Worst Homework Assignments Your Kids Have Had

[jaybirdsmommy]

Spelling.....anything to do with spelling. Learn the words, write sentences with them, draw pictures with them, anything to do with spelling.

 

[Magical2017]

Not really homework but my kids high school required 100 hours of community service over the four years to graduate. The school had a number of options that they had set up, or you choose your own, but it had to be approved by the school. Some parents were upset by that requirement. If your child was not yet 16, an adult had to go with them to supervise at a number of places. My daughter volunteered at the Food Bank, the Homeless Shelter and the Salvation Army. All were from the schools list of pre-approved places I went on all of hers. My son found his own, coaching Junior High flag football in the parochial league. That one did not require an adult present, and was near our house, I just had to get him there. They practiced for two hours four days a week after school, and had a 2 hour game every Friday. He got an extra rope on his Graduation robe because he did about four times the community service hours he needed.

We have 75hours of mandatory service-learning in our state as a graduation requirement. I personally love this because the whole family can get involved, but it is not feasible for all families. The schools allow some of it to get done at school with class and after school projects that help the community, but I am not sure what that involves. They start in middle school. I think one of the volunteer opportunities was over the summer and included transportation to and from the venues.

 

[Becky2005]

It was the leaf project for my kids! It was a 3rd or 4th grade project that *all* the kids did at that grade. I was overjoyed when kid #4 didn't seem to have this assignment! You had to go gather a bunch of different leaves, glue them down, identify where you found it, and something else I recall all made into a binder. Doesn't sound horrible until you realize 99.9% of the trees in our area are Maple and evergreens and you weren't allowed to duplicate. We had to go around many places to find what we could (I don't think we even found the number they wanted). Plus, I am not going to let my kids just go pull leaves off of people's trees in their yards! You aren't really supposed to do that in forest preserves either.

I despised that project so much! I think for kid #3, they had made it much shorter as I don't remember it as distinctly as I do for my first 2 and I know kid #4 didn't do the project at all because I was dreading it and kept waiting for it to show up!

 

[Turn the Page]

My now grad school daugher was being taught common core math processes in middle school. The process to complete fairly simple operations was intensly complicated and was very prone to create errors.

I met with the teacher and explained that, as a managing engineer, if I ever caught any of my junior engineers trying to do math this way, I'd instantly fire them. It's a waste of time and overyly complicates easy problems creating massive opportunity for error.

She couldn't grasp what a complete boondoggle common core math was. Argued with me about it's benefits saying that knowing the process was more important than the result.

SMH

I'm curious what it was you expected the classroom teacher to do about it. She was mandated by the school board, the local or more likely state board, to teach a particular curriculum or set of standards. What was complaining to her going to accomplish?

 

[geargrinder]

I'm curious what it was you expected the classroom teacher to do about it. She was mandated by the school board, the local or more likely state board, to teach a particular curriculum or set of standards. What was complaining to her going to accomplish?

It wanted them to understand or even acknoledge my concern. All I got back was arrogant push-back.

My point was the teacher's and most of the staff's attitude of "they know what's best for my child." They only want a parent's involvement in education when you agree with what they are doing. They want parents to sit back and be silent if you disagree.

It was the first step in my complaining about the cirriculum in the entire chain. Next was the principle. After that was the school district. Finally was the school board. None of which accomplished anything. They system is programmed to advance with rigid momentum.

 

[kathyk2]

My son took 2 years of ASL in high school as his foreign language. During the spring semester of his first year, our son had a "deaf" weekend. He could not speak verbally, only through signs. We could not speak verbally to him or even in his presence. We knew very limited signs, and it was horrible. Of course, we had a super busy weekend! He had a swim meet, a family birthday party that weekend.

DH was irate and refused to participate. Our son is a rule follower and was so stressed about the whole thing. It was horrible!

That assignment sounds impossible. What were students whose family couldn't sign supposed to do be silent all weekend? Pretending to be deaf in public is offensive to people who are actually deaf. How did you manage that weekend?

