Summer Homework?

[It's A Happy Day]

My DS has just finished his 1st year of school....yeah Of course during the last week he brought home multiple papers for summer reading requirements, packages of papers to keep him working on things he learned instead of letting things slide over the summer, and papers from his speech teacher to practice as well. What happened to the days of summer vacation is a vacation LOL. Anyway, I had a conversation with a co-worker who claims only about 10-25% of the students actually do the summer required reading and projects and I can't think this is true. Now I know how she is "raising" her children and I put that in quotes because even saying raising is a strong statement. She claims that it does not effect the childs grade in the new school year either. So I thought I would ask my "dis"family.

Do you have your child do the summer requirements - reading, projects, whatnot? Do you feel that it has helped your child?

If not, is there a particular reason?

And any teacher input? Would it effect his/her grade?

We are fully intending on DS doing some of the practice packet stuff and he will get his summer reading done as well. We, as his parents, just feel that although he is on vacation, the amount he "needs" to do is not excessive and as he has a slight speech issue as well, it will keep him on top of things vs. sliding backwards and having to redo things in the fall. Just our opinion.

 

[Aidensmom]

We were given a suggested summer reading list, but I tossed it, my son is obsessed with a few books and that is what we read together.

I did buy him a 1st grade workbook (that is the grade he will be entering) and we do 4-5 pages a week just to keep stuff fresh. He struggled in kindergarten, and that is why we are working this summer. Fortunately, he recognizes the need too, he doesn't want to be behind the other kids.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

Our school has one book that each grade is required to read over the summer. The kids will do some activities based on it at the beginning of the next school year, so we make sure that is read.

As for the suggested summer reading, I take that as what it says, "suggested." Both of my kids love books, and I let them choose what they want. DS did come home this summer with a chart to fill out, listing what books he read. Also, there was something to color in to show that he has read at least one book in several selected categories (i.e., sports, non-fiction, etc.).

He also came home with two writing assignments do to - he has to send two letters to his teacher over the summer. When I saw it I thought, what a great idea!

So, we'll be doing all of that as well.

DD is entering kindergarten, so we don't have any assignments for her other than the required reading book.

I have several things I want them to keep up on over the summer, so I've already told them that each day, right after breakfast, we'll be doing a little "work." I'll be focusing on language arts and math skills.

It sounds like a lot when it's typed out here, but I'm talking about just a little while each morning doing some reinforcement.

We'll also go to several museums over the summer with other families, and even do some fun science experiments (the messier the better!).

 

[dreamcometrue]

since my DD will have the same teacher again next year (yay! love her!), she gave all the kids a summer journal. It is not a requirement, but my DD is a writer and has been writing in it daily! Other than that, both kids got a "suggested reading list" and again, it's not a requirement!

 

[flipturngirl]

well i think when you are in elementary school and such it is just suggested. But in high school it is required. I remember in my honors english class there was reading assignments we had to do and when we got back to school there was a test on it the 2nd or 3rd day of school and it was about 25 percent of your grade. My sister has to read 4 books over the summer, do 8 packets of reading for history and has to have most of it done by july when they are having a summer AP/Honors school thing. which i think is stupid because they are on summer break it is break not school time and they can not require it because they are not in school. ahgh sorry i am on a rant but i am mad.
but i think that whatever material you get from your dd or ds teacher you should have them read or think about reading because in the long run it will help. i know that i did not always do the reading but when i did it helped me in the next years. have a great summer vacation and cherish them.

 

[aprilgail2]

Our District has mandatory summer reading assignments-last year out of 23 kids in my daughters class 14 did the summer reading, and it is hard to make her do it when other kids dont, especially since I am against it and hate it....I like her reading but not having to pick a book from their list to do it. They just have to write a couple sentences about 2 books over the summer, we go the project in May (school just ended yesterday) and I had her do it right away so it seemed more like school homework than summer reading and now her summer is free to do what she wants. She got her ELA testing grades back last week and she is well above grade level so I am not concerned about her reading at all. I would guess around 2/3 or so of the kids do it our ot the whole school-and they give them until Sept 27th to hand them in so if you didn't do it over the summer you can knock it out the beginning of the school year.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

The school my son attended K-8 had a summer math workbook which was distributed towrds the end of the school year and due the end of the first week of school. It always counted as the first math grade for the first quarter. My son always completed his prior to the first day of school.

Now that he is out of that school and starting high school in the fall, he did not get a workbook for the summer. He is, however, signed up for a math enrichment program which starts this morning!

And, by the way, he does have 2 books on a summer reading list and I would not dream of advocating that he not read them! In fact, he has already finished one and hopes to have the second one read before the big day...July 21 when the final HP book is released. We are leaving for Disney that day and I have a feeling I will see a lot of those around the pool that week!

