A head teacher has been reported, this week, as saying that helping children with their homework can have a negative effect on development: Children need to learn to deal with failure, she says and by helping with homework a child may not fail, this got me thinking:-
Parents can sometimes confuse a child by trying to help with homework; maths especially is taught so differently than years ago. Maybe schools should provide modern maths lessons for any parents who want to help their children!
When my children were doing homework I would help if they asked for it and would encourage them to work the answers out for themselves by using the internet or reference books
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I have come across parents who don’t agree with homework at all, they think that the evenings should be ‘family time.’
I feel that if parents show an interest in a child’s homework, it may encourage them to put in more effort, a relative told me that some boy’s in her class paid her to do their homework for them.
I would like to hear what others think about parents helping with homework.
As always questions, comments and topic suggestions are welcome.
Until next time.
Karen
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As parents, we are primarily responsible for our children’s education. Teachers, tutors, coaches, etc. are employed to be part of the team who teaches our kids, but we certainly bear the brunt of the responsibility to see that learning is happening.
I have mixed feelings about homework after school. Some children are unable to get help at home due to a variety of reasons while others get too much help from parents. I also feel that the school day is a long and demanding one ,some children having a long way to travel to and fro without the thought of doing homework when they get home.
I think that there is a balance that can be found. I think that its important for kids to learn to do things for themselves but am also not a believer in “sink or swim.” If there is something that I can explain, perhaps in a different way than the teacher that is helpful I see no reason not to do that. #anythinggoes
I think showing an interest is fine, a family brain storming session at dinner time for ideas for a presentation or project for example is good. Actually sitting with them and helping them question by question is a no from me. I didn’t have time for that anyway when mine were young! When it comes to maths problems I think we can make it worse, trying to explain how to solve problems when they’ve learnt a completely different method – this is when older brothers or sisters are invaluable!
I think parents should play an active role in helping their children with their homework should they need help. Of course, this is age dependant. At times I’m happy to let my girls get on with it themselves, for example, their spelling homework, but with maths i’m more than happy to lend a hand so I can show our girls how to do their workings out etc. Thanks for joining in with That Friday Linky
I try to encourage my son to have a go at his homework independently and then we look through it together and address any misconceptions. There are of course times when you have to work together on homework such as craft projects etc. #StayClassyMama
I’m both a parent AND a teacher of 21+ years (currently 2nd grade) and I don’t agree with the “master teacher” on this one. I believe it’s TOTALLY beneficial, in many ways, for parents to help their children with homework. First, it’s bonding, it reinforces to children that their schoolwork is important, and when children have the opportunity to practice and teach a skill to their parents, it helps deepen understanding. Homework should only be practice of skills that have been taught in school. I totally agree that the math these days is different than how I was taught, and actually, the math our district has chosen to use is so difficult for parents to understand, I NEVER send the homework page home! We do it in class, I check it there, and then I send it home already checked & corrected. That way, parents can still see what we’re doing, but they don’t have to get confused over the “new” methods that we’re teaching. As for reading, it’s VERY important for little ones to read aloud to their parents nightly, which is when parents can help sound out unknown words and build fluency. It’s such a bonding time, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to help their child at home.
Sorry this was so long! I found you on #ThatFridayLinky!
Thanks, Sal, it’s great to hear from a teachers view point
Such an age old debate, I’ve definitely been torn with how much to help with my 7-year-olds homework. I personally think schools need to provide more guidance to us parents as to what level they expect us to influence our childrens answers. For example, if my daughter rubs out her answer and puts in what we’ve worked out is correct together, her teacher then doesn’t see that she struggled with it. For all I know, my explanation as to why we’re changing her original answer to the one I’m trying to guide is right, has gone in one ear and out the other. That’s my worry anyway. Ramble over lol. #ThatFridayLinky
In reception I often found we had to DO the homework, nevermind just help with it!! Thankfully our (primary) school has done away with homework now beyond the basic spellings, reading & times tables and it’s such a relief! #DreamTeam
I relied on my dad to get me through physics! I am really annoyed with my son’s school as they have set a term long science project and parental involvement is required due to the complicated nature of the task. Thanks for linking up with #dreamteam
I am not a fan of homework as I always felt that there was just not enough time to get it done when my kids were in school. They would also be tired and want to relax. However, when they did have it if they asked for help then I would help. I wouldn’t spoon feed them the answers though as that would be pointless. #kidsandkreativity
I do think I will be helping my little girl with hers. There is a difference between doing it for
them and showing them what to do !#KidsandKreativity
We only help if he asks for it. Homework is a bit of a pain as it generally causes some friction and I think it’s important for primary kids to relax at home. #StayClassyMama
I think it’s all about balance. We need to encourage and help our children to strive to be their very best but also not to put too much pressure on them to achieve a certain ‘standard’. I help with homework but take more of a coaching role, and it’s a bit of time for some 1:1 interaction. Sometimes though we don’t do the reading/homework at all depending on mood and energy levels, my son is only 5 years old and I put his needs first. #KidsandKreativity
I think they get too much in primary school and there is an expectation that parents will help. In fact sometimes stuff was coming home that my son hadn’t been taught that I had to fill in gaps for him. He wouldn’t do it unless I helped or made him. Homework pressure was another reason why we opted to homeschool. Thanks for sharing with #stayclassymama
I have mixed feelings about homework, particularly at infant school level. I do think that children should have time to just be children after school without the pressure of having too much homework to do. That said, the homework that my daughter brings home doesn’t seem too excessive and it is a good way of talking through what she is learning at school. I disagree that parents shouldn’t help children with homework – there’s a difference between helping explain things and teaching them so they understand how to solve the problems and giving them the answers which I think is setting them up to fail. Finding a balance is important. #KidsandKreativity
I agree with Louise. I also think in Early Years and KS1 homework should be set up to be collaborative where possible – something I tried to do as a teacher. Learning and working as a family is so important, so please don’t do it for them but find a way to work together to e pans knowledge and relationships.
I will help them figue out how to do their homework but not actually do it for them. So if they don’t understand I will sit with them and explain and maybe work on a few examples so they can tackle the questions in their homework independently. Fortunately my two don’t seem to get an excessive amount and they are both pretty good at doing it. Thanks again for linking up with #KidsandKreativity