Kids homework rant!!!!

[elgerber]

I don't usually post rants, but this one is burning me up. My son started 5th grade last week. Last night he spent most of his night on homework. Tonight he has to do all of the following...

2 graphs he has to draw for math
Read 20 pages in the book they are reading
answer the question in his daily journal
a sentence packet (4 pages or worksheets)
spelling packet, more worksheets, and study for the test
memorize a fairy tale type story to recite to the class
make a list of pet peeves

Now maybe I'm overreacting, but jeez, how is one kid supposed to get all that done in one night, much less have time to be a kid? Now, my son has adhd and he has a hard time concentrating, so it makes it so much harder, but I just talked to another mom from his class and her son is spending all night on homework as well. I don't know if all the kids get this much, or just the kids in the advance classes but this is just ridiculous. I'm almost in tears for him, because he is getting so frustrated.

OK, I'm done now, sorry I just couldn't sit her and stew alone.

Erika

 

[damo]

He just found out today that he has to memorize a fairy tale and recite it to the class tomorrow? Without that one the others would be a heavy enough load. And this was all assigned today? I'd be ticked as well!

 

[zurgswife]

That's why I like my kids school...10mins per grade plus 20 mins slient reading...So, my fifth grader would have 50mins home plus 20 mins reading.....

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Having a 7th grader now & just finishing up fine tooth combing her work (learned last year) I had realized that she was not doing it as it was assigned.
So now I am spending at least 2hrs a day going over it all. UGh, I feel your pain.

 

[Mickey Mouse Kid]

I have a lot of homework, I am in 7'^th grade and in advanced english. But I don't think I have ever had that much homework Usually it takes me so long to do me homework because I really don't concentrate on doing it. Heh heh

 

[mouseclick1]

I teach 5th grade and I would NEVER assign that much homework for one night! Kids need time to unwind after a long day, just as adults do.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

My 5th grader has had tons of homework EVERY night since school started. There hasn't been a day yet where she hasn't had any. Talked to another mother whos daughter is in the same class and she says the same thing.

This is the same teacher she had last year (last year it was a 4-5 split) and the teacher did explain last year that he gave them time in class to get some of it done...but it was up to the kids to use that time as they see fit. I don't know if it is the same as last year. She is even starting algebra this year too!!

 

[Mishetta]

OMG! You're frightening me! My ADHD DS is in the 2nd grade & just to see what we went through yesterday to get homework done (after his meds had worn off), was such a nightmare! He goes to a private Catholic school & he just had to match 5 words with the proper phrases together & he had to draw 3 things that are in his church. It took us nearly 2 hours!

So....tonight we did things MY WAY! We did homework FIRST & then out to play. He finished his homework in about 10 minutes. He's incredibly brilliant when he's on his meds. No amount of medication though would get us through all the homework your DS had!

If this is what his teacher is giving him for just one night's worth of work, you need to talk to her & then perhaps you need to speak with the Principal. That's just waaaaaay too much. I would find out first though if in fact that was one night's homework. I too find it a little unreasonable to have to memorize a fairy tale in one evening & then recite it the next day, after the other 5 hours worth of homework he has! Geez....did he have time to eat dinner?

Good luck!

 

[floridaminnie]

WHen I was in 5th grade, 1987, I was always up until midnight and one in the morning. I would work in school and work from the time I got home, took a small break for dinner and went back to work. That was also the year, I was always sick. I believe it was from the stress. I never had that much work in my HS AP classes (I had all AP classes SR yr) nor in college. I'm beginning to wonder if it's a 5th grade thing. Teach 6th grade and would never give my rugrats that much HW and I do give HW.