 

[Daxx]

well i think when you are in elementary school and such it is just suggested. But in high school it is required.

Not in our elementary schools. Reading and math packets are the first grades your child receives in our schools. This holds true in DS's school, too. You don't turn them in, you get a 0% and that's going to effect your 1st quarter grade!

Ever since Kdg., DS10 has had mandatory summer reading packets and summer math packets. This year he has to read 6 books (4 fiction, one non-fiction and one historical fiction) and write book reports on them. These aren't simple reports -- they're major! In his reports, he has to compare and contrast the book he's writing about w/another book he read for summer reading. Plus, he has to list characters, title, author, plot, conflict, conflict resolution and a summary of what the book is about. Math packet is something like 18 pages front and back.

As a teacher, I can def. see how skills are dropped during the summer. The first quarter is all review and it's amazing how little they retain. And, you all ask what happened to summer vacation? Schools depend on state funds. If you can't prove that your students are improving via state tests, they can cut your funding. If you're a struggling school who can't show progress, the state can close your school. We had a school recently close down b/c they were constantly below performance levels. We have NY State math, ELA and science exams and our students are pushed to perform well. It is constantly drilled into their heads that they must score 3's and 4's on their NYS tests. So, in order to perform on state tests, they have to push to improve math and ELA skills and do so over the summer.

There's always talk of the schools going "year round" b/c the first quarter of the year is spent/wasted in review. The theory is that you keep them year round and they retain the skills. Minimal breaks will keep their skills on edge and not rusty.

The way I look at it is that come highschool, doing summer reading won't come as a shock to DS!

I think it's stupid for a school to send "suggested reading" or packets home if they're not going to count as the child's first grade in school. I can tell you that everybody in my school turns their papers in on the first day! Nobody wants that zero to start off their year!

OP -- since this is your first year at this school, check to see if they're being graded on the work sent home over the summer!! If it counts as your child's first grade for next school year, I'd hate to see you blow it off and your child receive a zero!

 

[aprilgail2]

There's always talk of the schools going "year round" b/c the first quarter of the year is spent/wasted in review. The theory is that you keep them year round and they retain the skills. Minimal breaks will keep their skills on edge and not rusty.

!

It would cost millions of dollars around here to have them go to school year round. The schools are not air conditioned and by the time the end of June comes its just about unbearable in the schools (other than the main office which is air conditioned!!!) so unless they spring for a/c in all the schools there is no way it would be possible for July and August!

 

[fan_of_small_world]

Our District has mandatory summer reading assignments-last year out of 23 kids in my daughters class 14 did the summer reading, and it is hard to make her do it when other kids dont, especially since I am against it and hate it.

bolding mine...

I realize that you did have her complete the assignment even though you disagree with it. However, I disagree with the bolded statement.

I have no problem enforcing unpopular rules or going against the grain when it is the right thing to do. And I believe that following the requests/requirements of my child's school is one of those things.

When one of mine pulls the "but other kids aren't following the rule, so why should I?" My response is something along the lines of "whether other kids do or don't follow the rules is not my problem, it their parents' problem - you are my child and you will follow the rules."

A friend of ours has a great response when his kids do the "but other kids don't have to" whine:

"I have an unlimited amount of 'I don't care!'"

 

[T1130]

My dd is going into 1st grade in Sept.. She came home with a book she has to read and a writing project that goes with the book.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

OP -- since this is your first year at this school, check to see if they're being graded on the work sent home over the summer!! If it counts as your child's first grade for next school year, I'd hate to see you blow it off and your child receive a zero!

I just want to repeat that we will be doing it, I was just wondering statistically how many parents really don't do it? Our reading is mandatory not suggested and the grade aside, we feel that DS needs at least some of the repetitive, keep it fresh in the head work.

 

[Mkrop]

DS9 every year come home with a summer reading list with two required books and several other suggested books. He does the required 2 but then I do try and get him to read something else off the suggested list, he is a great reader but when given the choice everything he reads in sports related. I dont have a problem with this but I just use the suggested reading list to broaden his exposure just a bit!

Also the only other thing the teachers stressed is keeping up on their multiplication skills bc in 4th grade this will start immediately and will not give much time for review.

I bought a workbook that has all the different subjects in the one and when he starts with "Im bored" we pull it out and he does some pages. Yesterday it was some grammar pages. 10 minutes after he finished the doorbell rang and he was off to play slip n slide.

