[flowermama]

I was talking to my neighbour yesterday and she was saying her 6 year old has 45 minutes of homework every night (writing words etc). This seems like a lot to me - I don't remember getting homework until I was about 10! So have times changed and all kids that age get this sort of homework or is it just some schools? He is at a private school.

This post has been edited by flowermama: 22/02/2013, 07:55 AM

[*JJ*]

My 5 year old is in prep QLD and her homework started this week and is for the remainder of the term.

It is writing the alphabet (laminated sheets) and saying the sounds that each letter makes and also practicing name writing.

It doesn't take to long and we do it together each afternoon.

Not sure as this is my first child on school and it is public.

Will be interesting to see what others do.

[Sunny003]

DS's are 8 (4th year of school) and 6.5 (2nd year of school) and have readers each night & 5 spelling words for the week.

They practice their spelling words in class too, so only the kids who are struggling really need to practice at home.

I'm so glad our school has a no/very little homework policy for the younger grades.

[qak]

DS age 6 is in year 1 (second year of school) and gets one double-sided page that would probably take him 20 mins (if he just sat down to do it!). This is given out on Moday for return on Thursday. I am encouraging him to do this in the 'homework club' at after school care.

Then he also has a reader which can take from 10-20 mins per night, and is also supposed to do 20 mins of mathletics per night. We just haven't been able to do the mathletics - i think he has done it once this week.

[Percoriel]

My DD is six and in her second year of school. They just have their readers to read as homework. The school doesn't give any additional homework till year three (third year of school).

[MakeLoveNotBacon]

We just have reading. Takes about 5 minutes.

[gizboo]

Its supposed to be 15min on readers and 15min on homework (but it can blow out to 45mins all up sometimes)

My 5 & 6yos are in Yr 1 & 2 at a Cath school.
Both get readers, 10 spelling words (look, cover, write), a literacy activity (put words into alphabetical order, or similar) and a maths sheet. Homework isn't a big deal though, the teachers encourage the readers & spelling words, but the rest is just considered extra extension work at this stage.

[sophiasmum]

Public school here.

In kindergarten the only homework they got was a home reader 4 nights a week.

From year 1 they started getting homework sheets in additon to the reading, which consisted of spelling words, sentences, times tables (if they were in a higher maths group), english & maths problems. does

DD1 spaces her homework out over Mon-Wed nights.

DS does most of his on Sunday mornings.

[baddmammajamma]

My kids are at a private, high performing (though not selective) primary school.

My 5 year old (FYOS) has very limited homework at this stage -- typically doing light preparation for weekly "news."

Next week, they will start home readers and will be expected to read for a few minutes every evening at home and practice sight words. C'est tout.

Other friends in the area have reported crazy amounts of homework -- up to 45 min/night for a kid in FYOS!

Interestingly, my daughter's Y1 teacher last year -- a very seasoned veteran and distinguished teacher -- totally opposes homework of any sort beyond home readers. She believes, as I do, that young kids already cram so much learning into the day that they deserve to have lots of down time at home to recharge their batteries. She told me that the pressure to have homework comes not from the school but from some very vocal parents! I have heard this from other friends who are teachers.

I think things are getting a bit out of hand with how hard little kids are being pushed. I recently heard of more than one provider of services to help COACH kids for the Best Start Assessment in NSW.

WTF?!

[RatbagBob]

DD is in year 1 at a NSW public school. She typically gets one reader a night and a list of about 10 spelling words to write out every night which takes her about 5 minutes. The school has advised that this should take no more than 20 minutes per night, and if the child doesn't want to do it, then don't force them.

The school is also going to have a discussion with parents later in the year about rethinking whether homework is needed in the lower years at all.