And no, it’s not my homework. Although some days it feels like it is.
Truth be told, my kids don’t get a ton of homework and I’m good with this.
Everyone has an opinion on whether homework is a good thing or not. As with most things when it comes to parenting…to each their own. As for me, I’m of mixed thoughts. On one hand, if my child is having trouble with something and he needs extra practice at home OR he didn’t get his work done in class…by all means…send it home.
BUT…
I don’t agree with the idea of extra work at night every night, just for the sake of it. At least not at the elementary school level. I think kids should have a chance to be kids and play outside, participate in sports, chill out, etc. Without staying up late to finish extra worksheets.
That’s my opinion anyway. For now. It’s totally subject to change.
But I digress. Whether or not my kids get homework or not isn’t really the point. The point is, when they DO get it I usually want to gouge out my eyeballs.
This is NOT the usual happy homework scene at our house
Because fourth grade homework often goes something like this:
(The boy is doing long division. I am helping watching.)
BOY: Mom, I think I’m not really sure what to do with this one.
ME: Well…how many times does four go into twelve?
BOY: I know that part.
ME: Okay…then what’s the trouble?
BOY: I just don’t know how to do this one.
ME: (looking once again at the problem) Well if you know how many times four goes into twelve, just write it up here.
BOY: We’re not supposed to do that.
ME: Why not?
BOY: We’re supposed to show our work.
ME: Then show it.
BOY: You don’t understand!
Clearly…I don’t.
And then we have the girl working on a chapter response or some other English type assignment.
GIRL: (After feverishly scribbling for about 45 seconds) Done.
ME: (Looking at her paper) Don’t you think you should write some more?
GIRL: Why?
ME: Well, the teacher has asked you three questions and I don’t think you could have answered all those with only one line.
GIRL: I did.
ME: (Looking again at the paper) Hmm…why don’t you elaborate a little?
GIRL: (Exaggerated sigh) I don’t think the teacher meant for me to answer ALL the questions.
ME: The instructions clearly say, ‘please answer ALL of the questions.’
GIRL: Mooommmm. That’s not what she meant! You don’t understand!
ME: Glad I could help kids, glad I could help. Is it too early for wine?
____________________
my son once report a report: cover page, and then the following 6 pages had one word on each of them, in a large font: I Hope You Like My Report. Needless to say I got a call from the school. LOL
I LOVE that!! It’s totally something my son would do.
it’s funny now – not so much when I got called into the principal’s office LOL
OUCH!! Painful. Stab me in the eyes….LOL!!
I don’t know HOW you parents do it. I tip my hat to all of you every single day.
I find wine helps. For real.
My daughter is only in Pre-K so her homework is things like “practice writing numbers 0-10″ and “think of words that rhyme with bike, kite, and sun”. And she loves to do her homework until she doesn’t do something exactly right and she gets frustrated even when I tell her it’s ok and I’ll help her. Can’t wait for the harder stuff.
Oh, I remember when my kids loved homework…
Somewhere around long division that went away.
Ah yes, I remember those days … it’s amazing how much kids tell us we “don’t understand” as parents. Now I’m helping The Adorables with their ABC’s. It’s so much easier as a grandparent!
It seems a lot of things are easier as a grandparent… I suppose that’s the
Big pay out! Ha ha.
According to my kids I don’t understand anything. I can’t imagine that changing anytime soon.
Homework busy-work drives me crazy. As do a lot of projects that tests the parents’ skills. And I’m a teacher!
They never get good marks on the projects that test my skills….
LOL, I’ll see your two kids raise two more kids! The math ‘show your work’ thing UGH. Thankfully, this year our elementary school is getting away from that.
Brilliant minds think alike! I have a fourth grader, too, and have drafted a post called The Homework Menace. It makes me crazy with some of the homework (busy work) he brings home.
Lol. I love this, Elena. I tutor MG students in English, and in addition to my lesson plans, sometimes they’ll ask for help with their homework, or want help with something they got a low grade on. Except they never bring home the actual assignment.
Girl: The teacher said I didn’t do this.
Me: What did you do?
Girl: I don’t know.
Me: Can I see the paper?
Girl: Oh, the teacher never lets us keep them.
Me: *headdesk*
At least with my assignments if they say their teacher doesn’t make them do it that way, I can say, “that’s fine, but *I* want you to do it this way.”
Last year I made three cakes all in different animal shapes. My son frosted them. I’m not sure he knows anything more about those animals after those assignments. And I gained 10 lbs.