Entry FeedA few nights ago I had a nightmare about Son One's homework. Me, not him, losing sleep over how much homework we've been doing and whether or not to confront his teacher about it.
The nightmare was me in a classroom with his teacher and lots of other parents. I brought up how the amount of homework seemed excessive for grade two (about an hour a night) and none of the other parents backed me up.
I've spoken to other parents and was even warned before the year started that this teacher seems to really like giving homework. I am torn between being impressed by her thoroughness and please that Son One will be well prepared for next year, and cursing her for her invasion of the peace and tranquility of our home life.
I need more information before I go on the attack. Though ever parent in his class seems to be complaining, I wonder how much is a factor of the kids just not buckling down in class and getting it done. Seeing as it is a split class, I assume that at some point after teaching the grade twos their lesson, she would switch over and teach the grade threes leaving the grade twos to get some seat work done. Right?
It is more the stress and pressure of homework on a seven-year-old. Yes, I am sure that it is helping give him a framework for organization and responsibility. But he is seven! Maybe you can't start too young. At least once a week we have tears and threats with the homework (tears are his - threats are mine). Not conducive to the loving, caring, supportive home life I want. Not only that, his brother and sister get pushed aside for that hour of work (usually they sit in front of the TV to keep them quiet - wonderful babysitter).
I used to have nightmares when I was in school about missing homework, forgetting to do it all, having it get ruined, or leaving it somewhere... and now, I have to relive it all through the eyes of my grade two.