Neglecting Homework

[Tigger&Belle]

Hi Kallison! remember we ran into each other in the ToT line in January. Did your DD ever ride ToT?

A B average in college sounds reasonable. I really don't know how my DD will do next year. This year 1/2 of her classes are college classes through the community college. She's responsible in doing and turning in her work, but she is clueless in how to study for a test.

My 14yo is very much like the OP's son. Ben is bright, but really the kind of kid that you would describe by saying he marches to the beat of a different drummer. In elem and middle school he would do his homework and then not hand it it. Very frustrating! He's not much better as a freshman. I have to keep on him, reminding him to make sure he's done all his homework, having him double check, restricting him when his grades aren't what they should be, etc.

My 11yo does everything on his own. I've never seen such an independent worker and as long as his grades are good (he's close to a straight A student--usually gets on B and that is in an above grade level math class ). The funny thing is that in elem school when he was tested for the gifted and talented program, he was the only one of my 3 older children not given that
distinction. My older two were and they do not perform like my 11yo does. Strange--obviously what the testing tests the kids on doesn't have a direct corrolation with how they actually do in school. For next year he will be in all honors classes (or whatever our middle school calls them).

And next year my baby starts kindergarten so I get to go through this all again. Yep, my youngest goes to kindergarten the year my oldest goes to college. Don't know what I'll be feeling.

T&B

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Does this child get high marks on tests?? Does he do well in class? Homework is necessary to help reinforce what is taught in class. If he does not really need it then why the heck make him do it and then penalize him??? Why beat a dead horse? That really is the way to make a kid hate school and learning. Homework for the sake of homework is just a waste of time. Yes, I am a teacher! Some kids do not need it and fair does not mean the same thing for all students. What the heck is the purpose of making a kid who has for example, A's do homework??
I say that if your child is really doing well you need to tell his teachers to start differentiating his instruction and assignments in length as well as type of assignment. For example, if he is say a 4.0 in Language Arts...and his intrests lie in drawing ask the teacher to let him make a comic strip to illustrate a key theme in a novel he is currently reading. All kinds of "smarts" need to be addressed in school not just verbal linguistic and mathmatical logical.

 

[Pin Wizard]

DS has started this also. His interim report was below what he's capable of. Just signed a math test with a 95 on it. But recently the teacher decided she would start giving quizzes on their homework...which they could use their homework for!! He brings home terrible grades on the quizzes, and it's bring his overall grade down. I told him he better have the math, social studies, religion, and science books home every night. Think he remembered to bring any of them home yet? NO!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

You can add DD13, an 8th grader, to this list of kids who test well but refused to do homework. She failed math 2nd quarter because she didn't do homework. So far this marking period she is a strong C and with a little effort can pull a B. Teacher comments on report cards frequently include "incomplete homework".

We tried grounding, taking away priveleges, but nothing ever worked to get her to bring the work home, let alone complete it. We were at out wits end, as are those of you here.

One incentive for her has been to reward grades with Disney Dollars (or cash). It's not something I wanted to do, but earning money is a becoming important to her at this age. So we made a chart and starting with the next report card she will be rewarded for doing well. She will have to pay us if she has D or F (like it will happen ).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I had a step-father once who made it a complete PITA to do my homework sometimes..chores came first...I got A's anyway, the homework could wait. Let's just say that Dear mom did wake up and smell the coffee but .....but grrrrrrrrrrrr. This was in fifth grade when the spelling tests converted to spelling/vocab tests. My step-father was an idiot!

 

[Cyndiu]

DS is 13 and in 7th grade (started a little late). This is him to a "T". We've done the agenda thing and the parent teacher conferences over and over. All I can say is stay on top of him.

What finally seems to have worked for us is this: He has an acoustic guitar and has been teaching himself to play. Has his eye on an electric guitar at Guitar Center. DH & I have promised it to him if he gets NO c,d,or f grades and more As than Bs on the next two reports cards.

Also, I've asked his teachers to assign detention if they are able for missed homework. Since third marking period started he's only missed one homework assignment!

Our fingers are crossed.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Does this child get high marks on tests?? Does he do well in class? Homework is necessary to help reinforce what is taught in class. If he does not really need it then why the heck make him do it and then penalize him??? Why beat a dead horse? That really is the way to make a kid hate school and learning. Homework for the sake of homework is just a waste of time. Yes, I am a teacher! Some kids do not need it and fair does not mean the same thing for all students. What the heck is the purpose of making a kid who has for example, A's do homework??
I say that if your child is really doing well you need to tell his teachers to start differentiating his instruction and assignments in length as well as type of assignment. For example, if he is say a 4.0 in Language Arts...and his intrests lie in drawing ask the teacher to let him make a comic strip to illustrate a key theme in a novel he is currently reading. All kinds of "smarts" need to be addressed in school not just verbal linguistic and mathmatical logical.

When my son has had too much busy work for homework I have had him do a portion of the problems and wrote a note to excuse the other problems. If it's math and he's working on a concept, why make the student do 40 problems when they could practice and show their knowledge with 5-10 problems.

My favorite middle school teacher told us as back to school night that he doesn't give out much homework. He said that he works them hard at school and he'd rather that they come home from school and go ride a bike, etc. He got on my good side right away!

I think that some homework that allows the student to practice what they have already learned in school is fine. Or research a topic, etc, but there is too much busy work given.

T&B