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Topic Started: Nov 2 2006, 09:04 AM (1,832 Views)
concerned mom
Principal
cmic
Nov 2 2006, 08:29 PM
Don't ask for higher test scores and more outcomes if you will not support the teachers by having the kids complete homework on a nightly basis. Not only does it build good work and study habits but it also reinforces what might have been a struggle during the day. It gives parents a chance to partner in the educational process and help their kids be successful. My students get 15 minutes of homework a night. If they don't do it, they can try to finish it during the morning when there is time or they can finish it after lunch and then play. When I don't get my work done, I come in early, I stay up late or YES I miss my lunch and my break and I get it done. I have also stayed in at lunch to do it with the kids. It takes them 5 minutes or so and then they go outside and the next time they turn it in on time and value the educational process and see it as important, especially when the parents support their teachers and the process as well. I am obviously the strict nun, but I think it is important and I can tell the difference in the kids that their parents support our procedures and enforce homework and those that do not. VERY obvious. As a parent, I don't like homework, but I know it is for the betterment of my child and I want them to be successful.

Just my 2 cents.

My son does not have homework this year. Does that mean he is not getting a good education? His test scores have not suffered. If homework is so vital, why do we have teachers who do not assign homework? Why is there such a vast difference in the amount of homework? Does more homework mean more success? I don't think anyone has stated that they don't make their kids do homework. I don't condone taking away a child's lunch recess or afternoon recess. Most kids NEED that break, just as most adults NEED a break.
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rooseveltmom
Principal
I believe that our children need to be children. They spend seven hours at school, I think that the little time at home is my time to instill the life lessons that I feel of value. At an elementary level homework should be limited. However I do not think that a negative response by teachers accomplishes any higher learning.
My child has been kept in for recess for not completing school assignments (not homework) and for time spent with the learning specialist, this was done without the teacher present. This does no child well. Teachers and children should have their small breaks. It seems to me that kids should be able to run and play to make for a positive experience. That is what I expect and want. IMHO.
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cmic
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The last 2 posts don't represent the majority of parents and I take great comfort in that as a parent. These 2 posts speak volumes to me. Thank you Jimid for your understanding and appreciation of education and the commitment it takes all around.
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fyi
Principal
I don't mind reinforcing what is taught at school.......that's my definition of homework.

Sometimes kids bring home work that they didn't have time to teach in school.....and they have no clue how to do it. :blink:

I think elementary-aged kids should not have their lunch/recess taken away because they did not complete their homework. I think a positive reward system would work better at this age.
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loyaltolivonia
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Principal
Last year when my son was in 5th grade, he had a choice if he didn't finish his classwork. The kids could stay in from 1 of their 2 recesses by choice and finish up. Or take it home as homework. His teacher would gently remind the kids that if they had after school activities, it might be wise to stay in and finish up.

If they did not complete their homework from the night before, they could stay in from recess and finish or hand in one of their three "Late homework" cards. If you still had all three of your "Late homework" cards at the end of the card marking, you got a special treat from the teacher. If you ran out of "Late homework" cards and you were late again, you got maked down a whole grade for every day you were late.

I liked that they were given a choice even in 5th grade. My son actually stayed in once or twice because he knew he had soccer that day after school!
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JoJo
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cmic
Nov 3 2006, 07:45 AM
The last 2 posts don't represent the majority of parents and I take great comfort in that as a parent. These 2 posts speak volumes to me. Thank you Jimid for your understanding and appreciation of education and the commitment it takes all around.