 

[sarahann77]

I still have nightmares thinking of when we were asked to solve for Pi. Weren't given instructions to only go to so many lengths etc. I stayed up real late for that. I think I stopped when I covered the whole piece of paper and then rounded. Not sure where my mom was to check what I was doing to stop me - being a 3rd grade teacher.

 

[pezgirlroy]

That assignment sounds impossible. What were students whose family couldn't sign supposed to do be silent all weekend? Pretending to be deaf in public is offensive to people who are actually deaf. How did you manage that weekend?

I actually like this assignment to be honest with you. If the family knew it was coming up they could learn some sign. Also there are other ways to communicate. Years ago I took an adult ed class to learn sign language. (as someone who is very hard of hearing I may need this one day). Our last class - we went out to dinner and we were only allowed to sign. This was in the Washington DC area which has a large Deaf population. We went to a restaurant where there were Deaf waiters. The restaurant and staff appreciated what we were trying to do and we were very welcomed. I agree that some may find it offensive but not all.

 

[jimmymc]

I still have nightmares thinking of when we were asked to solve for Pi. Weren't given instructions to only go to so many lengths etc. I stayed up real late for that. I think I stopped when I covered the whole piece of paper and then rounded. Not sure where my mom was to check what I was doing to stop me - being a 3rd grade teacher.

Just curious, how old were you and which method did you use?

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

My now grad school daugher was being taught common core math processes in middle school. The process to complete fairly simple operations was intensly complicated and was very prone to create errors.

I met with the teacher and explained that, as a managing engineer, if I ever caught any of my junior engineers trying to do math this way, I'd instantly fire them. It's a waste of time and overyly complicates easy problems creating massive opportunity for error.

She couldn't grasp what a complete boondoggle common core math was. Argued with me about it's benefits saying that knowing the process was more important than the result.

SMH

I don't know how I forgot about this. So many tears from my son doing 6th grade math. He's autistic, he's good at math. He knew how to do the problems the regular way but the teacher kept marking him wrong because he wasn't following the "correct" way. I've got degrees in math and civil engineering and it still took me a minute to figure out the stupid boxes and shading, etc. Once I figured it out, it made sense to me (even if overly complicated and convoluted), but he never did get it.

Don't even get me started on when they were doing approximations. 54+ 12 = 66, not 70. I don't care what process they are using, 70 is NOT the answer don't count my kid wrong for giving the correct answer. Again, he's autistic, the concept of approximate was difficult for him and the teacher just wouldn't cut him any slack. Only school year he has ever struggled with math.

Sorry for the soapbox, I know the teachers are required to use this curriculum.

 

[sarahann77]

Just curious, how old were you and which method did you use?

I was trying to remember. I think this was like 3rd grade, maybe 4th. Used regular long division. the lesson of course was there's some infinity numbers that we were supposed to stop at some point but I kept going assuming there must be a concrete answer that of course wasn't.

 

[jimmymc]

I was trying to remember. I think this was like 3rd grade, maybe 4th. Used regular long division. the lesson of course was there's some infinity numbers that we were supposed to stop at some point but I kept going assuming there must be a concrete answer that of course wasn't.

Ooof, yeah your teacher should have set a stop sign there.

 

[mylilnikita]

I can’t recall off hand about my dd when she was in school.
But when I was in 5th grade I had a teacher who should have quit. Her husband was on the local news for going to trial for embezzlement.
She didn’t seem to like kids that much and I was one of her favorites to dislike but the feeling was mutual.
Right before our Spring Break she gave me a butt ton of math “homework “ to “help “ me. I was not good at math past the basics.
In break I took my work cause I wanted to get better at math and my dad was ticked. I did all the work . Got back to school and turned it in she threw it in trash and said she was t going to look at at because I could have gotten help doing it. I kid you not.
My dad had a meeting with her and the principal and she faked being nice. We were about to love and my dad came to get me. She gave a fake smile and said she would miss me and for the first time in my educational life I talked back to a teacher and said to stop lying because she didn’t like kids let alone me. I got a round of claps and yells for that in class.

 

[HannaBelle]

That assignment sounds impossible. What were students whose family couldn't sign supposed to do be silent all weekend? Pretending to be deaf in public is offensive to people who are actually deaf. How did you manage that weekend?