 

[MareQ]

It would cost millions of dollars around here to have them go to school year round. The schools are not air conditioned and by the time the end of June comes its just about unbearable in the schools (other than the main office which is air conditioned!!!) so unless they spring for a/c in all the schools there is no way it would be possible for July and August!

Since schools around here (NJ) are open in July for ESY and summer school - it definitely wouldn't be a big deal to add another few weeks in August. A hot day in July or September isn't much different than a hot day in August.

We do summer assignments but not until August as I have my oldest enrolled in the ESY program - and they allow non IEP siblings to go as well so my daughter goes too. August is the only month they are not in school - so I save the work until then.

 

[Tikicampers]

As a teacher, I can def. see how skills are dropped during the summer. The first quarter is all review and it's amazing how little they retain. And, you all ask what happened to summer vacation? Schools depend on state funds. If you can't prove that your students are improving via state tests, they can cut your funding. If you're a struggling school who can't show progress, the state can close your school. We had a school recently close down b/c they were constantly below performance levels. We have NY State math, ELA and science exams and our students are pushed to perform well. It is constantly drilled into their heads that they must score 3's and 4's on their NYS tests. So, in order to perform on state tests, they have to push to improve math and ELA skills and do so over the summer.

Exactly! I teach K, and every year the first grade teachers talk about how much time they spend reviewing. I'm constantly saying, "But they knew that!" I have test scores to back me up, but the kids just forget. I had one child that I was so proud of, he learned every letter sound, and was set to do well in 1st, the teacher came by to talk to me because he had forgotten all but about 5-6.
You mentioned speech, and I don't know if your child gets it for articulation or processing, but either way it is very important for him to keep working on those skills over the summer. As far as whether it will have an impact on his grade, it depends on the school policy.

All that said, I feel very strongly that children should play and have family time over the summer. Your child should not spend hours each day on summer work. The reading is the most critical component. Spread the work out over the summer, and you should be fine.

 

[golfgal]

Call me weird but our schools don't require any summer assignments nor do they give 'suggested' assignments yet we still make our kids read, do some math and practice their instruments over the summer. They read before they go to bed, spend MAYBE an hour a week doing math and practice for 15 minutes a day (DS14 more because he has to memorize his marching band music). It isn't cutting into their summer break at all. I don't have an issue with it at all.

 

[Daxx]

I just want to repeat that we will be doing it, I was just wondering statistically how many parents really don't do it? Our reading is mandatory not suggested and the grade aside, we feel that DS needs at least some of the repetitive, keep it fresh in the head work.

No -- I totally know you are doing it. Just wanted to put that out there in case you thought, partway through the summer "Enough - we're not doing this!" And, as a teacher, I am thrilled w/those parents who keep up the schooling throughout the summer.

If it's not mandatory, I would guess a majority of parents don't do it. Not necessarily b/c they don't want to do it but b/c (if they're working) their kids are in summer day camps and there isn't loads of time to get it done. When it's mandatory, you find the time to do it ... when it's voluntary, I would guess that a good percentage blow it off!

 

[Daxx]

Exactly! I teach K, and every year the first grade teachers talk about how much time they spend reviewing. I'm constantly saying, "But they knew that!" I have test scores to back me up, but the kids just forget. I had one child that I was so proud of, he learned every letter sound, and was set to do well in 1st, the teacher came by to talk to me because he had forgotten all but about 5-6.

This is exactly what happened w/me! I teach Kdg. as well. They come back and have forgotten how to make patterns, how to count past 20, forget how to sound out words, etc. They were ready to walk into first grade the day they left my classroom but have lost a lot over the summer b/c it isn't reinforced. Now, w/the summer reading and math packets, they seem to be more "on the ball" when they come back from vaca.!

 

[Daxx]

It would cost millions of dollars around here to have them go to school year round. The schools are not air conditioned and by the time the end of June comes its just about unbearable in the schools (other than the main office which is air conditioned!!!) so unless they spring for a/c in all the schools there is no way it would be possible for July and August!

I'm in NY State too and have worked summer school. Even though we get some hot days, they aren't as bad as any other hot day at the end of June or in Sept. Anyway, if the State or City makes it so, they'll make it so. Not much I can do about it. DS's school can be unbearable in the late spring and summer months yet they run summer school (and VBS) through August. I have taught in schools on 100* days and the kids get through.

Since schools around here (NJ) are open in July for ESY and summer school - it definitely wouldn't be a big deal to add another few weeks in August. A hot day in July or September isn't much different than a hot day in August.

Exactly -- and NJ weather isn't much different than NY State weather!

 

[mattsdragon]

Never did my summer reading assingments. Thought they were stupid.

I see the point of maintaining the status quo. That's why year-round school is a much better system. No time for your brain to atrophy.