I can tell you cmic, knowing concerned mom, she is committed and appreciates a good education. She is very involved in her kids education.
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insupport
Principal
I would suggest a bit of investigative work also. Often times the homework they bring home is work they were given time in class to complete and chose not to.
I am sure this is not always the case but both of my children liked to talk excessively and not complete their work at school. Or often times the kids are given days or weeks to complete a project but don't start until the last minute. Discuss this with the teacher to get a better picture. I agree with cmic in that these children need to be responsible and I don't think it's a bad thing that homework not turned in at the beginning of the day is marked late. It should be completed by then. My second grader misses recess if he was talking too much in order to complete what he didn't do. He has learned quickly that it is his choice to make but there are consequences. He very rarely misses recess anymore. To me that is a good lesson learned for him. Detention is not meant to be a daily thing. It is there as a consequence but hopefully children will not continue to use it day after day. Having had a child go through middle school I think that 5th and 6th graders need to be more responsible then say 1st and 2nd graders. If more responsibility is taught gradually then less kids will have difficulty transitioning to middle school and then high school. By learning responsibility these children will be much more successful in their lives later on.
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49chevy
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Answers questioned
cmic
Nov 2 2006, 08:29 PM
Don't ask for higher test scores and more outcomes if you will not support the teachers by having the kids complete homework on a nightly basis. Not only does it build good work and study habits but it also reinforces what might have been a struggle during the day. It gives parents a chance to partner in the educational process and help their kids be successful. My students get 15 minutes of homework a night. If they don't do it, they can try to finish it during the morning when there is time or they can finish it after lunch and then play. When I don't get my work done, I come in early, I stay up late or YES I miss my lunch and my break and I get it done. I have also stayed in at lunch to do it with the kids. It takes them 5 minutes or so and then they go outside and the next time they turn it in on time and value the educational process and see it as important, especially when the parents support their teachers and the process as well. I am obviously the strict nun, but I think it is important and I can tell the difference in the kids that their parents support our procedures and enforce homework and those that do not. VERY obvious. As a parent, I don't like homework, but I know it is for the betterment of my child and I want them to be successful.

Just my 2 cents.

Well, when my child starts their homework after dinner (6:30), and barely finishes by 10, if it's even done by then and then they have to get up early to finish, that's too much homework.
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JoJo
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insupport
Nov 3 2006, 08:35 AM
I would suggest a bit of investigative work also. Often times the homework they bring home is work they were given time in class to complete and chose not to.
I am sure this is not always the case but both of my children liked to talk excessively and not complete their work at school. Or often times the kids are given days or weeks to complete a project but don't start until the last minute. Discuss this with the teacher to get a better picture. I agree with cmic in that these children need to be responsible and I don't think it's a bad thing that homework not turned in at the beginning of the day is marked late. It should be completed by then. My second grader misses recess if he was talking too much in order to complete what he didn't do. He has learned quickly that it is his choice to make but there are consequences. He very rarely misses recess anymore. To me that is a good lesson learned for him. Detention is not meant to be a daily thing. It is there as a consequence but hopefully children will not continue to use it day after day. Having had a child go through middle school I think that 5th and 6th graders need to be more responsible then say 1st and 2nd graders. If more responsibility is taught gradually then less kids will have difficulty transitioning to middle school and then high school. By learning responsibility these children will be much more successful in their lives later on.

I don't remember the person who posted saying that the homework was not done? I think it was more like the child left it in his locker and forgot to hand it in within the 10 minutes of class that is allowed. Formysons if I remember right was the one that posted. Maybe she could correct me if I am wrong. If I am right, I think it a bit much to lose recess over. IMO
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insupport
Principal
ForMySons
Nov 2 2006, 07:47 PM
I hope parents whose kids are making their concerns known with the teachers and principals. I think the detention idea is absolutely disgusting. In some of the rooms at Johnson, if the homework is not in the first 10 minutes of the day, it is is considered late!

Are these children sent to detention or is the homework just marked late?
Sorry but unfortunately there have to be consequences. I agree that children need to have fun and play but at home when my child doesn't follow the rules there are consequences. That is how children learn. These children knowing the consequences have a choice to go to detention or not. There are some children that will not ever learn. At middle school there are some children that are in the planning room nearly everyday. If this was the case for mine then there would be further consequences at home. I am not judging any of you because I don't know you and we are all concerned for our children but I do know that in too many cases children with parents that do not support the teacher and the school rules (after investigating the whole story of course) do not learn respect for rules and continue to have problems. Parenting is tough and it's very hard to know what decisions to make.
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loyaltolivonia
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Principal
That's why I was very happy with my son's 5th grade teacher. She gave them a choice to give up a recess and finish up or take it home as homework.