It was impossible. We had no advance notice, but did our best to learn as we could. We wrote notes and honestly didn't have a great weekend. Hence, 15ish years later, I am still salty about it.

He did speak during the family party and during the swim meet. His swim coach would have a coronary if DS told him he could not speak. That man was way too intense.

I think his teacher wanted him and us to experience the difficulties of being deaf. DS is very ethical and is too "goody goody" for my slacker Gen X self, so that made it worse.

 

[HannaBelle]

I actually like this assignment to be honest with you. If the family knew it was coming up they could learn some sign. Also there are other ways to communicate. Years ago I took an adult ed class to learn sign language. (as someone who is very hard of hearing I may need this one day). Our last class - we went out to dinner and we were only allowed to sign. This was in the Washington DC area which has a large Deaf population. We went to a restaurant where there were Deaf waiters. The restaurant and staff appreciated what we were trying to do and we were very welcomed. I agree that some may find it offensive but not all.

The idea was a good one, it was just executed poorly. It would have helped if we had advance notice and been able to choose the weekend, and possibly even received a packet with basic signs. This was before smartphones, so no apps would have been available.

We still use basic signs when we are in a large group and cannot hear. My DD took ASL and Spanish for her foreign language credit, so we were ready for the deaf weekend the second go around. Her teacher did not assign one.

 

[pezgirlroy]

The idea was a good one, it was just executed poorly. It would have helped if we had advance notice and been able to choose the weekend, and possibly even received a packet with basic signs. This was before smartphones, so no apps would have been available.

We still use basic signs when we are in a large group and cannot hear. My DD took ASL and Spanish for her foreign language credit, so we were ready for the deaf weekend the second go around. Her teacher did not assign one.

Yep it sounds like it was execution. definitely.

 

[kathyk2]

I actually like this assignment to be honest with you. If the family knew it was coming up they could learn some sign. Also there are other ways to communicate. Years ago I took an adult ed class to learn sign language. (as someone who is very hard of hearing I may need this one day). Our last class - we went out to dinner and we were only allowed to sign. This was in the Washington DC area which has a large Deaf population. We went to a restaurant where there were Deaf waiters. The restaurant and staff appreciated what we were trying to do and we were very welcomed. I agree that some may find it offensive but not all.

Homework should be for the student not the entire family. You were lucky that you live near Galludette University the experience would have been different somewhere else. Students shouldn't be penalized if their families can't or won't help them.

 

[tazdev3225]

Over the years there have been a few that were difficult but we did them. Science Fair projects for my kids and my grandkids were awful. What didn't help is my youngest brother who is the same age as my son was winning them for the most complex projects and we were doing Pepsi vs Coke. My son came up with a decent one comparing what soil plants grow best in since we have that wonderful PA clay. The week before it was due we came down to dirt all over my house and dead plants. My cat decided they would be fun to play with. The teacher said I staged the whole thing and failed him. I refused to let my 2 daughters participate and ever again after that. The teacher and I had a few words.

My son had issues in school and it wasn't until he was in 7th grade we found how he had a learning disability, so reading was always hard. His second grade teacher realized right before final grades were due that she forgot to assign 3 or 4 book reports in one week. He also had to read the books first of course. If we could get a picture book in him we were lucky and of course this same teacher assigned the books to be read. After one frustrating night of him struggling my husband and I took turns reading a few pages, he would read one, until we were done the book. Then he would dictate the book report and my husband would write it out for him. Seriously a book a night for a kid who could barely read was hard. The teacher called me in for a conference that Friday to tell me she was failing him for the year because HE did not write those reports. I was furious and stormed up to the principals office but the teacher somehow beat me there. Of course the principal took the teachers side. I told her she was running a loony bin and that she was the head loon. My son of course got a contagious rash and she threatened me with truancy court. Two weeks later on the last day of school the principal actually apologized. She looked into what happened further and realized that the teacher was in error. Of course the next year she hinted that my son would be in prison by the time he was an adult. He was an adult, and he did wind up in a prison - as the GUARD!!! To this day that principal makes my blood boil and my son is 43.