom]

You should just email her and ask her. There could be a dozen good or bad reasons she made him redo it. Before you get angry, make sure you have a good reason.

 

[MushyMushy]

Sounds like a complete waste of time and I'd be irritated. I would think this early in the school year that she'd at least give a warning. Personally as a teacher if I didn't want the kids to get ahead, I'd give them a warning, then a blank worksheet to finish, but not to do the same problems over again.

It's hard enough getting kids to want to do homework.

 

[powellrj]

I wouldn't be angry at the teacher at all. She has taught your DS a valuable lesson. Always follow directions. I'll bet he won't forget next time.

 

[Bethenny]

Yes, your son learned a valuable lesson. Next time he can't remember the assignment, he just shouldn't do it because he might have to do it all over again anyway.

 

[kirbsam]

just have him do the sheets. why bring the whole world into such a petty situation. makes you look bad.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I wouldn't be angry at the teacher at all. She has taught your DS a valuable lesson. Always follow directions. I'll bet he won't forget next time.

Yes that is a valuable lesson to learn about this teacher. It is the thing your son needs to learn about school. Know how to "read" a teacher.

For example, my 8th grade dd just said her Science/Math teacher is not quick to post the grades to the website. (She is a brand new teacher as well).

Translation.....save EVERY SCRAP of work from the class until the quarter is up. She is going to mess up we can see it coming.

 

[MM27]

because he did too much.

DS10 brought home 4 math worksheets on Friday. I'll admit we didn't get them out of his bag to complete until Sunday. Before he started working on them, I asked him if he had to do all of the problems (sometimes they do and sometimes they don't) and he couldn't remember. I told him since he didn't remember then he had to complete all of them. He wasn't happy about it but he did all of them.

Today, his Math teacher sent home the same 4 BLANK Math worksheets. Apparently, he was only suppose to do 1-5 on each worksheet and because he did all of them he has to re-do them (she kept the ones he had already completed).

Am I crazy to be upset by this? The only thing I can figure is she's upset because he didn't follow the instructions. However, it was the 2nd week of school and he's only in the 4th grade. I could understand if it were the middle of the school year and he should know by now what is expected.

If she was that worried about him only doing problems 1-5 I think she should make sure the students know to write that in their agenda on the 2nd week of school. I also think if the school is going to give me a sign on ID for the school website that links to the teachers sites, then she should have put it on there as well (I checked before he did the worksheets and she hasn't put anything on there this school year).

I just don't understand having to re-do work for doing too many Math problems. I thought the more he did the more practice it would be.

My employers (Pediatric Physicians) thought I should have sent them back to her blank stating he had already completed them. I called my husband at home to tell him to have him hold off on completing them while I decide what I want him to do, however, he had already finished them. He also has other homework in this class to complete tonight as well as finishing a Math project for this class.

Sorry, I just wanted to vent. Does anyone agree with me or am I overreacting????

I do think it's silly that he had to redo the problems, however, as a 4th grade teacher myself, I think you are making excuses for him by saying that it's the second week and he's only in 4th grade. Today was our first day of school and one of the first things I tell my 4th graders is that nobody is going to baby them this year. They are at a perfect age to learn about being responsible for their work and homework.

We have agenda books that we give the students. Every day I write the homework on the board, in the same place, and the kids are to write it in their own agendas. I have kids that try to take shortcuts. For example, I'll write Math Journal pg. 52 and they write 52. Then I get a note the next day saying they didn't know if the homework was in their Math Journal or their Study Link book. I don't have time in the day to check 48 kids' agendas.

 

[hentob]

Nothing like holding a child back

No wonder we are ranked so low in math as a country. We should be encouraging our children to work to their FULLEST potential. If he can do the entire packet, GO FOR IT!

The teacher should be pushing him forward and not holding him back.

 

[powellrj]

Yes, your son learned a valuable lesson. Next time he can't remember the assignment, he just shouldn't do it because he might have to do it all over again anyway.

If that were the case I would hope that she would fail him on the paper and not give him another chance. I never knew I was such a hard nose when it came to homework, but I would hope he would learn the lesson early before he gets to high school where it could really affect his grades.

 

[mjkacmom]

Failure to follow directions. At DS' school it's an automatic 10 pt. deduction even if every answer is correct.

Last year (3rd grade), dd9's teacher would deduct 30 points if the paper heading wasn't complete (name, date, group). Fourth grade is really about being responsible, and teachers will be harsher on not following directions than the actual homework sometimes. It's a good lesson.