Granted, last year the 5th and 6th graders had 2 recesses, so losing one was probably not a bad thing every now and then. Now if they give up their recess (or have it taken away) they lose ALL of their social and play time!
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ILIkeLI
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Principal
insupport
Nov 3 2006, 09:00 AM
There are some children that will not ever learn.  At middle school there are some children that are in the planning room nearly everyday.

That is a dangerous and faulty assumption that shortchanges a whole group of children. All children are capable of learning. That is the foundation is NCLB. And while many of us have issues with parts of this law, I for one firmly belief in it's guiding principle that all children are capble of learning and that it isn't acceptable to set aside difficult kids, claiming they are "unteachable/unreachable" That is exactly how many have been left behind to flounder.
If the same kids are in the planning room everyday that says much more about the attempts to reach them than it does about the kids or their homes. The efforts to remediate their behavior are quite obviously not working. I have worked in institutional settings with kids where we expected and got respect/cooperation. It's not difficult. It may require creativity and extra effort but it can be done. Generally, positive reinforcers work much better than punishment in motivating behavior. Although I do understand and agree with consequences...logical and natural consequences.
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concerned mom
Principal
cmic
Nov 3 2006, 07:45 AM
The last 2 posts don't represent the majority of parents and I take great comfort in that as a parent. These 2 posts speak volumes to me. Thank you Jimid for your understanding and appreciation of education and the commitment it takes all around.

I don't understand why you would judge a parent so harshly because they disagree with your position. You failed to answer my questions in my second post. I have one child who has ALOT of homework and one that does not receive ANY homework. What exactly does that mean? I guess there is a difference of opinion among teachers as to whether homework is vital to school success.

When I see that the majority of the kids losing recess are boys and they tend to be the same ones over and over, then I think it is only commonsense to realize that taking away recess is not working. There is a lot of info out there to support the idea that kids need recess. They need to run about and expend some energy during the day. Boys, especially, are action oriented. They just need a mental break.

Shame on you for inferring that we are not good parents. What kind of person, parent and teacher are you to make such a judgement?
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concerned mom
Principal
ILIkeLI
Nov 3 2006, 09:20 AM
insupport
Nov 3 2006, 09:00 AM
There are some children that will not ever learn.  At middle school there are some children that are in the planning room nearly everyday.

That is a dangerous and incorrect assumption that shortchanges a whole group of children. All children are capable of learning. That is the foundation is NCLB. And while many of us have issues with parts of this law, I for one firmly belief in it's guiding principle that all children are capble of learning and that it isn't accepatable to set aside difficult kids, claiming they are "unteachable/unreachable" That is exactly how many have been left behind to flounder.
If the same kids are in the planning room everyday that says much more about the attempts to reach them than it does about the kids or their homes. The efforts to remediate their behavior are quite obviously not working. I have worked in institutional settings with kids where we expected and got respect/cooperation. It's not difficult. Generally, positive reinforcers work much better than punishment in motivating behavior. Although I do understand and agree with consequences...logical and natural consequences.

Well said. If the same kids are getting the same consequences over and over, then something is wrong. You are no longer trying to teach them anything, because the method is not working.
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Mrs.M
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Principal
Little kids, little problems, Big kids, big problems

My two cents - once a child gets into the habit of not completeing homework they tend to continue that habit. Teachers and schools cannot be expected to be the only ones working toward your child's education. There has to be support from home otherwise you are enabling, actually disabling, your child.

We all know there are varying degrees of teachers and a variety of teaching strategies and a lack thereof. My children and I have been fortunate to not have had any teacher that gave 30 minutes of homework per subject each day in the elementary level (K-6). That's 28 years worth of teachers. Even at the middle school level that amount of homework was non existent. I would think even at the high school level, half of the teachers give the student time to start on their homework.

Detention in high school is for the most part for behavioral problems, including attendance, specifially tardiness - not missing homework issues.

But before people jump on this post..The topic began as detention in the 5/6 schools. Referring to the 5/6 as upper elementary is a mask, unmasked, it is a pre middle school. It seems the 5/6 schools are dressed for Halloween after all.
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