Son's math teacher and homework notebook

[Mermaid02]

My son's math teacher is requiring the kids to keep EVERY homework assignment they do for the quarter (they have homework every night). They are supposed to keep the corrected work in a "math notebook" and at the end of the quarter he will give them a test- "What is the correct answer to #6 on assignment #4?"

This goes against the motto in our home.... when you're done with it, throw it out. My son has hoarding tendencies and we are really trying to nip it. He has Asperger's so this is a real concern. He is also extremely unorganized and every day is a struggle.

I'm going to bring this up at our 504 meeting- but I was just wondering if anyone else had a teacher that had this policy. It seems weird to me.

 

[Bethenny]

My son's math teacher is requiring the kids to keep EVERY homework assignment they do for the quarter (they have homework every night). They are supposed to keep the corrected work in a "math notebook" and at the end of the quarter he will give them a test- "What is the correct answer to #6 on assignment #4?"

This goes against the motto in our home.... when you're done with it, throw it out. My son has hoarding tendencies and we are really trying to nip it. He has Asperger's so this is a real concern. He is also extremely unorganized and every day is a struggle.

I'm going to bring this up at our 504 meeting- but I was just wondering if anyone else had a teacher that had this policy. It seems weird to me.

I fail to see how this is hoarding. You say when you're done with it, you throw it out. OK fine, but he's not done with it until the end of the quarter. He can throw it out at the end of the quarter. Do you throw away your tax returns after you've done your taxes?

BTW, the motto in our house is follow the directions your teacher gives you.

 

[Skatermom23]

I think this is an excellent idea! It will help student learn to keep a binder and have everything in order. Trust me they will need this skill in HS and in life

 

[traviesojmt]

I don't know what grade your son is in, but my DS is in 8th grade. They are normally expected to keep everything for a grading period. He does have semester finals and the information will be important for finals testing. Again, I don't know the grade, but maybe the teacher is prepping them for finals testing. Another reason my DS keeps his graded work is in case the teacher records the grade incorrectly or forgets to record it at all. There have been times when he had to show a previous test to correct an error in the grade book.

Our middle school has a class for 8th graders called study skills. It teaches organizational skills, note taking, and study skills. They are required to keep their work in a binder until the end of the grading period for all classes. With finals testing, I am use to my son keeping his work so it doesn't seem weird to me.

 

[scottishduffy]

It seems that this sort of assignment can still teach your son organization. Not only will he have to keep his homework organized on the day he does it, he will have to organize it for several weeks after.

Get one folder where he can put his math homework in order. Perhaps a 3 ring binder would work best so he can flip through the homework like a book. This helps your son to organize a larger chunk of information in a concise way. At the end of the semester, you can throw away the contents of the folder and use that same folder for nest semester.

Perhaps this would be better practice for college days when many times you must eorganize larger assignments and keep track of things for an entire semester. This teaches him to keep organized, but also teaches him a proper timeframe and how long you should keep an item.

This actually seems like a great idea for an unorganized kid.... Keeping things organized and on track for a length of time.

 

[Mermaid02]

I fail to see how this is hoarding. You say when you're done with it, you throw it out. OK fine, but he's not done with it until the end of the quarter. He can throw it out at the end of the quarter. Do you throw away your tax returns after you've done your taxes?

He saves, labels and receipts, flyers and junk mail. He saves empty wrappers! I don't see the point in saving the already graded homework. I fail to see the point.

 

[ols386]

If he has organizational issues, I was thinking that this process might help him with organizational skills. I don't see anything wrong with keeping the papers until the end of the quarter...and then he/you can throw them out.

 

[RadioNate]

Just get a 3 ring binder and a 3 hole punch and file it away every night. It'll take about a minute.

It'll help teach organization.

I actually think it is a great idea for an unorganized kid.

 

[Mermaid02]

It seems that this sort of assignment can still teach your son organization. Not only will he have to keep his homework organized on the day he does it, he will have to organize it for several weeks after.

Get one folder where he can put his math homework in order. Perhaps a 3 ring binder would work best so he can flip through the homework like a book. This helps your son to organize a larger chunk of information in a concise way. At the end of the semester, you can throw away the contents of the folder and use that same folder for nest semester.

