Homework for 5 year olds

benjus

Just out of interest, how long has it been like this?

I was in primary school more than a few years ago and was never assigned a single piece of homework. Homework was a thing that started at secondary school, where things suddenly got more "serious". The lack of primary school homework clearly didn't do me any harm as I got top grades at A-level, a 1st class degree, a Masters and now have a good job. But clearly the policy makers decided that not giving homework at primary school was not serving the general population well. And they may be right, I don't know... but not having put a child through the British education system (yet) I haven't really kept track with how it's changed over the last few decades.

onlyroz

My daughter is in year two. She's expected to read at least 3 times a week, learn spellings, practice times tables and spend around an hour a week doing maths and literacy homework tasks based around learning the spellings and times tables. I don't think this is too bad, although it is far more than I had to do when I was that age.

My son is in year 6 and he gets masses of homework - far more than I am happy with him doing. He has to do the reading, times tables and spelling practice as well as spending 1-2 hours a week on maths and literacy tasks, as well as spending time on a half-termly project. At least now they give choice over the homework tasks, rather than giving pages and pages of sums to do reducing us both to tears as he struggled to complete them each week.

barbarawright

benjus wrote: »

Just out of interest, how long has it been like this?

I was in primary school more than a few years ago and was never assigned a single piece of homework. Homework was a thing that started at secondary school, where things suddenly got more "serious". The lack of primary school homework clearly didn't do me any harm as I got top grades at A-level, a 1st class degree, a Masters and now have a good job. But clearly the policy makers decided that not giving homework at primary school was not serving the general population well. And they may be right, I don't know... but not having put a child through the British education system (yet) I haven't really kept track with how it's changed over the last few decades.

I imagine your parents encouraged you to read. Not all parents do that voluntarily, thus the homework and, presumably, schools following up on children who aren't encouraged at home

pigpen

My daughter is 5.. August birthday and the youngest in her class.. she gets up to 5 reading books a week.. they swap it once she's read it and she reads it every day.. it takes about 5 minutes.

1 Worksheet a week.. given Wednesday to be in Monday.. Last week she had to draw 4 lines.. hardly arduous.. took about 15 seconds!

She had 10 spellings a week.. usually so easy she already knows them anyway... last week she has words like dark/park/shark etc..

And learning 30 words over several months isn't difficult either.


She also has an online app thing to do different reading and number tasks as and when she wants. We also have a maths app which she loves and is currently working at year 3 level.

This daughter is my 4th summer baby through school and they have settled and progressed so much more calmly and steadily than the autumn term babies who really struggled with not learning and boredom and then a couple got in trouble for messing about because they were bored silly.


However... these are MY children.. they are all different and some do struggle, some are late bloomers, some have talents in other ways.. if you are concerned about your child go speak to the teachers! I popped in last Friday after school because she was bringing home reading books she read a year ago. They listened to her read and moved her up 2 levels.

pigpen

benjus wrote: »

Just out of interest, how long has it been like this?.

My 24 year old had homework at primary school.. so its been like it a while!

Mrs_pbradley936

benjus wrote: »

Just out of interest, how long has it been like this?

I was in primary school more than a few years ago and was never assigned a single piece of homework. Homework was a thing that started at secondary school, where things suddenly got more "serious". The lack of primary school homework clearly didn't do me any harm as I got top grades at A-level, a 1st class degree, a Masters and now have a good job. But clearly the policy makers decided that not giving homework at primary school was not serving the general population well. And they may be right, I don't know... but not having put a child through the British education system (yet) I haven't really kept track with how it's changed over the last few decades.

I expect you went to school before we had all these tests.

Kit1

barbarawright wrote: »

I imagine your parents encouraged you to read. Not all parents do that voluntarily, thus the homework and, presumably, schools following up on children who aren't encouraged at home

You are spot on some parents do not read with their children even a book that has about 30 words in it and would take about 5 mins to read and talk about. Children are expected to be able to read an write set words by the end of each year and reading helps with understanding and spelling words.

Children need to keep learning not just at school it helps parents to take an active part in their learning and encourages them to learn at school because they are proud of what they have learnt and want to share it with everyone.

You also have to remember that the government are always expecting more and more from teachers and TA's which in turn means more learning/teaching and after all there are only so many hours in a day at school and children learn at different rates, some need more help than others.

l don't really think it is too much because once they get to secondary school they will be used to doing homework and will be able to cope and organise their time better.

dirty_magic

I think it's a shame that schools feel that they have to give homework now to encourage some parents to teach their children. It's something parents should be doing with their children anyway, and I think most parents still would even if it wasn't governed by the school.

I didn't get homework at primary school apart from spellings, but my parents and grandparents topped up what I learned at school anyway. I could read and write basic words before I started school, and my Grandad used to test me on my maths after he'd picked me up from school. They also made sure I had lots of children's science books, but I did make it easy for them because I've always been a bit of a bookworm.

Someone I work with always complains about the amount of homework her child gets, and tbh it sounds like she ends up doing most of it herself!

duchy

benjus wrote: »

Just out of interest, how long has it been like this?

I was in primary school more than a few years ago and was never assigned a single piece of homework. Homework was a thing that started at secondary school, where things suddenly got more "serious". The lack of primary school homework clearly didn't do me any harm as I got top grades at A-level, a 1st class degree, a Masters and now have a good job. But clearly the policy makers decided that not giving homework at primary school was not serving the general population well. And they may be right, I don't know... but not having put a child through the British education system (yet) I haven't really kept track with how it's changed over the last few decades.

Homework in year 1 was commonplace 20 years ago -and some mothers moaned about it back then too

LilElvis

benjus wrote: »

Just out of interest, how long has it been like this?

I was in primary school more than a few years ago and was never assigned a single piece of homework. Homework was a thing that started at secondary school, where things suddenly got more "serious". The lack of primary school homework clearly didn't do me any harm as I got top grades at A-level, a 1st class degree, a Masters and now have a good job. But clearly the policy makers decided that not giving homework at primary school was not serving the general population well. And they may be right, I don't know... but not having put a child through the British education system (yet) I haven't really kept track with how it's changed over the last few decades.

How they are taught in primary school has changed immeasurably. My mother taught this age group for over 40 years, retiring a little over a decade ago, and even the way they teach reading is completely different. She reads with her grandchildren, but doesn't try to teach as the "method" has changed so much. I bet you don't know what a "split diagraph" is. I certainly didn't until I got thrown in at the deep end with phonics, yet my 5 year old happily points them out as she reads her books with me. It's a whole new world!