Summer assignments - argh!

[frndofpooh]

Do your kids have summer homework assignments? Not just reading, but math or other subjects as well? Our school gives the kids a summer reading list, math workbook and an essay to complete by August. I don't mind the reading at all but it rankles me to see my ten year old slogging away at math when he should be playing outside. I have a friend who has given up fighting with her kids and just sends them to Sylvan 5 hours a week so she doesn't have to deal with it.

What's your opinion? Is this all necessary or not? A valuable use of summer time or not?

 

[mamamary]

DS (10) has not gotten anything to do from school over the summer. DD (8) was given a journal to fill out. It's not even required - just a suggestion. In a way I wish they were given a little something to work on. I did bring both of them to the library to join the summer reading program. They are each supposed to read 10 books - age appropriate. DD read a few already - DS can't seem to get started.

 

[ocd4disney]

I bought dd a workbook or 2 for the summer, but the school doesn't require any assignements. I have to admit though that we have only worked a couple of times from the workbooks. We have been reading though. I am a fan of year round school. However I don't know that I would want to be responsible for nagging my dd to do her summer homework.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

DS has reading, but no math. This is the first year I haven't had him do a math bridge workbook over the summer. I think that summer should be mostly carefree, but I also think that it is easy to forget everything you've learned if you don't keep your mind sharp. When DS was in elementary school one of his teachers lamented to me that the first month of school, especially in math, is reviewing the things the kids should already know and remember.

It really isn't hard to carve out 30 or 60 minutes a day for something other than play.

 

[jbmom]

Ds school doesn't require anything. They do ask that they read during the summer and offer some workbooks if you wish to purchase them. I try to find things that are fun for him to do over the summer without being too structured. I like for him to have something to do, but I don't want it to feel like he's still in school either.

 

[coles1mom]

If the price is right I'll do his homework this summer

They say kids lose 1-2 months of learning every summer.
I can't rightly say I fell behind in reading or math during summer vacation.

Summer homework to me is like going on vacation and having to bring the office carp with me.

Judi

 

[frndofpooh]

I think that a lot of it is fueled by our area - we live in a really competitive, academic place with many parents who believe that if their kids aren't doing algebra every day, they won't get into Harvard. Sheesh.

 

[frndofpooh]

If the price is right I'll do his homework this summer

They say kids lose 1-2 months of learning every summer.
I can't rightly say I fell behind in reading or math during summer vacation.

Summer homework to me is like going on vacation and having to bring the office carp with me.

Judi

ITA.

 

[daisyduck123]

DD12 will be a freshman in high-school this year.

She's got assignments for everything..
Honors English (has to read To Kill a Mockingbird)
Biology
Algebra II
Spanish II

and I can't remember the other courses

DS9 doesn't have any specific assignments.

 

[pgsahm2]

Going into 3rd grade ds#1 does not have any summer homework. I, however, make up weekly packets of worksheets, reading assignments, etc., and have him keep busy. It's just to keep his skills up.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Our schools only require summer reading. They do encourage writing in journals but it's not required.

 

[Daxx]

DS going into 5th grade has to read 6 books as follows:

4 fiction (he chose Holes, James and the Giant Peach, The Mouse and the Motorcycle and Sideways Stories from Wayside School)
1 historical fiction (he chose Drums at Saratoga)
1 non-fiction (he chose Knots In My Yo-Yo String)

He has a sheet that he has follow to write an essay for each book. Each essay must contain title, author, characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution, summarize the story and show how it is similar/different from one other book on his reading list. Yes -- he has to do an essay for each book.

On top of that, we have a huge math packet that must be completed as well. 18 pages (if I remember correctly) front and back.

With the summer homework he has, they just should've kept the kids in school. At any rate, the packets are their first grade of the new school year. There's no choice but to do the work.

 

[dcgrumpy]

DS just finished Kindergarten. He has a 30 page packet of sentences he has to write. Plus I have to make 60 flash cards of words he has to know. It's due the first day of school and it's counted as homework.

 

[golfgal]

DD12 will be a freshman in high-school this year.

She's got assignments for everything..
Honors English (has to read To Kill a Mockingbird)
Biology
Algebra II
Spanish II

and I can't remember the other courses

DS9 doesn't have any specific assignments.

Totally off topic but WOW, 12 is young to be going into high school. Our 12 year olds are going into 7th grade.

 

[suzannen]

Our 12 year-old DD is going into the 8th Grade. I don't care that they give them reading assignments, but I wish they could just write an essay or paper about it during the summer. Instead they are given a specific theme or question on their books ONLY after they get back in September and then they must write a 3-5 page paper and are also given a detailed test. Which means if they read the books too early in the summer, they begin to forget all of the details.
Well, her books this year are "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe (not too long) and Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings." Now, I love Tolkien and she's a decent reader, but not super fast and these assignments are so many pages that she had to start reading the week after school ended to ensure she will be able to finish by September. I think it's a little over the top.

 

[pgsahm2]

Well, her books this year are "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe (not too long)

Oh gag. I did not enjoy that book and I read it as a college student. It was boring with a capital B.

 

[EthansMom]

Yes, DS5 (going into First Grade) has a summer homework packet that includes Math. He encouraged to do the math worksheets, write some journal entries, and list all of the books he reads. DS5 is writing one journal entry, reading about 60 pages, and doing about two worksheets per week. Working just 1/2 hour per day, he'll have completed more than the minimum recommended work, without impacting his play time or working on vacation.

At our house, DS5 is required to do his "homework" before he's allowed to play on the computer or play his Gameboy. That works for us.

 

[coles1mom]

My 12 y/o gets up at noon..eats breakfast while on the computer..and she helps me save the world from all it's problems at the same time.

I love summer vacation.

Judi