Perhaps this would be better practice for college days when many times you must eorganize larger assignments and keep track of things for an entire semester. This teaches him to keep organized, but also teaches him a proper timeframe and how long you should keep an item.

This actually seems like a great idea for an unorganized kid.... Keeping things organized and on track for a length of time.

((((sigh))))) I suppose, but truly...... this will be an assignment for me. He already has a weeks worth of homework that he has no idea where it is.

 

[ols386]

He saves, labels and receipts, flyers and junk mail. He saves empty wrappers! I don't see the point in saving the already graded homework. I fail to see the point.

Did you say that at the end of the quarter the teacher would be giving them a final test? Wouldn't the saved graded papers be a helpful way for him to study and be prepared for the final test?

Again, I would think this also might be a way for him to work on his organizational skills.

 

[Mermaid02]

Did you say that at the end of the quarter the teacher would be giving them a final test? Wouldn't the saved graded papers be a helpful way for him to study and be prepared for the final test?

Again, I would think this also might be a way for him to work on his organizational skills.

The final test is just of the homework- not to re-do it, but to make sure you have it.

 

[ols386]

((((sigh))))) I suppose, but truly...... this will be an assignment for me. He already has a weeks worth of homework that he has no idea where it is.

When you put it that way, it sounds like your son has no problem in keeping the papers, but that it's more work for you, which I understand would be frustrating, but I think you should try and look at this as an 'opportunity' for him to impove upon something (organization). Sure, it may take some time and effort from you too, but maybe in the long run, will be worth it. Didn't you say they have a notebook or something where they are to keep the papers?

 

[Mermaid02]

When you put it that way, it sounds like your son has no problem in keeping the papers, but that it's more work for you, which I understand would be frustrating, but I think you should try and look at this as an 'opportunity' for him to impove upon something (organization). Sure, it may take some time and effort from you too, but maybe in the long run, will be worth it. Didn't you say they have a notebook or something where they are to keep the papers?

You're right about that, he'll keep them- in his backpack, in the bottom of his locker, all over his room. He'll keep them, but have NO IDEA where they are.

I think I have a 3 ring binder upstairs I can use for this.

 

[Bethenny]

He saves, labels and receipts, flyers and junk mail. He saves empty wrappers! I don't see the point in saving the already graded homework. I fail to see the point.

The point is being able to distinquish between important and non important stuff. Homework is important. Saving it for a certain amount of time serves a purpose. He may need to refer to it again. He may need to have a physical copy of the grade he received. There's a difference between homework and trash. I actually think it's a great idea.

 

[Mermaid02]

The point is being able to distinquish between important and non important stuff. Homework is important. Saving it for a certain amount of time serves a purpose. He may need to refer to it again. He may need to have a physical copy of the grade he received. There's a difference between homework and trash. I actually think it's a great idea.

To Jack EVERYTHING is important- it's very frustrating.

 

[ols386]

They are supposed to keep the corrected work in a "math notebook" and at the end of the quarter he will give them a test- "What is the correct answer to #6 on assignment #4?"

The final test is just of the homework- not to re-do it, but to make sure you have it.

So, wouldn't the bolded sentence be the reason that they need to keep the papers? You said they are going to be asked the correct answer to certain things. If that's the case, then the teacher will be asking for the answers to certain questions, and he would be expected to know the answer by referring to the previous papers.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I don't see the point in saving the already graded homework.

* If the teacher loses a grade, your son will have it.
* If the teacher incorrectly calculates the final grade, there is documentation of the completed work.
* If the final exam is comprehensive, your son has an excellent study book.

It sounds like learning when it is appropriate to keep things might be a great lesson. We don't keep old gum wrappers, but we do keep papers for a class neatly organized until the final grade is posted.

 

[Mermaid02]

So, wouldn't the bolded sentence be the reason that they need to keep the papers? You said they are going to be asked the correct answer to certain things. If that's the case, then the teacher will be asking for the answers to certain questions, and he would be expected to know the answer by referring to the previous papers.

Right. He doesn't have to do the work again- just know the answer was 16 (or whatever).

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I think this is an excellent idea! It will help student learn to keep a binder and have everything in order. Trust me they will need this skill in HS and in life

 

[Mermaid02]

So, do you guys think I should just do it for a week- make sure he "gets it" and then leave it up to him OR do it with him/for him all quarter?