How Much is Too Much?



School has been in session for exactly 8 days.  Three glorious days were homework free.  Five if you count the weekend.  Then last Monday, homework began.  I hated homework when I was in school, and I can honestly say I hate it even more now. The battles, the tears, the sweat, the lack of remembering.  And that is just me!

The rule of thumb is supposed to be:  ten minutes of homework for each grade level.  1st grade students should have ten minutes of homework while the 8th grade student should have 80 minutes.  Well sometimes, one assignment can take the better portion of that time, and you are left with little or no "time" for the remainder of the homework.

Another problem I have had is:  "That's not how (teacher's name) tells us to do it?  Seriously?  Does it really matter how the problem is solved if the outcome is the same?  And additionally, I am lost with most of the math once you start going beyond the basics.  An essay and research I can do.  Math...well...I think they need tutors. 

It just seems that there is more and more homework.  That they are being force fed a tremendous amount of information and then in 7 months are required to regurgitate it through state testing. But I am not getting into that(at this time) I will save it for later.  No, I am talking about homework, projects, reports and the like. How much is too much?  Especially if you have more than one in school.  I have three officially in school.  How do you handle it?  Should it be down-sized?  If so, by how much?  What is a reasonable amount of homework?

Comments

Nicole said…
I've heard other people talking about this too - that kids are being given too much homework and that the teachers are forcing too much information at once to prepare for tests that kids need to pass at the end of the year. I think its too much too and I think kids need some time off! The testing I've heard is really hard so maybe the teachers are just trying to prepare them but I think if they are needing to give them that much homework, maybe the teachers aren't teaching in the best way because the child learning after a full day of school should be retaining the information without having to do hours or homework.
August 23, 2010 at 7:18 AM
Emmy said…
I remember in first grade when I got first and probably only homework and it was so exciting as I felt big. It seemed like I would only have homework if I didn't finish something in school. homework didn't start until Junior high.
August 23, 2010 at 7:41 AM
Linda Medrano said…
It's a competitive world out there and kids do need to prepare. That said, I think I limited the amount of time they worked on homework. Two hours was plenty. I discussed my limits with their teacher and they understood.
August 23, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Liz Mays said…
The state testing is a big point of contention for me!

And I had one child who is black and white/no gray, so I heard that same line about not being done the way the teacher said. Oh boy....
August 23, 2010 at 4:18 PM
Melissa said…
I am not to this point yet (Hayden is only 3.5). When homework time occurs, it will be a learning experience for both of us!
August 23, 2010 at 5:31 PM
Shell said…
I saw this earlier- thought I commented!

I know that my kindergartener will have homework each night. Obviously, nothing big, but homework all the same.

I always assigned my students homework- even over the weekends(I know, I know, that's awful), but in reality, it was nothing that would take a long time at all. It should reinforce what the students learned that day and show the teacher if they got it(as long as they did it on their own), but shouldn't take a long time. Like with my 5th graders- it shouldn't really even have taken them a half hour total.
August 23, 2010 at 6:28 PM
Rachel Sue said…
My girls are 2nd and 1st grade. i hate it that they give them homework. I think it is completely ridiculous.
August 23, 2010 at 7:42 PM
Cheeseboy said…
The "only one way to do it" thing drives me crazy as a teacher! How is there supposed to be any creativity in the world? Any change for the better? If everyone just does it the same way?

I give my first graders 10 minutes of homework, that is all. Well, 10 minutes and 20 minutes of reading. I figure they can do that.
August 23, 2010 at 8:57 PM
mormonhermitmom said…
I hate the reading logs. I have to sign every morning whether my kids read. I realize "reading is fundamental" and all, but I cannot sit with three kids all reading at different levels. And if the kid doesn't want to read, it just makes reading a chore instead of a joy. I never had a reading log growing up, and I read a lot!
August 23, 2010 at 9:11 PM
Susan Anderson said…
I was never any good at teaching my kids math, either.

I hear a lot of parents talking today about there being way too much homework. It does sound like the kids have a lot more than mine did.

=)
August 23, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Tracie said…
I can't help my 5th grader with his homework because I don't understand it! I think it's too much and there is too much emphasis on state testing, too.
August 24, 2010 at 4:32 AM
Christina Lee said…
UGHHHH don't even get me started!
August 24, 2010 at 5:25 AM
Kitty Deschanel said…
My boss HATES homework more than anyone I have ever met. If it helps you feel any better, her oldest just started college at Emory and is doing fantastically, despite all the years of homework struggles.

Though, I suppose you could also take that as another reason why homework is a waste of time! :)
August 24, 2010 at 6:28 AM
Krissy said…
None is enough for me. lol
August 24, 2010 at 4:27 PM
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