Entry FeedA phrase I have used far too much so far this school year is, "You know, I've already passed grade two."
Son One gets a lot of homework. Far too much, in my opinion. He is in grade two, averages three subjects a night, and we struggle through about an hour minimum each night. When Husband is home, he is in charge. This is not because he enjoys doing homework, but rather he knows that about 10 minutes after Son One and I sit at the kitchen table together to work on his homework, I am ready to rip my son's head off and feed it to the raccoons scavenging in the backyard.
I have not yet complained to his teacher about his crazy homework. Ideally, I would like to point out to her that we have a family life that doesn't only revolve around sitting at the kitchen table redoing grade two with Son One, and that homework is not really seen to improve learning especially in the lower grades, AND it causes undo stress and pressure on already precarious family situations.
However, I am trying to be supportive and Son One, though often has to be dragged kicking and screaming to get his homework done, is generally doing a great job. (Note: How many times do you really need to sharpen that pencil before you sit down and start?)
At curriculum night (formerly "Meet the Teacher"), his teacher pointed out that if we don't get all of the homework done, simply sent in a note explaining why and don't worry about it. She sounded so reasonable and nice. The rumour is that we have lucked out and that she is one of the best teachers in the school.
Our neighbour, whose son is in the same class, told me that at her Mother's Birthday dinner (on a school night) her son sat an did an hour of homework until she said, "enough is enough!" and closed the books for the night, writing a note to the teacher about why it was not completed. He got to stay in and finish his homework over recess, lucky kid.
Today I finished a project on Ireland for grade two social studies, with the help of Son One. I really hope that I get an A.